Andor Showrunner Explains The ‘Big Galactic Hit’ & The Wedding Scene Disco Droid

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Andor Showrunner Explains The ‘Big Galactic Hit’ & The Wedding Scene Disco Droid

I remember when the first trailer for season 2 dropped, my first reaction in our /Film work chat was, “I can’t believe this show got me emotionally invested in Mon Mothma, of all characters,” and I mean that as the highest compliment possible. It’s my go-to example of everything this show does so well. It takes these pillars of the franchise, all this iconography, and kind of brings them back down to earth in the best possible way. Tony, is that the kind of reaction you’re looking for in this upcoming season, from both casual viewers and die-hard “Star Wars” fans alike?

Tony Gilroy: Totally. If you were me, that’s exactly what you want. What do I want? I want connection, I want to break your heart, I want you to feel that you understand these people, I want you to be asking questions, “What would I do?” Yeah, I want everything. I want it all. Yeah, absolutely. The answer is yes [laughs].

Genevieve, I can’t even imagine what a whirlwind journey this has been for you, going from “Episode III” to your grand return in “Rogue One,” and now you’re sort of headlining this show with some of the greatest moments so far, I would say. Going into season 2, what unexplored aspects of Mon Mothma’s character did you still feel we needed to learn more about?

Genevieve O’Reilly: Well, first of all, I think I need to say, it doesn’t feel like a whirlwind. It feels like it’s a hike up a mountain. But I think “Andor” helps me, as an actor, really feel like we’ve reached the summit with this character. I feel so grateful for the story, space, the character development, the interest in this woman that Tony and the writing team have allowed for and written for — not just for me as an actor, but for her as a character. I feel like at the end of this season, it’s not just a pillar or a skeleton. We’ve got muscles and sinew and texture and blood and heartbeat, and I really understand the rhythm of this woman in a way that we didn’t really examine before.

Tony Gilroy: Just the marriage alone, just the [parenting] of it all.

Genevieve O’Reilly: Yeah.

Tony Gilroy: If people left at the first season, then they’re like, “Oh, this guy [Perrin] is this…” But it’s so much more complicated, isn’t it, their relationship?