ANDOR Showrunner Tony Gilroy Explains Season 2 Received No Studio Notes

Thanks to the massive success of Andor Season 1, Disney and Lucasfilm gave the showrunner Tony Gilroy total and complete creative freedom when he made Season 2.

He explained in an interview with Empire that the "critical appreciation" basically gave him a free pass on the show to do whatever he needed to do.

Gilroy went on to reveal that he received no notes from the studio, saying: "In terms of creative notes, no one has come to me and said, ‘No, they shouldn’t say that'"

It’s great to hear that Gilory was able to play in the Star Wars sandbox with no one questioning his choices or looking over his shoulder as he made it. I imagine the series will be better because of that.

Season 2 will cover four years of the story taking us through the years of Cassian Andor's journey as a spy for The Rebellion and how he tracked down the secret of The Death Star's construction. It will see the character fully transform into a hero.

The synopsis read: “Andor, the acclaimed thriller, returns for its long-awaited conclusion. The twelve episodes of Season Two will carry the story of Cassian Andor and the emerging rebel alliance over the climactic four years that lead to the discovery of The Death Star and the events of Rogue One.

“Season One followed Cassian’s reluctant journey from cynical nobody to revolutionary volunteer. Andor Season Two will see him transform from soldier to leader to hero on the way to his epic destiny. From the very first scene, Cassian’s story has activated an ever-widening ensemble of allies and enemies.

“Season Two will see these relationships intensify as the horizon of galactic war draws near. Everyone will be tested and, as the stakes rise, the betrayals, sacrifices, and conflicting agendas will become profound. Who will live to see their dream realized? Who will realize what the dream cost?”

Creator Tony Gilroy explained how the story will play out in the final season of the series saying: “When we come back later, it’ll be literally like a Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And then, we’ll jump a year, and then it’ll be, like, four or five days, and then we’ll jump a year, and then there’ll be another four or five days, and then we jump a year, and be another four or five days.”

Every three episodes in Andor Season 2 will cover one year's worth of story, and when previously talking about what we can expect from the series, he explains that it explores the stresses, heartbreak, and triumphs of the growing rebellion.

He added: "Think about the revolution, and think about it from Luthen Rael's point of view, and Saw Gerrera's point of view, and Mon Mothma's point of view.”

“They've started off as original gangsters in this thing, and it's underground, and it's secret, and it's small, and it's isolated, and contained. In four years, it's going to go big. Think about any restaurant that you knew that started off as a coffee shop, think about any startup company.

“What happens? Things get very complicated. If your stock and trade of your business is paranoia, and secrecy, and betrayal, and heavy consequences, expanding your business is really difficult."

Gilroy went on to say: "Then think about it from the Imperial side and they are getting very, very close to a very important energy project. People may have heard of it. It's an energy project.

“I guess that's not a surprise, but I think you'll see the wear and tear, you'll see all the stresses, all the heartbreak, and all the triumph of the 20 or 30 people that we're carrying forward, with Cassian at the center.

“You'll see those people stumble forward into a very complicated bit of chaos and history that we will pay attention to.”

He went on to say: "We're gonna work the calendar. There are events on our calendar and you know what they are, some of them, and they're very important, and we will play those out."

The first season of this series was so great and I’m pretty confident that the creative team is going to deliver another incredible season!

Andor Season 2 will premiere on Disney+ on April 22, 2025.

Source: Empire Magazine