Tony Gilroy’s Massively Optimistic Update on Andor Season 2 Proves Show Has Truly Broken Free of Disney’s Chokehold

Lately, the Star Wars universe has been hit and miss with shows and movies that have had mixed levels of success. Some shows have faced the problem of not living up to expectations, but there are some shows that has successfully carved out a space in a galaxy far, far away. 

Among them, Andor came as a surprise to be one of the most loved series. It gave a realistic and more serious take on the early years of the Rebel Alliance fighting against the Galactic Empire. Although the show had a great cast and a good storyline, the success was also because of the need to show something that was not usual.

Creative Freedom Increases Hopes for Andor Season 2

The reception of Andor’s first season affected how Disney has been managing the creatives behind the show. As it is known well enough, it has been a topic of debate within the Star Wars fan base that since Disney bought Lucasfilm, the franchise has had a problem with its story and direction.

However, in a recent interview with Empire magazine, showrunner Tony Gilroy mentioned some details that reveal a different scenario than what fans expect of the studio’s intense involvement with the creative process. Gilroy said,

In terms of creative notes, no one has come to me and said, ‘No, they shouldn’t say that.’

The showrunner also admitted that he “never got any notes on this show.” Such freedom was attained with a price. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Andor Season 1 had a budget of around $250 million, and it seems interesting that Disney has decided to keep its hands off this time for the next season. Gilroy attributes this to the critical success of Season 1. He said,

The critical appreciation of the show was really helpful, if not essential, in helping Disney choke down the price of what this is.

Ever since Disney bought Lucasfilm, fans have been saying that the studio is trying to play safe and bringing down the edginess and maturity of the franchise to make it more family-friendly.

Earlier in an interview with Fandango (via Variety), Ryan Reynolds also expressed his surprise when Disney allowed Deadpool & Wolverine to stay R-rated. He said, “I was surprised though, that they let us go as hard R,” and acknowledged “It’s a huge step for them.”

Such a change in creative control is significant because the franchise has faced frequent problems with creative interference. Whether it be “Release the JJ Cut” of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker or several reported internal studio disputes, Disney often landed under massive scrutiny for handling Star Wars.

Andor Season 2 Promises to Push Boundaries Even Further

With this newly acquired creativity, fans will expect the second season of Andor to surpass its predecessor. Genevieve O’Reilly, who plays Rebel leader Mon Mothma, said in the Empire interview, “If season 1 was a set-up, season 2 is a juggernaut.”

The next season will span four years of Cassian Andor’s life, which will lead to the events of Rogue One. Esquire recently ran an interview with Kyle Soller, who portrays Syril Karn, in which he confirmed Disney’s plans for season 2. He said,

We’ve been doing rehearsals lately. I mean, they’re turning it up to 11. There are more people, more planets, more worlds. There’s an amazing storyline about this new group of people. And I don’t know, man, it’s amazing really to walk onto these massive sets that they’re building.

Fans can hope for an uncompromising Andor Season 2 because of Gilroy’s creative freedom. This approach has already proven to be helpful, as the first season received a 96% critic rating and an 87% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of the most acclaimed Star Wars series to date.

Andor is available to stream on Disney+.

Andor Season 2 will premiere on Dinsey+ on April 22, 2025.