New ‘Star Wars’ Release Will Officially Change 2016 ‘Rogue One’ Movie
The Star Wars galaxy is set to expand once again—this time with Andor Season 2, which premieres on Disney+ with a three-episode drop on April 22. The follow-up to Tony Gilroy’s widely acclaimed spy thriller isn’t just picking up where it left off—it’s poised to recontextualize one of the franchise’s most beloved entries.
“I mean, we know what we have to do. We never had a moment where we let down [after Season 1],” Gilroy said via Comic Book. “Everybody knew that we couldn’t be over-confident. And we also knew, if this works [on Season 1], we’d better write a bigger cheque for the second season. We knew that we had to go big. So, that’s what we’re trying to do. I mean, hell yeah. Hell yes. There hopefully are a lot of moments.”
Diego Luna, who returns as Cassian Andor, teased even deeper layers to his character’s arc. “I have an answer for that one: not just in the [second] season. Even in Rogue One, you’re gonna hear some lines [on a rewatch] and go [gasps gutturally]. Before, you just passed over them. Not anymore.”
Season 1, which premiered in 2022, introduced a darker, more grounded side of Star Wars. Though it didn’t match the viewership of The Mandalorian or Ahsoka, Andor was praised for its mature tone, political intrigue, and complex characters. The ensemble—featuring Kyle Soller (Syril Karn), Adria Arjona (Bix Caleen), Stellan Skarsgård (Luthen Rael), Fiona Shaw (Maarva Andor), Genevieve O’Reilly (Mon Mothma), Andy Serkis (Kino Loy), and Denise Gough (Dedra Meero)—helped paint a compelling portrait of rebellion under the Empire’s shadow.
The second season ups the ante, covering four years of narrative time that will directly lead into the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016). Episodes are helmed by directors Ariel Kleiman, Janus Metz, and Alonso Ruizpalacios, while the writing team includes Tony Gilroy, Dan Gilroy, Beau Willimon, and Tom Bissell.
Set five years before 1977’s Star Wars: Episode IV–A New Hope, Andor stands apart from the post-Return of the Jedi storytelling of the Mando-Verse. Instead, it serves as a direct prelude to Rogue One, charting Cassian Andor’s transformation from disillusioned thief to rebel hero. With its final season promising to bridge directly into the battle on Scarif, Lucasfilm is crafting a seamless, tragic trilogy—from Andor to Rogue One to A New Hope.
The new season’s structure reflects this sweeping timeline, with each trio of episodes representing one year in the lead-up to Rogue One. After the April 22 premiere, Disney+ will drop episodes in three-episode blocks until May 13, forming a final, continuous arc that ties into the opening moments of A New Hope.
“We started shooting in November [2022],” Gilroy told fans two years ago at Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023. “We’re about halfway. We’re gonna shoot through August [2023]. We’re on exact schedule. [We’ll] finish in August, spend another year on post. I suppose we’ll come out the following August.”
That estimate came just before Hollywood’s dual WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes shook up production schedules across the industry. While Disney didn’t officially blame the delays on the strikes, Andor was notably absent from the 2023 Disney+ slate, which did list The Acolyte and Skeleton Crew among its upcoming titles.
Now, after a three years away from the spotlight, Andor is returning with momentum—and it could be the shot in the arm Disney+ needs. Last year’s Star Wars offerings met with mixed reviews, and as The Acolyte and Skeleton Crew struggled to find their footing, Andor Season 2 has the chance to reaffirm the platform’s creative potential.
Meanwhile, fans will have even more to watch this spring. Lucasfilm will launch Tales of the Underworld, the third entry in Dave Filoni’s Tales of anthology series, during Andor’s run. Premiering on May 4—Star Wars Day—the show features the return of Asajj Ventress (voiced by Nika Futterman) and Cad Bane (Corey Burton) in a series of stories exploring the darker corners of the galaxy.
Expanding on past entries is nothing new for Star Wars. The franchise has long used books, comics, and TV to enrich its lore—and Andor’s second season looks set to continue that tradition, adding layers of meaning to scenes and dialogue fans thought they already understood.
How do you feel about Andor Season 2 changing Rogue One: A Star Wars Story? Let us know in the comments below.
