Of all the untold stories in the Star Wars universe, the theft of the Death Star plans stands out as one of the most compelling. Rogue One brought that story to life, following Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and his crew on their fateful mission. The film’s impact sparked the creation of Andor, led by Rogue One writer Tony Gilroy, with Luna returning as the thief-turned-rebel leader.
With Season 2 on the horizon, we sat down with the cast and crew to talk about what’s next for their characters — and what it means to portray voices often left out of the galaxy’s spotlight.
Season 2 continues its all encompassing story that follows multiple parties involved in the formation of the rebellion and the continued oppression of Galactic Empire. It follows Cassian Andor during the five years leading up to the events of the Rogue One and how his experiences influences his radicalization against the Empire. The series also explores the politics of waging a rebellion by focusing on Senator Mon Mothma who is working secretly, risking her life and sacrificing so much more, to build a resistance against the Empire while maintaining her position as an Imperial Senator. And then there’s the Empire, Dedra Meero is an Imperial Security Bureau (ISB) lieutenant working on a new top-secret mission for Director Krennic, while Syril Karn, also with the ISB, assists Dedra and struggles with his past actions and connection to Cassian Andor.
We had a chance to sit down with the Andor cast and creator, in pairs, to talk about the show’s narrative trajectory, the respective character arcs, relationships during a time of revolution, and music.
“We end season one with a really complicated idea that man is betrothing her daughter to the Empire. And so we start Season Two with a wedding, and that is, we’re all ready in complicated territory,” Genevieve O’Reilly said about how season two’s start explores more of Mon Mothma’s culture. We learn about her culture, we learn about her history, we learn about her relationships, we learn we really dive into some really, as you do at a wedding, there is, like one of the most dramatic crossroads in lives for families. And so that really exposes fissures.”
Andor does a deep dive into the characters that have been long overshadowed by the Jedi and Sith conflicts, roguish smugglers, and the bounty hunters. And for Tony Gilroy, creator and showrunner, he wanted to tell a grounded story that comes off naturally. “We want to do everything natural and just approach things as if, without any agenda or any kind of just, let’s take it naturally,” he said.
He pointed to the relationship between Vel and Cinta — often spotlighted by fans — as something the writers never felt the need to over-explain. “People are always asking about Vel and Cinta, but it was never a big deal. It’s just… a relationship.”
That same instinct for grounded storytelling extended to Andor’s lead, played by Diego Luna, who speaks with his native Mexican accent. Cited at one of the very first problem to solve on the show. “It kind of bothered me in Rogue One. I gotta explain this. I gotta explain where he comes from. I gotta, I gotta get into that,” Gilroy added. “But everything is natural, and we don’t ever sit around and talk about it that any other way. I think that’s the healthiest and coolest and most real way to do it.”
“I’ve never approached my work differently. What I didn’t think before is that there was an opportunity for me to do a project this big, you know, with this reach, and still do film the way I love doing film, where it celebrates and respects differences when it celebrates a specificity,” Luna said about speaking with his native accent. “What I was shocked was that I was invited to participate in a Star Wars story, because I as a kid, I never saw myself there. I think things have changed, and I think audiences have a lot to do with that.”
Adria Arjona, who plays Bix Carleen agreed. “I think it’s incredibly important that you know. I, like, Diego, have never, I hadn’t seen myself in a world like Star Wars. And to be able to be here today after two seasons of the show means so much, and I know it means so much to a lot of the fans,” she added. “To see a mirroring effect of what, of what hiring, you know, Diego and myself can actually do to so many to it’s been really it’s been really beautiful.”
Kyle Stoller and Denise Gough, who play Syril Karn and Dedra Meero, respectively, also return. In our interview, we chatted about the character’s relationship and what it was like to develop that.
Stellan Skarsgård, Fiona Shaw, Faye Marsay, Varada Sethu, and Elizabeth Dulau also star. Ben Mendelsohn and Alan Tudyk will reprise their respective roles as Orson Krennic and K-2SO from Rogue One.
Andor season 2 debuts, exclusively on Disney+, on April 22. The 12 episode season will be released three episode blocks for four weeks.