Andor: Release Date, Cast, And More

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It's easy to overlook now, but Disney-owned Lucasfilm delivered arguably one of the most fascinating "Star Wars" productions ever made back in 2016. Only a year after "The Force Awakens" smashed box office records and announced that the franchise was back with a vengeance, fans received a much different follow-up in terms of tone, themes, and aesthetic. Rather than focusing on the vaunted Skywalker family, the standalone film "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" instead introduced a batch of brand-new characters who were ultimately little more than cannon fodder in the grand scheme of the Rebellion. The film truly put the "war" in "Star Wars" when every one of those characters ended up giving their lives for the cause by the final act ... albeit only after successfully stealing the Death Star plans and making it possible for the 1977 "Star Wars" to unfold as it did.

Six years later, that seemingly one-and-done story is about to prove whether it can justify the existence of an entirely new prequel series. "Andor" comes with plenty of buzz, a world of storytelling potential, and hopefully a chance for Diego Luna to finally touch Jabba the Hutt. With the premiere set to arrive in the coming weeks, here's everything you need to know about "Andor."

Early reports out of this year's Star Wars Celebration indicated that "Andor" would debut on August 31, 2022. The plans for that original air date, however, have changed. As per the release of the new series trailer, Lucasfilm has pushed the premiere date back almost a full month to late September 2022. Several variables factor into this decision, not the least of which has to do with Marvel's "She-Hulk" debuting on August 17. Pushing "Andor" back allows the two Disney-owned properties a little more time to breathe on their own, without risking the conversation surrounding one series to be subsumed by the other. Similarly, the "Star Wars" series faces stiff competition with the likes of two other major genre shows airing around the same time. HBO's "House of the Dragon" is set to drop on August 21 while Prime Video's "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" is currently on-schedule for September 2.

In any case, fans of all these properties will enjoy an embarrassment of riches in the months ahead as all of these shows jockey for position. All "Star Wars" viewers need to know, however, is that "Andor" will debut its first 3 episodes at once on Disney+ September 21, 2022.

Of all the compelling new characters featured in "Rogue One," fans gravitated towards actor Diego Luna's portrayal of the morally complex Rebel operative Cassian Andor. Though undoubtedly on the side of the good guys, the Gareth Edwards-directed film sought to add certain shades of grey to the lengths that many freedom fighters would go to in order to combat the oppression of the Empire. None embodied this idea more than Andor, the soldier who was first introduced in "Rogue One" mercilessly killing an informant and serving an early antagonistic role to the main character of the film, Felicity Jones' prisoner-turned-Rebel Jyn Erso. Killed off at the end of "Rogue One," "Andor" will seek to shed further light on the complicated figure in the years leading up to the spin-off film.

Though directed by "Monsters" and "Godzilla" filmmaker Gareth Edwards, "Rogue One" will no doubt stand out in the minds of fans due to all those extensive reshoots and the fact that writer Tony Gilroy ("The Bourne Identity," "Michael Clayton") was brought on board to help guide the blockbuster to the finish line. Surely impressed by his work to retool the film on the fly, Lucasfilm has brought Gilroy back as creator, writer, showrunner, and executive producer on "Andor." (Originally meant to direct the series as well, Gilroy had to step back from those duties as a result of the ongoing pandemic.) Writers on "Andor" include Tony's brother Dan Gilroy ("Nightcrawler"), Stephen Schiff ("The Americans"), and Beau Willimon ("The Ides of March," "House of Cards"). Consisting of 12 total episodes, Toby Haynes directs half of the first season and will be joined by fellow directors Susanna White (3 episodes) and Benjamin Caron (3 episodes).

In terms of the cast, "Andor" is led by Diego Luna as Cassian Andor, reprising his role from "Rogue One." He'll also be joined by co-star Genevieve O'Reilly as Mon Mothma — the familiar "Star Wars" senator who likewise appeared in the 2016 film and was originally played by Caroline Blakiston in the original trilogy — and Forest Whitaker as Saw Gerrera, also reprising his role as the Rebel extremist from "Rogue One." Other cast members include Stellan Skarsgård, Adria Arjona, Denise Gough, Kyle Soller, Fiona Shaw, Robert Emms, Varada Sethu, and more.

The Andor series will explore a new perspective from the Star Wars galaxy, focusing on Cassian Andor's journey to discover the difference he can make. The series brings forward the tale of the burgeoning rebellion against the Empire and how people and planets became involved. It's an era filled with danger, deception and intrigue where Cassian will embark on the path that is destined to turn him into a rebel hero.