In a recent press conference for Andor (via The Direct), Gilroy had some confident words regarding who this show is made for. While he had plenty to say about what fans can expect, he also put in a little addendum about newcomers. “This could be your entry point to Star Wars,” Gilroy said. “You could watch our 24 episodes, that could be your way in. We’re doing a show that does not require any prior knowledge whatsoever to get involved.” It’s a surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one.
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While this is a bold claim, Gilroy went on to explain that he hopes Andor can welcome new fans while still satisfying the veterans. However, he realizes that it’s not an easy thing to do, even if Andor may already have more going for it than other Star Wars projects. “And that’s the gamble,” he continued. “Can we satisfy, and electrify, and excite the dedicated fans and can we, at the same time, bring something that’s so intense emotionally, and seems so true, and the smallest domestic dramas, and the smallest interpersonal relationships that are dropped down in the midst of the epic, tectonic, revolutionary, historical moments where people have to make huge decisions? Can we attract another audience that’s interested in that as well? Can we marry those two things together? That’s what we’re trying to do.”
It probably helps that the story of Cassian Andor, played by Diego Luna, is one that still remains relevant in modern times. Whether from a political or personal standpoint, there are plenty of story beats and elements that continue to ring pretty close to home for a lot of people. “It’s a story that I would like to tell to my kids… to my friends,” Gilroy continued, discussing Andor’s overarching tale. “It’s a story I’d like to see as an audience… Because of where we live in, I always think, and again, that’s why we have to be so real, because it doesn’t matter that we pretend to be in a galaxy far, far away. This story matters today in the world we live in, you know? Otherwise, I wouldn’t care. And I always saw this potential in this story.”
Gilroy had said before that the story of Andor may very well challenge fans’ understanding of Star Wars canon. Something that’s willing to change things up like that certainly sounds like a good entry point for newcomers, particularly since it could end up putting seasoned Star Wars fans on equal footing to those who know nothing about the franchise. Add in the analogues to the modern political and social climate, and it sounds like a recipe for success.
As a show many are calling a spy thriller, Andor looks poised to be one of the most interesting takes on the Star Wars formula. Here’s hoping the risks Gilroy and his crew are taking end up paying off. It could be exactly the shake-up needed to keep things fresh in a galaxy far, far away.
Andor will premiere its first 3 episodes on September 21st, 2022, on Disney Plus.
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Source: The Direct
