Considering Star Wars fans once had to raid bookshelves and comic shops for expanded universe content, we now live in what feels like a golden era. Amongst a stream of rapid fire releases including Kenobi and The Book of Boba Fett, Disney+ shows no sign of slowing the Star Wars live action train down.
A new series is almost here, bringing an interesting perspective to the universe with a lesser-known character who operates more in line with spy tactics than noble Jedi combat. At first, most fans weren't too bothered about a series featuring such an overlooked character, but the trailer they dropped recently has supercharged public reception to a new level of HYPE!
Andor is coming next month, beginning with three episodes that will release at the same time on September 21st 2022. Weekly episodes will then follow, so no all-out binging. (Author's note: is this perhaps the best way to do online shows? I've binged quite a few in one go and it sort of...spoils it.) So what is Andor and what is it all about?
What is Andor?
We've had a few people asking 'where' Andor is, which demonstrates some of the confusion people have around the upcoming release. Andor, unlike Alderaan, is not a planet in Star Wars but is instead a name. Cassian Andor, played by Diego Luna, was a character in Rogue One and will reprise the role for this series, which charts Cassian's journey before joining the Rebel Alliance.
Andor aims to be more of an espionage/spy thriller, which makes it unique compared to the western theming of The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett.
It must be good, too, as there's already been a second season confirmed by Disney+, which will tell the story right up until the events of Rogue One. The series is going to be something special for fans and is a welcome change to the standard format of only following the most beloved characters. In Cassian Andor, we're going to explore someone who operates in a different plane of Star Wars existence- dealing less with Sith and Jedi duels and more with spying, sabotage and theft.
Who is Cassian Andor?
Cassian is a natural rebel, serving in both the Confederacy of Independent Systems and then the Rebel Alliance. He was born on the planet of Fest and grew up with a hatred for the empire after losing his father during the war. Cassian was known for his handsome looks and disarming personality, which often lured people into false trust. At his core, however, he was a professional who was unafraid to commit morally questionable acts in the name of rebellion.
Does Andor have lightsabers?
With this show focusing more on the 'little people' who make up the majority of the Galaxy's combatants, we don't expect to see a Jedi or Sith as a main character. But knowing Star Wars, we would expect to see at least some duelling lightsabers featured - even if it's a saber wielder showing off their dominance against blaster fire.
Cassian Andor's main armament is a blaster that can be configured into a sniper or assault setting, so perhaps we'll even see him trying to outshoot a saber-wielder.
When does Andor start?
We mentioned it at the beginning of this article, but let's recap: Andor is going to launch September 21st 2022, with three episodes available from the start and then one more dropping each week. Catch it on Disney+.
We can't wait to see what Andor delivers and whether it reaches the same heights as The Mandalorian after the somewhat disappointing Kenobi. Whether you love every release so far, hate them or stand somewhere in between, you can't argue that it's a great time to be a fan of Star Wars.
Imagery used under CC from Disney+'s media kit: Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) in Lucasfilm's ANDOR, exclusively on Disney+. ©2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.