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Andor producer Sanne Wohlenberg breaks down why the latest Disney+ Star Wars show is the perfect introduction to the franchise. Acting as a prequel to 2016's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Andor chronicles the formative years of Diego Luna's Cassian Andor before he becomes known as a hero of the Rebellion. The series, which is created by Rogue One: A Star Wars Story writer Tony Gilroy, has earned rave reviews from audiences and critics alike, with particular praise levied at its mature approach to the Star Wars universe, nuanced characters, and its standalone nature.
In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, producer Sanne Wohlenberg explains why Andor serves as a great introduction to the Star Wars universe for new fans. In contrast to some other Star Wars shows, which are more reliant on elements of existing lore to tell their stories, Wohlenberg brings up the fact that those who are experiencing the franchise for the first time will have no trouble understanding everything that's going on in Andor. Check out Wohlenberg's full comment below:
“I think everybody involved, all the collaborators we'd gotten, were picked very carefully to really get into Tony's DNA and really complement what he is setting out to do. When you get that right, it's a beautiful journey—and I think we did get that right. But we are hugely respectful to the franchise, and at all times aware that it is a really important part of working well within this [Star Wars framework]. Yet the series dares to show us a different side, have a different focus, and be more character-driven and on the ground. To go to the kitchen, rather than always be in the restaurant being served.
“We were aware that we were pushing things, but really believing in it and hoping that we get this right; that it becomes this whole comprehensive thing. That we will get the fans to come on this journey with us, and hopefully find new fans. I think it is a series where, if you know nothing about Star Wars, you will hugely enjoy it too. You don't have to know everything that happened; you can discover the Star Wars franchise through Andor. And that was also something that was exciting, to maybe find some new fans by daring to do that. We had a clear joint focus and hoped we would pull it off, and I think we did.”
Why Andor Being Different Is So Exciting For The Star Wars Franchise
Before Andor had even aired its first episode, it was made clear to fans that the show wouldn't be as full of Star Wars Easter eggs and references as other shows and movies in the franchise. Although having seen Rogue One: A Star Wars Story certainly helps to appreciate some of the nuances in Andor, the series can easily be watched cold, with essentially no prior knowledge of the Star Wars universe. Shows like The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett have featured a number of fan-favorite callbacks to past Star Wars events and characters, but Andor proves that the franchise can be just as thrilling and captivating without those elements.
Andor is also notably a series aimed at slightly more mature audiences, with its plot lines frequently featuring subtle political maneuvering and deception akin to what would be found in a spy thriller. The show also replaces Star Wars' more typical good versus evil dynamic with one dominated by characters operating in gray areas, with Luna's Cassian even coldly gunning down unarmed opponents on several occasions. Of course, while Andor marks a significant departure from typical Star Wars shows in many ways, the series still has plenty for franchise fans to love, including several standout action sequences.
The Star Wars franchise is in something of a difficult position currently, struggling to honor the characters and stories that came before while blazing new ground. Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker, for example, is widely seen to have over-relied on ham-fisted franchise nostalgia instead of serving characters like Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), and Poe (Oscar Isaac) and setting the stage for the future. Andor is, in many ways, a breath of fresh air for the franchise, showing that Star Wars can be about more than just the Skywalker Saga with different tones and points of view ripe for exploration.