Tony Gilroy, the creator and showrunner of the critically acclaimed series Andor, is not holding back when it comes to sharing his honest opinions about the Star Wars franchise. In a recent conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Gilroy addressed the galaxy far, far away’s tendency to play it safe and explained why he personally prefers to take big swings, even if it means failing spectacularly .
Gilroy, who first entered the Star Wars universe to help steer Rogue One: A Star Wars Story to success, has spent nearly a decade working within the Lucasfilm machine. With the second and final season of Andor set to premiere on April 22, 2025, he is opening up about the challenges of making expensive content and why he believes the franchise could benefit from being less cautious .
Tony Gilroy’s Message to Studios: Take Risks or ‘Go Down in Flames’
When asked if he feels disappointed that the wider Star Wars universe might not follow the mature, grounded path that Andor carved out, Gilroy made it clear that he understands the business side of things. He acknowledged that he does not have the burden of managing the massive budgets that come with these productions .
However, the writer and director did share his personal philosophy on how he would run things if he were in charge. Instead of playing it safe to protect investments, he would rather take creative chances.
“If I was going to do that job, I would rather go down swinging. I’d rather go down in flames. As low-risk as my life is, my creative life is pretty high-risk, so I’d like to swing away. Safety has never been one of my navigational principles,” Gilroy explained to the publication .
His comments come at a time when many fans and critics feel that major franchises, including Star Wars, rely too heavily on nostalgia and familiar faces rather than introducing fresh concepts. Gilroy admitted that the high cost of making these shows makes executives nervous, which leads to safer choices. “The problem is there’s no inexpensive way to do these shows [or movies],” he noted .
Addressing the ‘Rift’ Rumors With The Mandalorian Boss Dave Filoni
During the same interview, Gilroy also took the time to shut down rumors suggesting there was tension between him and new Lucasfilm creative chief Dave Filoni. Reports had previously speculated that Filoni was not a fan of Andor because it differed so much from the animated series and other live-action projects he helped develop, like The Mandalorian .
Gilroy dismissed these claims as confusing and untrue. He emphasized that the relationship between the different creative teams has always been positive and respectful.
“We’ve always gotten along with those guys, and we’ve never had anything but high praise for everything that they’ve done. We only have our show because of them, and we’ve always said that was true. There’s no Andor without The Mandalorian. It would not exist. So it has never been anything but cordial and pleasant, ever,” Gilroy stated firmly. “I don’t know anything that you don’t know” .
‘Not Knowing, Not Caring Is a Superpower’
This is not the first time Gilroy has spoken about his outsider status within the Star Wars fandom. He has repeatedly said that he was never a die-hard fan of the franchise growing up, and he believes that actually helped him make Andor better .
In a previous Q&A session for Golden Globes voters, Gilroy described himself as a “mercenary” who was brought in to fix Rogue One. He explained that not being emotionally attached to the lore allowed him to see things clearly when others were struggling.
“I saw the first film in 1977. I watched the first trilogy, for sure. No secret, it was never my thing, or my first choice. I wasn’t on the bus with that at all,” Gilroy recalled . He added, “Not knowing, not caring is a superpower when people are in trouble. When something’s not working, it doesn’t help to be a fan” .
He carried that same mentality into the writers’ room for Andor. Reports indicate that Gilroy explicitly told his team of writers not to rely on their love for Star Wars while crafting the story. He wanted them to trust their own artistic instincts rather than worrying about staying true to the lore or pleasing hardcore fans .
Expanding the Galaxy: From Courtroom Dramas to Horror
Gilroy has also been a vocal advocate for expanding the types of stories told within the Star Wars universe. He previously pitched the idea of doing something completely different, like a courtroom drama or a three-camera sitcom, set in that world .
“I always fantasised that the show would break new ground, that someone would be able to make a three-camera sitcom in Star Wars or a horror movie,” he told SFX Magazine last year .
He believes the franchise is big enough to handle any genre. “I think the first thing I said to Kathy [Kennedy, Lucasfilm president] when she said they wanted to open a line, was, ‘Could you do a courtroom drama?’ And why not? We’ve worked really hard on Andor to make our lane, and it’s up to other people now to find another way to do it” .
Saying Goodbye to Star Wars and Moving On
Despite his success with the franchise, Gilroy is ready to move on. After spending nearly a decade immersed in the rebellion against the Empire, he is stepping away to focus on original projects.
“It’s really been 10 years,” he told the House of R podcast. “I haven’t done much else in there. I’d really like to direct again. I got a movie I’m trying to put together. I mean, 26 hours of Star Wars, you know, that’s a lot” .
His next project is a drama film about a composer titled Behemoth!, which will star Pedro Pascal (who also stars in The Mandalorian), Olivia Wilde, and Eva Victor .
As for the characters he will miss the most, Gilroy had a surprising answer. While he mentioned the Imperial officer Major Partagaz, he saved his highest praise for the mother of Syril Karn. “Every time there was an Eedy scene, it was like, ‘I’m taking that, I’m taking that, I’m taking that,’” he joked about the scenes featuring the character played by Kathryn Hunter .
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Andor Season 2 Release Plans
Fans will not have to wait long to see how Gilroy wraps up his story. Andor Season 2 is set to premiere on Disney+ on April 22, 2025. Unlike the weekly release of the first season, the final season will drop in four three-episode blocks, taking viewers through the four years leading directly into the events of Rogue One .
Gilroy has high confidence in the final product, calling it his best work. He even had the unique experience of watching the completed episodes with fresh eyes due to the production break caused by the writers’ strike .
“You’re always in the cutting room on a show, in a movie, and inevitably, you’re at the point where you say, ‘Man, I’d pay $50,000 if I could see my movie for the first time.’ I got to watch all 12 episodes on the run with the freshest eyes I could ever imagine, and I got to watch it as the audience would see it,” he shared .
While the future of Star Wars may continue to focus on Jedi, Mandalorians, and familiar faces from the past, Gilroy leaves behind a legacy that proved the galaxy could also be a place for slow-burn political thrillers and deeply human stories.
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