Andor Creator Breaks Silence on Why This Fan-Favorite Star Wars Character Didn’t Return

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In a chat with The Hollywood Reporter after the conclusion of Star Wars: Andor, showrunner Tony Gilroy revealed why Kino Loy, the beloved character played by Andy Serkis in Season 1, was absent from Season 2. As the series wrapped up this week, Gilroy explained his reasoning behind not reintroducing the character. He suggested that coming up with a compelling story for Kino’s return might have been challenging, potentially diminishing the unique charm of his initial arc.

Gilroy, in his own words, stated, “Andy dropped the mic, man. What could possibly top what we’ve already accomplished?” He went on to explain, “Dropping Loy into the water after he escapes from the island prison would have just diminished that powerful moment [where Loy reveals ‘I can’t swim’]. I had heard many discussions about how we might bring him back. However, I didn’t want to create a contrived or coincidental atmosphere.

In the first season of “Andor”, Kino Loy is introduced during the storyline involving the Narkina 5. Within an Imperial prison where Cassian was detained, Kino served as the day supervisor, managing one of the numerous inmate teams who unwittingly constructed the Death Star for the Empire. Initially, he only desired to complete his sentence and return home. However, he eventually collaborated with Cassian in orchestrating a jailbreak. Unfortunately, he couldn’t accompany Cassian, Melshi, and their companions as the single escape route from Narkina 5 led towards a body of water.

It’s unclear what became of the character Kino Loy; he doesn’t appear in any subsequent scenes following Cassian and Melshi’s escape to safety. Before the premiere of Andor Season 2, Andy Serkis, who played Kino, hinted at a potential return, stating that there had been no talks regarding Kino’s post-prison riot fate. However, he did imply that since Kino wasn’t shown dying in the original series, it’s possible that he could still be alive during the events of Season 2.

Andy Serkis’ portrayal of Kino stood out significantly in Season 1 of Andor, with his powerful speech in “One Way Out” being particularly memorable. Despite the character receiving positive feedback, it seemed fitting that he didn’t appear in Season 2. While Andor is connected to other Star Wars projects within a larger franchise, it avoided typical fan service tropes like unexpected character returns. Given the extensive narrative ground that Season 2 needed to cover as it progressed towards Rogue One, there wasn’t really a suitable place for Kino to fit in. In essence, Kino played an essential role in Cassian’s life during a specific timeframe and accomplished his purpose within the larger storyline.

Gilroy’s method significantly contributed to the remarkable success of “Andor,” making it challenging to dispute his role. The scene labeled “One Way Out” was so impactful that trying to surpass it feels almost insurmountable. If Gilroy had devised a natural way to reintegrate Kino into the narrative, he likely would have done so; however, due to a lack of viable options, it seemed more appropriate to let the character’s storyline end there. Although we may not see Kinoy in any further screen appearances, perhaps Lucasfilm could carry on his journey through a novel or comic series. This would undoubtedly pique fans’ interest, offering a more satisfying resolution to Kino’s tale following “Andor” Season 1.

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2025-05-14 23:14