Although Star Wars is a sci-fi fantasy franchise packed with action and humor, it’s just a decoration. At its core, Star Wars is a narrative based on family, politics and religion; and despite the complexity of those themes, it’s one of the many reasons why the franchise has resonated with audiences for generations. That tradition looks set to continue with Disney+’s new Star Wars show, Andor.
Set to debut on September 21st, Andor is a Rogue One spin-off prequel starring Diego Luna who reprises his role as rebel operative, Cassian Andor.
But while the 2016 Star Wars film was a sacrificial war story, the 12-episode season of Andor has been described as both a spy thriller and a refugee story, and a story that will take on real-world politics.
Star Wars Andor Tackling Donald Trump Era Politics
Not only is Andor Diego Luna’s return to that galaxy far, far away, but it’s also a homecoming for Rogue One writer Tony Gilroy, who created and executive produced the Disney+ show and was reportedly instrumental in its commentary on politics. See the article : New to Amazon Prime Video in August 2022.
Speaking to Empire, Andorra actress Fiona Shaw revealed that Gilroy “wrote a great, tongue-in-cheek [view] of Trump’s world” and that the events of the show reflect what’s happening in the world today:
“Tony has written a great, scathing [review] of Trump’s world. Our world is exploding in different places right now, human rights are disappearing, and Andor reflects that. [On the show] the Empire is taking over, and the same thing seems to be happening in reality.”
While Lucasfilm’s latest Disney+ series, Obi-Wan Kenobi, is set ten years after the events of Revenge of the Sith, Andor picks up fourteen years after the 2005 film and is expected to be one of the most comprehensive analyzes of the Empire at its peak. .
But with the Empire in full force, as Shaw noted, the people will fight because they are in power and the government itself is the main threat.
In such circumstances, the lines between right and wrong are often blurred, something Shaw claimed Gilroy explores in the series:
“I was impressed by Tony’s socialist realist intentions. He created a whole new morality. It’s very deep and humane – there’s sadness, grief, hope, fear. It’s not just primary colors here.”
Although Andor is Tony Gilroy’s second Star Wars project, political themes are nothing new for the writer, director and producer whose resume includes House of Cards and the Bourne films; and while Star Wars isn’t foreign to politics, neither is Gilroy, who noted that Andor “comes from the same place” as his other projects:
“Andor comes from the same place as everything else that has come out of this office. Clayton, Bournes, The Devil’s Advocate, now this… It’s all complete drama.”
As for what the finished project will look like, especially given Andor’s echoes of this “Trump world,” Cassian Andor’s own Diego Luna promises it will be “crazy ambitious, dark and real” and described Gilroy’s pitch as “sick:”
“Even as Tony was writing me, I was like, ‘This is amazing. You are sick.’”
Rebellions are Still Built on Hope
In the Star Wars filmography, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story stands out from the crowd. On the same subject : The 10 best books on cybercrime. Less mythic, grounded and shockingly dark, Rogue One’s power lies in the fact that its entire ensemble sacrificed their lives in order to stop the Empire.
For a story to be added, there must be a reason; it certainly sounds like Andor found that reason in Tony Gilroy’s story.
After the release of Rogue One in 2016, American politics has become increasingly divided and unstable, while desperation, instability, and open war know no bounds.
While humanity is often drawn to stories and entertainment as a means of escape in such times, stories are often a way to provide understanding, perspective, and even inspiration.
From what Fiona Shaw and Diego Luna shared, fans can expect a reflection of our real world in a way that is real, ambitious and relatable. This kind of Star Wars project is something that fans have wanted to see for a long time, especially in terms of the darker side of Rebellion and Empire.
Undoubtedly, anticipation for Andor is rising; but along with determination and commentary, the Star Wars story also needs hope. Despite its tragic ending, Rogue One was still able to inspire and provide a sense of hope; and given the state of the world right now, hopefully Andor will do the same.
The first three episodes of Andorra are set to premiere on Disney+ on September 21.
