‘Andor’ Release Date, Cast, and Everything Fans Need to Know About the Next ‘Star Wars’ Series
Now that Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi miniseries has officially ended, many Star Wars fans may wonder: what’s next? The answer is Andor.
It’s the spinoff show of 2016’s widely-praised Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, making history the first Star Wars film to be made outside of the Skywalker saga. The series lands on the streaming service this summer and follows the story of the titular rebel spy, Cassian Andor.
What is ‘Andor’ about?
Set five years before Cassian, Jyn, K-2SO, and the rest of the crew sacrifice everything to expose the plans for the Death Star, Andor will act as a prequel story to Rogue One. While plot details remain scarce, StarWars.com describes the series as a “nail-biting” spy-thriller. Based on the teaser trailer, it will presumably follow the spy as he coordinates with the beginning sparks of the rebellion in order to fight back against the Empire.
The official synopsis reads: “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.”
The cast of ‘Andor:’ returning ‘Star Wars’ actors and confirmed appearances
Fans will be happy to know that several actors are returning to the galaxy far, far away for Andor, including Diego Luna, who played the titular character in Rogue One. Luna’s role in the series will only mark his second appearance in the Star Wars universe. Fans already acknowledge the character as a street-smart and capable hero hardened by war. But while he died a hero in Rogue One, he also committed questionable acts in the name of the rebellion.
Joining Luna will be Genevieve O’Reilly, reprising her role as Mon Mothma. A politician who served as the representative of Chandrila in the Galactic Senate and Imperial Senate, Mon Mothma was first introduced in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi and later appeared in Rogue One. She was a pivotal leader of the Rebel Alliance and loudly opposed Supreme Chancellor Palpatine’s policies during the final days of the Galactic Republic.
Forest Whitaker will also be reprising his role as resistance fighter Saw Gerrera for Andor. Whitaker previously portrayed the character in Rogue One alongside Luna and O’Reilly. While Saw Gerrera started out fighting in the Clone Wars, he later became a respected leader, thanks to his role in creating the rebellion.
Other confirmed actors include Stellan Skarsgård as a seemingly original Rebel Leader, Denise Gough as an Imperial officer, and Adria Arjona, Fiona Shaw, Anton Valensi, Alex Lawther, Robert Emms, and David Hayman in unknown roles.
When is ‘Andor’ releasing on Disney+?
The Lucasfilm Studio Showcase for Star Wars Celebration held in May revealed that Andor will premiere on the streaming service on August 31.
In addition to sharing the series’ release window, show creators also confirmed that development on season 2 is currently underway, meaning fans can expect to see a lot of Andor in the coming years.
How many episodes are in ‘Andor’ compared to other ‘Star Wars’ shows?
Fans might be pleasantly surprised to learn that, unlike its live-action predecessors Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Mandalorian, and The Book of Boba Fett—which all boasted short six, seven, and eight-episode seasons, respectively—Andor is running a bit longer.
The series will reportedly feature 12 episodes, with the first two set to release on August 31. This wouldn’t be the first time Disney+ has elected to release multiple episodes at once for a new series: Obi-Wan Kenobi and Marvel’s Hawkeye show also dropped their first two episodes at once.
