The first footage from “Andor” season 2 was shown exclusively to the Star Wars Celebration audience this morning, but creator Tony Gilroy announced that it is expected to premiere on Disney+ in August 2024.
“We started shooting in November. We’re about halfway,” Gilroy said. “We’re gonna shoot through August. We’re on an exact schedule. Finish in August, spend another year on post. I suppose we’ll come out the following August.”
“If you know your ending, it really helps,” Gilroy added. “We know exactly where we’re going. You know what you have to deliver emotionally and what the story has to do. It’s a decision borne of survival, but it’s good for us creatively.”
The “Andor” season 2 footage featured returning characters Cassian Andor (Gabriel Luna), Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly), Syril Karn (Kyle Soller), Dedra Meero (Denise Gough), and Bix Caleen (Adria Arjona). Dialogue in the clips included, “I had a feeling you were coming back soon,” and “If we do not stand together, we will be crushed.”
Other returning actors include Stellan Skarsgård as Luthen Rael, Faye Marsay as Vel Sartha, and Varada Sethu as Cinta Kaz. Elizabeth Dulau will likely also return as Luthen’s assistant, Kleya Marki, as will Dave Chapman as the voice of B2EMO, the Andor family droid. Fiona Shaw portrayed Maarva Andor, Cassian’s adoptive mother, in season 1, but Maarva died, leading the season into its climactic episode.
While “Andor” season 1 took place approximately over one year, the 12-episode second season will cover the next four years leading up to “Rogue One.” This will be accomplished with three-episode sections that cover a successive series of days before jumping ahead in time.
In “Rogue One,” Cassian is partners with K-2SO, an Imperial droid he reprogrammed. Though he didn’t appear in “Andor” season 1, K-2SO is expected to appear in season 2, with Alan Tudyk returning to voice the droid.
Gilroy co-wrote “Rogue One,” a prequel to “Star Wars: A New Hope,” with Chris Weitz, and the film was directed by Gareth Edwards. Gilroy wrote five out of the twelve episodes of “Andor” season 1 and was originally supposed to direct multiple episodes. He was unable to due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, so Toby Haynes took over. Other episodes were directed by Susanna White and Benjamin Caron. Other writers included Dan Gilroy (Tony Gilroy’s brother), Stephen Schiff, and Beau Willimon.
Ariel Kleiman will direct six episodes of “Andor” season 2. Janus Metz and Alonso Ruizpalacios will direct other episodes (possibly three each).
Lucasfilm also announced three new standalone “Star Wars” films and the return of Daisy Ridley as Rey. They released the first teaser trailer for “Ahsoka” starring Rosario Dawson as the titular Ahsoka Tano, who first appeared in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and then made her live-action debut in “The Mandalorian.” They also released “The Acolyte” footage exclusively at Star Wars Celebration. “The Acolyte” stars Amandla Stenberg as the titular acolyte and Lee Jung-jae as a Jedi master.
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