The world of Star Wars is no stranger to rumors, and recently, a big one has been circulating about two of its most important creators. With Dave Filoni stepping into a major leadership role at Lucasfilm, an old report resurfaced claiming he was not a fan of the critically acclaimed series, Andor. This naturally caused a stir among fans who worry about the future direction of the galaxy far, far away. Now, Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy has directly addressed the speculation, setting the record straight in a new interview. His response is far more simple and cordial than the dramatic rumors suggested.
For years, Dave Filoni has been seen as the guardian of George Lucas’s vision, having worked on beloved animated series like The Clone Wars and Rebels before moving to live-action with The Mandalorian and Ahsoka . Tony Gilroy, on the other hand, came from a background of gritty political thrillers like the Bourne series and brought a very grounded, espionage-driven tone to Andor . This difference in style led to the persistent buzz that Filoni simply did not appreciate what Gilroy was doing.
Gilroy Clears the Air on Filoni Relationship
In a recent conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Tony Gilroy was asked point-blank about the rumors suggesting Dave Filoni disliked Andor . Gilroy did not hold back, explaining that their professional paths have barely crossed, making any talk of a major creative clash seem unfounded. He emphasized that there has never been any bad blood between them.
“We’ve only met a couple times, and we’ve only had a half-a-dozen conversations over the last ten years,” Gilroy told the outlet. “Seriously. I saw Jon Favreau at a scoring session once. We’ve always gotten along with those guys, and we’ve never had anything but high praise for everything that they’ve done” .
Gilroy went further to explain that without the success of Filoni and Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian, his own show might never have been given the green light. He made it clear that he sees their work as foundational to the current era of Star Wars storytelling on Disney+.
“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, ever, ever, ever,” Gilroy continued .
Where Did the “Dislike” Rumor Start?
The rumor that Dave Filoni disliked Andor first gained major traction in January 2026. It originated from a report by The Wrap, which claimed that according to an unnamed individual who worked inside Lucasfilm, Andor was a series that Filoni “disliked” . This report came out right around the time it was officially announced that Kathleen Kennedy would be stepping down as president and that Filoni would be taking on a larger creative role as co-president .
The timing of the leak made the rumor particularly potent. Fans who adore Andor for its mature, political themes immediately grew concerned that the new boss might steer the franchise away from such storytelling . Social media lit up with debate, with some fans panicking and others pointing out that Filoni had publicly praised the show before.
For example, during an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Filoni spoke highly of the series, saying, “When you look at something that’s taken as different, like Andor, it’s so well done, and Tony [Gilroy] and his team do such a phenomenal job. I think there’s an audience for that” . This previous public support makes the anonymous rumor seem questionable, especially now that Gilroy has confirmed their interactions have always been positive.
What This Means for the Future of Star Wars
With both seasons of Andor now available to stream on Disney+, the series stands as a unique entry in the Star Wars canon . It is a story focused on the birth of the Rebellion, featuring few legacy characters and zero Jedi. Its conclusion was always planned, and star Diego Luna previously mentioned that filming five full seasons would have been an impossible task due to the intense production schedule .
Meanwhile, Dave Filoni is busy with the next chapter of the franchise, which includes the upcoming film The Mandalorian & Grogu . While the rumor of a feud may have been overblown, it highlighted a real conversation among fans about the variety of tones in a galaxy as vast as Star Wars.
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Tony Gilroy’s recent comments confirm that there is no personal drama driving the ship at Lucasfilm. The respect between the creative teams appears to be mutual, even if their storytelling styles are different. As Gilroy simply put it, he knows just as much about the situation as the public does, and their history is short but friendly . For now, viewers can enjoy the complete story of Cassian Andor without worrying about any behind-the-scenes tension.
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