"Andor" Showrunner Tony Gilroy Says The Jedi & Sith Are Secretive In The Galaxy

Ever wonder why in the first Star Wars film the Jedi are a myth fairytale even though only under twenty years have passed since the Emperor took power and forced the remaining Jedi into hiding?

Tony Gilroy’s Andor has been praised for doing what few Star Wars projects dare: stepping away from fan service. While the series respects the larger galaxy—mentioning Emperor Palpatine and featuring characters like Senator Mon Mothma—it firmly stays grounded in the gritty rebellion story rather than showcasing the Jedi, Sith, or iconic cameos.

In a recent Rolling Stone interview, Gilroy revealed that Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine were never seriously considered for on-screen appearances. "Writing for Darth Vader is really limiting. I’ve done it. He doesn’t have a lot to say," Gilroy explained, referencing his earlier work on Rogue One. As for Palpatine, Gilroy admitted he briefly considered it but ultimately passed: "He was too big a piece of meat for me to introduce. It was too heavy a lift."

Gilroy emphasized that most beings in the galaxy have no real knowledge of the Jedi or Sith, challenging the long-held assumption that their presence dominates the Star Wars universe. "It’s very secretive and small," he said, adding that the galaxy holds billions of untapped stories waiting to be told.

In his early discussions with Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, Gilroy pushed for the idea that Star Wars could venture into new genres. "Why couldn’t you do a courtroom drama in Star Wars?" he asked, hinting at the creative flexibility possible in such a vast universe. With new projects like a Star Wars horror film and a Force origin story on the horizon, Gilroy’s vision of a more diverse galaxy is already taking shape.

The second season of Andor continues with new episodes every Tuesday.

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Source: Dark Horizons

Photo Credit: Lucasfilm