Andor season 2 may still be a couple of years away according to showrunner Tony Gilroy, but the Star Wars canon reveals a lot about the future of the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story spinoff. Considering that Andor season 1 took place five years before the events of Rogue One, the Disney+ Star Wars show was more of a Cassian Andor character study that also explored the origins of the Rebel Alliance rather than just a Rogue One prequel. That said, Andor season 2 will take place a year after the events of the first season and will cover Cassian’s life all the way through Rogue One.
As it has become common in Star Wars, a franchise that exists in many different media, following the full story of a character or event usually involves a few different releases. For example, part of the Rebel Alliance’s origin story had already been told before Andor in animated series, novels, and comic books. Likewise, a lot of Mon Mothma’s work as a rebel leader has already been covered not only in the Return of the Jedi but also in Star Wars Rebels. The Star Wars canon also reveals how long it will take for the Death Star to be completed, as well as what the future holds for the rebels.
What Happens To Mon Mothma After Andor Season 1
The Andor finale showed how far Mon Mothma was willing to go for the rebellion. In order to acquire a new powerful ally, Davo Sculdun, Mon Mothma accepted introducing her daughter to Davo’s son, who wishes to marry into the powerful family of senators. Still, compared to what’s next for Mon Mothma's story in Star Wars, Andor season 1 will tragically feel like a low-stakes part of her political life. Realizing that simply assisting Luthen’s operation behind the scenes is not enough, Mon Motha will begin to have a more active role in what will become the Rebel Alliance. Bail Organa, who similarly to Mon Mothma remained a senator, will walk a similar path.
In 4 BBY, which is when Andor season 2 will take place at first, a more organized rebellion combining different cells will have already been formed. Both Bail Organa and Mon Mothma will be key players behind this more consistent rebel movement, yet neither of them will openly go against the Empire at first. That will change for Mon Mothma in 2BBY, which is when the Ghorman Massacre happens. The Ghorman were mentioned by Mon Mothma at the Senate during Andor season 1, and the cruel imperial intervention on the planet two years before A New Hope is what will change Mon Mothma from a spy to a rebel leader.
Considering that Andor season 2 will be set between 4 BBY and 0 BBY, which is when Rogue One happens, the show will most likely cover the Ghorman Massacre through Mon Mothman’s point of view. It’s important to notice that Star Wars Rebels season 3 already covered the immediate aftermath of the Ghorman crisis and revealed how the Imperial massacre led Mon Mothma to take a public stance against Palpatine and the Empire by resigning herself from the Senate and making a statement to the whole galaxy. That is what led Mon Mothma to be declared an enemy of the Empire, thus setting up Mon Mothma as the Rebel Alliance’s chief of state.
The Rebel Alliance Is Formed
In 5 BBY, there was still not really a rebellion against the Empire but rather a few cells spread across the galaxy. However, by the time Andor season 2 begins, a proto-rebel fleet formed by dozens of small rebel cells will already exist. Hera Syndula’s Ghost crew, for example, joins this rebel fleet in 4 BBY. When it comes to the actual Rebel Alliance seen in the Star Wars movies, it is only after Mon Mothma’s speech to the galaxy following the Ghorman Massacre in 2 BBY that the "Alliance to Restore the Republic" is officially formed. Therefore, Andor season 2 will feature a fully formed Rebel Alliance at some point.
Yavin 4 Becomes A Rebel Base
Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy has confirmed that Andor season 2 will visit Yavin 4 (via Collider), the planet first introduced A New Hope. The homeworld of the Massassi, Yavin 4 had been inhabited for millennia by the time the Rebel Alliance chose the planet as one of its main bases. It did not take long after Mon Mothma’s speech in 2 BBY for Yavin 4 to become the Rebel Alliance’s base, therefore it makes a lot of sense for Andor season 2 to feature the iconic Star Wars planet. Cassian becomes someone Mon Mothma can trust at some point between Andor season 1 and Rogue One, and their encounter might happen on Yavin 4.
The Death Star Finishes Construction In Five Years
Confirming a popular theory, Andor’s season 1 finale revealed what the prisoners of Narkina 5 were building – the Death Star. Andor’s post-credits gave audiences a brief glimpse at what the Death Star looked like five years before Rogue One, but while it seems like a significant portion of the work is completed, it will still take around five years for the Death Star to be completed. Rogue One features the Death Star’s first test shot, meaning that the famous Star Wars battle station only becomes functional in 0 BBY, a few hours before the destruction of Alderaan. Therefore, the Death Star won’t finish construction until the very end of Andor season 2.
Cassian Andor Meets K-2SO
Those who have watched Rogue One may have noticed K-2SO’s absence from Andor. However, according to the Star Wars canon, Cassian meets K-2S0 somewhere between 2 BBY and Rogue One. The problem, however, is that the Rogue One - Cassian & K-2SO Special 1 comic book has already told the story of how Cassian reprogrammed the imperial droid who would then become his friend. K-2SO is an important part of Cassian’s life leading up to Rogue One, and their encounter is something Andor season 2 cannot skip. It will be interesting to see if Andor season 2 will retcon Rogue One - Cassian & K-2SO or if will recreate the events of the comic.
What Happens To Luthen In The Star Wars Canon?
Andor’s most enigmatic character, Luthen made theorizing about Andor season 1 difficult. That is because Luthen was created for Andor, meaning that there is nothing about the character in the Star Wars canon so far other than the Tony Gilroy Star Wars show. Still, considering that Luthen does not appear in Rogue One nor is ever mentioned during the events of the original trilogy, Andor season 2 is expected to wrap up Luthen’s story on some level. That does not necessarily mean that Luthen dies in Andor season 2, as he may perhaps take a more secret or independent role in the rebellion.
Does Andor Find His Sister In The Star Wars Canon?
While Andor opened with Cassian looking for his sister, the rest of the season did not continue that storyline. Cassian did not find his sister during Andor season 1, and there is nothing in the Star Wars canon revealing whether he does find her – not even in Rogue One. According to Cassian Andor actor Diego Luna (via Collider), while Cassian’s sister is not in Rogue One, her presence can be felt in the character’s actions. Luna believes that Cassian’s ultimate sacrifice in Rogue One was for his sister, although that does not answer what happened to Cassian’s sister. Therefore, whether Cassian finds her in something that Andor season 2 will most likely cover.
All episodes of Andor are now streaming on Disney+.