In a Universe Without "The Child," the Series "Andor" Likely Wouldn't Exist
In a sit-down with Empire Magazine prior to Andor's second season release, showrunner Tony Gilroy shared his take on why a series like theirs is presumably a unique, once-in-a-lifetime endeavor. With the surge of success from The Mandalorian, Lucasfilm took a gamble by fully committing to risky long-form storytelling and paving the way for the Star Wars universe to expand in ways that may not be feasible in today's television landscape.
"Nobody's going togreenlight a show of this magnitude anymore," Gilroy stated in the interview. "We had the protection to do something extraordinary."
Indeed, Kathleen Kennedy was among the driving forces pushing for Andor's production at Disney. "Kathy protected us," Gilroy explained, "Lucasfilm protected us, Bob Iger protected us, the audience protected us, and even The Mandalorian protected us."
The success of Disney+'s The Mandalorian not only gave Andor the foundation to launch but also fueled the entire venture, according to Gilroy. "Our success relied on the success of The Mandalorian," he added. "Without Baby Yoda, there would be no Andor. Seriously."
As for the supportive community, Gilroy acknowledges that not all Star Wars fans may align on certain creative decisions; however, collaborations and diverse viewpoints are essential for the franchise's continued growth and success.
"There's always a portion of the fanbase that wants to create division," Gilroy said. "But the truth is, we wouldn't have a show without [Jon] Favreau and [Dave] Filoni. They provided the muscle we needed to move forward."
Beyond Andor's upcoming season, stay tuned for updates on the Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek universes, as well as the future of the DC Universe and Doctor Who.
- Tony Gilroy, showrunner of 'Andor', suggested that a show of this scale may not receive funding in the future due to its magnitude.
- Kathleen Kennedy, among others, played a significant role in safeguarding 'Andor's production at Disney.
- The success of 'The Mandalorian' on Disney+ laid the groundwork for 'Andor' and propelled its venture, according to Gilroy.
- Gilroy emphasized the crucial collaboration between Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, and themselves for the Star Wars franchise's continued growth and success.
