Andor Show Will Completely Change Star Wars Canon, Teases Showrunner

The upcoming Disney+ show Andor may include a few deviations from what fans have come to know about the character and Star Wars canon itself.

Andor Show Will Completely Change Star Wars Canon, Teases Showrunner

Andor, the upcoming Star Wars Disney+ show telling the story of Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor, may have a few deviations from Star Wars canon. The character first appeared in the 2016 original trilogy prequel Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Andor served as a Rebel spy, helping Jyn Erso deliver Death Star plans to Princess Leia, which eventually led to his and Erso’s deaths. Despite his fate in Rogue One, Andor has since become a fan-favorite, prompting Disney+ to launch a spinoff show alongside other solo-character titles like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka.

Described by Disney+ as a “spy thriller,” Andor will take place five years before the events of Rogue One. Luna will reprise his role as the title character, joined by a cast that includes Stellan Skarsgård, Adria Arjona, and Fiona Shaw. Andor will also see the return of Genevieve O’Reilly as the former senator-turned-Rebel leader Mon Mothma. The series is set to hit Disney+ sometime this year, though a release date has not yet been announced.

Now, Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy sits down with Vanity Fair and teases a few details about the show – namely, that the plot may include a few deviations from what fans have come to know about Star Wars. According to Gilroy, when it comes to the five-year period prior to the start of A New Hope, even information from the Star Wars encyclopedia site, Wookieepedia, may not be entirely true. Check out his quote below:

There are certain events that happen in these five years that are important and need to be paid attention to. There are certain people, characters that are legacy characters, that the audience, the passionate audience, really feels that they have an understanding of and know. In some cases they’re right. And in some cases, what we’re saying is, ‘What you know, what you’ve been told, what’s on Wookieepedia, what you’ve been telling each other… is really all wrong.’ […] [Or] it’s upside down, or it’s sideways, or it’s the opposite of what you thought was true. Or it’s way more interesting than you had ever thought. Or that’s a lie and there’s a reason for it. I would say that there’s some surprises in store.

Andor’s intention to rewrite Star Wars canon may come as a surprise to fans, particularly purists who prefer that film and TV writers not mess with details outlined in previous stories. This wouldn’t be the first time that Star Wars undid canon on screen, however. Prior to the sequel trilogy, the stories of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and other characters continued in novels. The canon established by these stories was done away with when The Force Awakens released, and some fans remain bitter about the changes, especially those left unsatisfied with the overall sequel trilogy plotline.

Still, Andor‘s story may be isolated enough that any changes to his character may not majorly affect the continuity of the Star Wars universe. Being essentially a spy show, creators likely want to create surprising twists that will keep audiences guessing and entertained. Gilroy’s comments seem to indicate that not everything presented in Star Wars canon is as it seems, which only adds to the show’s intrigue. However the show unfolds, Andor remains a fascinating addition to Star Wars, with a passionate fanbase eagerly awaiting to see how his story intersects with others in the universe.