Cassian Andor is set to arrive back on screens ofStar Warsfans later this year in Andor, an all-new series coming to Disney+. Played by Diego Luna, this character has only appeared in live-action one time before this series inRogue One: A Star Wars Story. In this film, Andor is the second main character alongside Jyn Erso, played by Felicity Jones, and is the main rebel leader who goes to help find the Death Star plans and investigate the rumors of an Imperial superweapon that could wipe out the resistance once and for all.
Andor dies at the end of the film in an epic and emotional scene, something that felt natural given there was no mention or sign of him or any of the other heroes inRogue Onethroughout the original trilogy, the series of films that the firstStar Warsspinoff movie is set so close to. It seemed unlikely fans would ever get to see the character again, but he’s back once more on Disney+.Andoris said to be a prequel series focusing on the earlier years of the character, but is not an origin story. Rather, it tells the tale of Andor as a rebel spy amidst a rising conflict in the galaxy, a show that seems to be theStar Warsequivalent ofThe Americansor other Cold War dramas.
RELATED:Star Wars: Rey & Kylo Ren’s Kiss Ruined Both Their Character Arcs
With this announcement, some fans have expressed concern that Cassian isn’t an important enough character to warrant a central role in a series like this, particularly as he already had an entire film in which he was in the spotlight. Despite these worries, it’s ultimately the way in whichthe story ofAndoris toldthat will determine if this show is warranted, not the perceived importance of the character prior to its release.
With the conclusion of the Skywalker saga,Star Warsseems to be going backward to move the franchise forward. This is highlighted byThe Mandalorianand its related shows, like the recently concludedThe Book of Boba Fett, which are set five years after the events ofReturn of the Jediand years before the sequel trilogy. Lucasfilmand Disney have moved back in the timeline, but for a specific purpose: to find the right moment in the canon ofStar Warsto tell a story like this.
This is also evident with Obi-Wan Kenobi, another Disney+ series arriving later this year, which is set 10 years afterRevenge of the Sithand quite some time away from the original and sequel trilogies. The upcoming seriesThe Acolyteis another example of this, set even further back in the timeline in the years beforeThe Phantom Menace. As of now, there are no clear signs of any projects set afterThe Rise of Skywalker, and the 2019 film looks set to be the furthest point in canon, for the time being at least.
Of course,one of these projects set years beforeisAndor. In the absence of a clear saga or central story in the franchise at the moment, although it’s becoming more clear thatThe Mandalorianis a mini-universe of sorts, shows likeAndorare popping up frequently on the lists of upcomingStar Warsprojects, especially given that Disney+ seems to be the home of the franchise for the time being as theatrically released movies are in development. It currently seems as if any notable character is a serious possibility to lead their own show at some point, with rumors of a Bo-Katan series, in particular, swirling around at the moment.Andoris one that is already confirmed, and is proof thatLucasfilm are determined to tell interesting storiesthat fans will enjoy, and see these pre-existing characters as a way to do this.
As so many characters are getting shows, fans are asking the question stated above, if Andor andother heroes (or villains)are important enough to deserve the spotlight that comes with getting a whole series to themselves. Ultimately, though, it depends entirely on the story and the way in which it’s told. There are plenty of stories that can be told that might not have a great impact on the overallStar Warscanon. Many episodes ofThe Clone Warsare prime examples of this. The Mortis arc, one of the most famous series of episodes ofThe Clone Wars, show Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka as they are stranded on an unknown planet that is strong with the Force and home to ancient, powerful beings on both the light and dark side.
A lot happens in these episodes, including Anakin finding out that he is destined to turn to the dark side, fight his master Obi-Wan, and lose Padme as she dies in childbirth. However, the memories of their time on Mortis for these heroes vanish after they leave, so the story is quite inconsequential all things considered. Still, the themes it explores and the way in which it carefully navigates a hectic time period in the galaxy to further the characters and improve the prequels overall is a testament to the quality of the show.
Therefore,Andordoesn’t need to have incredibly high stakes in order to be a show of high quality. Not every upcomingStar Warsproject needs a Luke Skywalkerat the end ofThe Mandalorianseason 2type moment, and for many it would be a disservice to do so. Dave Filoni did an excellent job on bothThe Clone WarsandStar Wars Rebelsto raise the stakes more than audiences thought was possible, and this was in part down to the stretching of canon in order to solidify the stories being told as ones of importance.The Mandalorianand its related shows, such asThe Book of Boba Fett, seem to be taking the same approach, as they have far more of an impact on the overallStar Warscanon than what fans thought was possible prior to the release of any live-action series.
As stated,Andoris being tipped as a spy thriller set in theStar Warsgalaxy, so it ultimately needs to succeed in telling a successful espionage, tense story. In doing so,Andorwill be successful, and therefore the show will have been worth it. The main story ofStar Warsis over (for now at least) with the conclusion of the Skywalker Saga in 2019, so it’s naturalto look elsewhere to find new compelling stories. Not all of these stories have to have the highest stakes or a tremendous impact on canon, although many surely will, and it seems thatThe Mandalorianhas that covered anyway for fans worried that postThe Rise of Skywalkerprojects won’t have the relevance that the movies did.
Looking at another franchise, the MCU, the interconnectivity on display in all Marvel films almost conceals the fact that many films (and shows now) don’t exactly push the broader story of the universe forward significantly, if it all, and that’s perfectly okay. Rather, they focus on character development and telling the story of the particular project at hand to the best of their ability. ForAndor, the importance of the character as perceived by fans prior to the show’s release only means so much, and even if the series doesn’t have a big impact on canon,it doesn’t mean that it’s not successfulof that Diego Luna’s character doesn’t deserve his own show. Rather, as long as it’s a good show, Cassian Andor will deserve his time in the spotlight.
MORE:This 2003 Star Wars Series Is Essential Viewing Before Obi-Wan Kenobi
