Star Wars Showrunner Breaks Silence On Controversial Andor Rumor

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Lucasfilm is undergoing changes with Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan now leading the studio after Kathleen Kennedy’s departure. While Filoni, a longtime mentee of George Lucas, seems like a natural fit for the job, some Star Wars fans are worried about the direction the franchise will take and what projects will move forward. A particular concern arose from reports that Filoni wasn’t a fan of the critically praised series Andor, which many consider the best Star Wars show Disney has produced. Fans fear this means similar, more mature shows won’t be approved in the future, but those worries may not be justified.

Tony Gilroy, the showrunner for Andor, recently spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about reports concerning his relationship with Dave Filoni. He clarified that they’ve only met a few times and had limited conversations over the past decade—maybe half a dozen. Gilroy also mentioned briefly seeing Jon Favreau once during a scoring session. He emphasized that their teams have always been friendly and respectful of each other’s work. He stated Andor wouldn’t have been possible without The Mandalorian, and they’ve always acknowledged that. He insists their interactions have always been positive and that he has no inside information beyond what’s already public.

Could Dave Filoni Green Light the Next Andor?

During an interview with Gilroy, The Hollywood Reporter‘s Brian Davids noted that Filoni used very positive language – words like “brilliant,” “fantastic,” and “great” – when talking about Andor. While Filoni’s public praise of the show and Gilroy’s team might reassure some fans, others want to see him actually make a show on par with Andor to prove his support. However, given the changing direction of Lucasfilm and Disney, that might not be a straightforward process.

Disney has reportedly shifted its focus away from streaming, with studio head Gilroy stating that “streaming is dead.” This change in strategy is evident in their upcoming plans, which prioritize theatrical movie releases. While new seasons of The Mandalorian and Grogu and Star Wars: Starfighter are planned for release in the next two summers, and Ahsoka Season 2 is expected this year, there are currently no other live-action Star Wars TV shows being developed. At Star Wars Celebration Japan last year, Kathleen Kennedy announced several movies in the works, but made no mention of any new series.

As a fan, it’s hard to imagine Disney greenlighting a show like Andor again if the big streaming boom is really over – especially considering how much it cost to make (reportedly $650 million for both seasons). Even if Dave Filoni is really pushing for it, Disney ultimately has the final say on Star Wars projects, like we saw with The Hunt for Ben Solo. Honestly, my biggest worry isn’t the money, but whether Filoni will take Star Wars in that same mature direction. Andor was so different because Tony Gilroy wasn’t afraid to get dark and deal with more adult themes, and I’m not sure Filoni will be as willing to do that.

Dave Filoni, having been mentored by George Lucas, understands Lucas’s belief that Star Wars is primarily for kids. While the franchise will likely stay family-friendly under its current leadership, not every project needs to be aimed at a younger audience. Lucasfilm has several films in the works – including James Mangold’s historical epic, Dawn of the Jedi – that could take the Star Wars universe in interesting new directions. Though a show exactly like Andor might not be repeated, Dawn of the Jedi could offer a similar approach – a more mature and stylistically distinct Star Wars story. To stay successful long-term, Star Wars needs to continue to grow and change, and Filoni, who values collaboration, will likely be receptive to new ideas from filmmakers.

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2026-02-21 18:14