Star Wars’ Andy Serkis Explains His Concerns About Joining Andor

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I was really excited to see Andy Serkis pop up in Andor, but apparently, he wasn’t immediately sure about taking the part! He had some initial reservations when they approached him, which I found interesting – you’d think someone with his experience would jump at a Star Wars role!

In 2022, Andy Serkis played Kino Loy in three episodes of the Disney+ series Andor. His character was a fellow prisoner who befriended Cassian Andor, played by Diego Luna, while they were both held on Narkina 5. However, Serkis was initially unsure about joining the show, because of past experiences with the Star Wars franchise.

In an interview with Variety, Andy Serkis admitted he was a little concerned that taking a role in Andor might confuse viewers, since he had already played Supreme Leader Snoke in the recent Star Wars films.

I was a little concerned about taking on this role because I’d previously played Supreme Leader Snoke in ‘Star Wars,’ and I worried fans might be confused by me appearing in another ‘Star Wars’ project. But after speaking with Tony Gilroy, I was really impressed with his vision for the story – exploring themes of fascism within the ‘Star Wars’ universe. I thought it was a brilliant approach.

Andy Serkis first entered the Star Wars universe in The Force Awakens as Supreme Leader Snoke, the mentor of Kylo Ren. While Snoke had a larger role in The Last Jedi, he was ultimately killed by his apprentice, Kylo Ren. Serkis also made a brief appearance in The Rise of Skywalker, where it was revealed that Emperor Palpatine had created Snoke as a tool to corrupt Ben Solo and turn him to the dark side.

When Andor was being made, Andy Serkis initially worried fans might think his character, Kino, was somehow related to the villain Snoke. However, the show’s creator, Tony Gilroy, convinced him to take the role, trusting that the story would make it clear Kino had no connection to Snoke – and it did.

Kino worked as a floor manager at the Imperial factory on Narkina 5, where prisoners were forced to labor. At first, he was determined to enforce the factory’s strict rules on Cassian. But after seeing an elderly prisoner killed just before he was to be released, Kino changed his mind and agreed to help organize an escape.

The escape was successful, but Kino sadly didn’t make it out of prison because he couldn’t swim. He likely either died trying to escape or remained imprisoned for life. While this was a tragic end for his character, it created a powerful moment for viewers on Disney+ and played a key role in motivating Cassian to join the Rebellion.

Both seasons of Andor received widespread critical praise. The show, which tells the story of Cassian’s life five years before the film Rogue One, boasts a 96% rating from critics and an 89% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. It has also won four Emmy Awards (from a total of twelve nominations) and a prestigious Peabody Award.

As a huge film fan, I’ve always been amazed by Andy Serkis’ work. Beyond his iconic roles in Star Wars, he’s been a part of so many massive franchises – The Lord of the Rings, Planet of the Apes, and even the Marvel Cinematic Universe! He’s got a new film out now, Animal Farm, which I’m excited to see. And he’s staying busy! He’ll be playing Edward Braddock in Young Washington, and he’s returning as Alfred Pennyworth in The Batman Part II. Plus, there’s more Star Wars on the horizon with The Mandalorian & Grogu and Starfighter – definitely a lot to look forward to!

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2026-05-08 06:00