Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Andoris widely regarded among the bestStar Warsprojects created to date, not only for the storyline show creator Tony Gilroy perfectly helmed into the series but also for all the thematic elements he incorporated into it. Flaunting a star-studded cast led by Diego Luna as the titular character, it served as a true feast to the eye for all theStar Warsenthusiasts out there.
Of course, seeing it on the screens felt as undeniably entertaining as it was, it was nothing short of a risky move at the hands of the show curator. While Gilroy’s one ballsy decision with the fan-favorite series has actually helped it become arguably the best show from George Lucas’ soap opera universe, it was also nothing short of a risky decision that could have easily backfired.
Tony Gilroy’s risky decision forAndorcould have easily backfired
As iconic as Andor’s storyline is, one of the reasons why it became such a favorite among fans was because it felt different and more unique than anything else from the sci-fi lore. This uniqueness was a result of show creatorTony Gilroy‘s decision to not constantly refer to the pre-existingStar Warssource material to progress in the story’s plotline.
Talking toScript Magazine, the showrunner shared the same, saying:
I do not go back and look at the materials [like Star Wars Rebels and the novels Catalyst and Tarkin] to figure out what I should do. We do what we want to do and if we bump or we hit a guardrail or we get a high sign or we get a flashing yellow light or sometimes we change and do something else.
At the same time, he also made it clear that he knew
what the calendar is, I know what the general rules are, I know I have a pretty good handle on the cosmology of what’s out there and the canon somewhat. And I know the places where there’s potential conflicts. I’ve also been cleared from the very beginning. We’re using that as cannon fodder as we go forward.
To put it simply, not checking back with the material that has already been established before and deciding to make your own way with it is like a double-edged sword. Since Disney/Lucasfilmhandled it well, it led to the show’s success, but had it not been tamed well, it could have easily backfired and made the series way out of touch with theStar Warsworld.
Why “Andor” Is Getting Canceled After Season 2, Explained
That said, it’s inarguable that the masterminds behind the series weren’t constantly switching back and forth between the already existing source material. Instead, they tried to make things fit through their own perspective and ideas of where and how the story should go. That, of course, was a creative move that had the show succeed, but a risky one nonetheless.
“We decide what we want to do within what we know”: Tony Gilroy onAndor
JugglingtheStar Warstimelinethis way with the bare bones of the carpentry ofAndormay have been creative but it must not have, in any way, been an easy task to deal with. As creator Tony Gilroy explained during the same interview with Script Magazine, “We work it from the negative side, not the positive side – I suppose that’s the easiest way to say it.”
That said, he also emphasized that their creative decisions, rather than referring to the pre-existing source material, only further helped them in figuring out which decision would be too much and which one would be not enough. Thanks to this risky but important decision, they were able to figure out what exactly would serve as that perfectly interesting element to incorporate into the series.
Beware Star Wars Fans: The Same Reason Tony Gilroy Gave for Andor’s Success Ahead of Season 2 is Exactly What Shot Down Joker 2
Gilroy went on to talk about the same, saying:
We have to tiptoe around some things. I’m not out digging through that material looking for inspiration. In fact, I have to stay away from that, so it works the other way. We decide what we want to do within what we know, they tell us if we’ve gone too far or not far enough.
Well, all of these creative decisions most certainly seem to have worked out in the series and franchise’s favor. This is because not only does this respective show sport a whopping 96% critical score coupled with an 87% approval rating from general audiences onRotten Tomatoes, but also earned itself 3 stunning BAFTA nods and 8 baffling Primetime Emmy nominations.
Andor can currently be streamed on Disney+.
Mahin Sultan
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2478
Mahin Sultan is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, where she brings a fresh perspective to entertainment news. Having been in the field for over 3 years now, she has already written more than 2,000 articles across a variety of niches, from entertainment to health and fashion. This diverse experience has allowed her to quickly build a solid foundation and a deep understanding of the industry.
