Lucasfilm and Disney have more Star Wars stories to tell, with Andor next up on the list, and an official trailer revealed that it was delayed for another month, now premiering on September 21. Though Cassian Andor's fate was sealed in Rogue One, the 12-episode series will serve as his backstory, and the trailer hinted at the beginnings of the Rebel Alliance.
Many fans took to Twitter to share their reaction, especially their excitement to see Diego Luna return as Cassian in his own titular show, but that's not all. From higher production values to a new helping of lore, Star Wars fans had plenty to react to.
Wookiepedia Has A Lot Of Work Coming Up
Both in and out of mainline continuity, Star Wars is dense with storylines and worldbuilding. And in the height of the digital age, all of that information has to go somewhere for diehard fans to conveniently comb through.
Wookiepedia is perhaps one of the most popular fandom wikis online, cataloging incomprehensible amounts of Star Wars' rich lore. As one might imagine, the editors there are hard at work, especially whenever new projects are released -- regardless of the medium -- and the official Twitter account already poked fun at the work that lies ahead once Andor premieres.
The Trailer Comes With A Bit Of Unfortunate News
As one of the resident highest-grossing media franchises of all time (via Box Office Mojo), a new Star Wars production is always an event in and of itself. They're often met with anticipation, and the new Andor trailer is no different. But as tantalizing as the new look at the show and its main cast of characters was, there was a bit of a give and take with the news.
Originally set to premiere on August 31st, it was confirmed that Andor has been bumped back slightly to September 21st. It at least is set with a 3-episode premiere now, but user @AngryEwok1138 couldn't help but amusingly use the timeless Giancarlo Esposito meme to emphasize their mixed emotions.
A Welcome Tonal Change Of Pace
Lucasfilm's cash-cow IP has the potential for a lot of creative liberty when it comes to genre exploration. Fans have seen some of this already with the beloved flagship series The Mandalorian, as it blended science fiction with a classic western atmosphere. Star Wars fans are similarly optimistic for Andor in this department, with users like @Akipaparaki praising the recent trailer's general feel.
While unlike any other Star Wars production might be a stretch given its parallels to Rogue One, it's certainly an exciting showcase for a more grounded, gritty, spy-thriller element that the franchise hasn't used much of. Andor is in good company there, at least, as Rogue One is arguably one of the most rewatchable Star Wars movies.
A Mix Of The Classics & The Modern
Both Andor and Rogue One take place just before the start of A New Hope, and it looks like- the upcoming series is going to get a bit more creative with what characters and backgrounds fans will see on screen. Forest Whitaker's live-action portrayal of Saw Gerrera makes a return, who was a character originally created for Dave Filoni's acclaimed animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
At the same time, the trailer showed bits of the planet Coruscant -- first depicted in the prequel trilogy -- as well as Imperial-led Clone Troopers as opposed to the original trilogy's Storm Troopers. As said by user @kyrothren9, it looks like Andor will be a loving blend of pieces of Star Wars classics and more modern stories.
Higher Production Quality
Overall, the production quality has been a common criticism of several Disney+ shows, Marvel and Star Wars alike. TV series seem to be plagued by uninspired sets, cinematography, and rushed special effects, which the likes of the recent Obi-Wan Kenobi catching some heat for that as well.
However, the latest trailer for Andor showed a welcome return to form for a project under such a mammoth franchise as Star Wars. User @Victor_ryy expressed optimism over the jump in quality, noting that it seems like a major step up from The Book of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan.
Some Oddly Familiar Weaponry
Among many other things, the Star Wars universe is known for its colorful weaponry. It's expected considering this is a hybrid sci-fi/fantasy franchise, after all, but there was a shot of an oddly familiar-looking weapon in the Andor trailer.
Early on, a Rebel soldier can be seen with what looks like a real-world AK-47, or at least something that's nearly the spitting image of it. User @Khanada_88 comically remarked and pointed out that Mikhail Kalashnikov's handiwork -- who was the Russian inventor of the AK-47 -- knows no galactic bounds.
Excitement Over Seeing More Of Diego Luna's Character
Rogue One had a diverse cast of characters that could've admittedly afforded to have each of their backgrounds fleshed out more, but Diego Luna's titular character was a standout.
His dynamic with Felicity Jones' Jyn Erso was great, and he was a compelling character in his own right, even if much of his backstory was left to the imagination. Up until now, though, fans like user @PowerHouseG33 felt impressed with Luna's performance and character back then and are confident going into Andor.
Bringing Back A Dose Of Political Intrigue
Honing on elements of the prequel trilogy, the Andor trailer looks like it will bring back an exciting amount of political intrigue. It's especially fitting, considering the spy-thriller genre and Rebellion-era setting of the upcoming show.
And while the prequels stumbled more often than not, Revenge of the Sith specifically managed another happy landing, with part of its strengths being the boiling tensions that led to the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Empire. Alongside the aforementioned setting of Courscant making a comeback, fans like user @brittbarnim are thrilled over a possible return of political drama in Andor.
Throwback To Legends Comics
Seeing Clone Troopers again and in the age of the Rebellion is a fun mix of the old with the (relatively) new, but it could also be a throwback to the now-Legends continuity of Star Wars comics. User @MaximusNova80 was pleased with this new addition, noting how it happily reminds him of Dark Horse Comics' Star Wars: Dark Times series.
Dark Times took place after Dark Horse's Purge series, chronicling the height of the Empire's rule over the galaxy before A New Hope. While much of the former Expanded Universe works were stricken from canon, Disney-era Lucasfilm has been gradually reintroducing pieces of their lore back into mainline continuity.
Reigniting Interest In The Character
Though Rogue One was largely well-received and Luna's performance and character served as one of its highlights, Cassian Andor's admittedly vague backstory in the movie left some fans wanting. Luna's performance was compelling and passionate, but the size of the supporting cast spread the runtime a bit thin among them.
For those that initially felt underwhelmed, Andor seems to be reigniting intrigue in the character's origins. User @TraffyX0 was impressed with how they came away from the trailer genuinely excited and interested in what story this series will tell.