The First Episodes of ‘Andor’ Season 1 Are Now Free Online

Before the launch of Andor Season 2, Disney and Lucasfilm have conveniently arranged for viewers to preview the initial season of this Star Wars political drama easily.

If you’re an existing Hulu user, you now have access to the whole first season (until April 22) on their platform. Moreover, if you don’t currently subscribe to Hulu or Disney+, you can catch the opening three episodes of Andor for free on YouTube. Alternatively, they are conveniently embedded here for your viewing pleasure.

Here is Episode 1, “Kassa.”

Here is Episode 2, “That Would Be Me.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf5muEdZCpk

And here is Episode 3, “Reckoning.”

Disney has put together a concise summary of Season 1, lasting less than 15 minutes. (The first season of Andor, comprising 12 episodes, is a prequel to the film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. This series, developed by Tony Gilroy and featuring Diego Luna as Cassian Andor, delves into his journey leading up to his involvement with the Rebel Alliance.)

Besides this, Disney is planning a special rewatch of Season 1 for “Andor” featuring Gilroy and chosen artists on Thursday, March 13 at 3PM ET. This unique promotional event can be streamed on Disney+, Hulu, and the official Star Wars YouTube channel.

In a wrap-up for its final run, “Andor” Season 2 debuts on Disney+ on April 22. Comprising a total of 12 episodes, this season will unfold over a span of three episodes per week for an entire month. Among the familiar faces reprising their roles from “Rogue One,” notable is Ben Mendelsohn, who will once again slip into the boots of Imperial officer Orson Krennic, one of the key figures behind the construction of the original Death Star.

Sign up for Disney+ here.

10 Actors Who Turned Down Star Wars Roles

1. Kurt Russell, Luke Skywalker

In the 1970s, Kurt Russell was a prominent leading actor, gracing the screens in notable films like “Once Upon A Time in Hollywood,” “Escape From New York,” and “Overboard.” Regardless of the projects he picked, he consistently emerged victorious — that is, until he opted out of “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.” He was considered for either Han Solo or Luke Skywalker, but ultimately declined the entire project to star in the ABC western “The Quest,” which unfortunately only ran for one season. Later on, Russell revealed to The Daily Beast that he told George Lucas, “I’ve got to make a decision on this Western and I’ve got to go to work.” Lucas replied, “I just can’t give you an answer.” So, Russell chose the western role and said, “There will be one less guy to think about.

2. Rooney Mara, Jyn Erso

Making her mark in Hollywood following her captivating role in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”, Rooney Mara soon emerged as an actress worth keeping an eye on. However, “Rogue One” director Gareth Edwards was keen to meet her. Following their conversation, Mara felt she wasn’t a good fit for the part. As she clarified to Deadline, she was already committed to a project and felt it wasn’t suitable for her schedule: “I was working, and it wasn’t the right opportunity for me, so I chose not to audition. I was on set, working six-day weeks, and it simply wasn’t feasible.

3. Benicio Del Toro, Darth Maul

In this scenario, there’s an actor, Benicio Del Toro, who fully embraced his role as the menacing Darth Maul in the Star Wars series. However, when George Lucas decided to reduce his lines significantly in the prequel trilogy, Del Toro chose to step away from the production. Despite having donned the costume and applied Maul’s distinctive black-and-red makeup, he was ultimately replaced by Ray Park, who concentrated more on embodying the character’s physical prowess instead.

4. Jim Henson, Yoda

For a number of years now, Yoda has been one of Star Wars’ most iconic characters. Originally, George Lucas intended to create the wise, elderly character with Jim Henson, who was renowned for creating Muppets characters like Kermit the Frog. However, as Lucas and Henson collaborated, Henson convinced Lucas that he wasn’t suitable for the role. Instead, Henson recommended that Lucas partner with Frank Oz, and the rest has been legendary history.

5. Jodie Foster, Princess Leia

Although Jodie Foster is renowned for her mature roles like FBI agent Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs, she had already made a name for herself as an actor during her teenage years. Interestingly, before Carrie Fisher landed the role of Princess Leia, it was initially offered to Foster who would have been about 14 at that time. Unfortunately, due to a scheduling conflict, as she was filming Taxi Driver at the time, Foster had to decline the offer. Given that Princess Leia has a scene where she unknowingly kisses her own brother’s character, it might have been inappropriate for a 14-year-old actress to take on that role. Moreover, Foster has expressed no regrets about how her career unfolded, stating in 2007 to Empire magazine that she doesn’t think she’ll be on her deathbed wishing she had done Star Wars.

6. Leonardo DiCaprio, Anakin Skywalker

In the midst of Leonardo DiCaprio immersing himself in the transformative character of Jack Dawson for James Cameron’s Titanic, it doesn’t necessarily imply he was immediately prepared to reprise the role. When offered the part of Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, he was still basking in the glory of Titanic’s success and chose to decline. DiCaprio shared with Shortlist that he had a conversation with George Lucas about the role, but ultimately decided not to pursue it, stating, “I simply didn’t feel ready to make that leap.

7. Tupac Shakur, Mace Windu

It’s possible you weren’t aware that the rapper Tupac Shakur auditioned for the role of Mace Windu in 1996. Rick Clifford, a former engineer at Death Row Records, revealed this, stating that “They wanted him to be a Jedi… Samuel L. Jackson got Tupac’s part…” At that time, Shakur was reading for several roles after appearing in movies like “Juice” and “Above the Rim.” Regrettably, Shakur’s life ended prematurely at age 25 due to a drive-by shooting in 1996. However, it’s fascinating to think about how his portrayal of Mace Windu would have been unique and intriguing.

8. Gary Oldman, General Grievous

As a film enthusiast, I was really looking forward to Gary Oldman’s portrayal of General Grievous in “Revenge of the Sith.” Unfortunately, due to a technicality with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), he wasn’t able to take on the role. You see, “Revenge of the Sith” was not a SAG film, which meant Oldman couldn’t be part of it. In 2004, his manager, Doug Urbanski, shared with Variety that they had asked George Lucas to petition SAG for a special exception for Oldman, but their request was met with frustration. Urbanski also mentioned that they were perplexed by the situation, but out of respect and solidarity for the union, Oldman decided not to work on the project.

9. Al Pacino, Han Solo

Reflecting on the iconic tale, it’s fascinating to think about how the casting of Han Solo in Star Wars could have been entirely different. I, myself, was once considered for the role, but George Lucas saw something extraordinary in Harrison Ford during a script reading at auditions. However, before this pivotal moment, offers were extended to Al Pacino, who declined due to not fully grasping the script. Keep in mind, this decision was made prior to Star Wars’ rise as the global phenomenon we know it as today – it was unexplored terrain. In a talk show titled An Evening with Al Pacino, the actor shared his contentment with his choice, stating, “I also gave a career to Harrison Ford.

10. Burt Reynolds, Han Solo

It’s interesting to note that Al Pacino wasn’t the only contender for the Han Solo role in Star Wars; Burt Reynolds was also in the running. Reflecting on this, Reynolds expressed regret about not accepting the part. Although he had a flourishing career with films like Smokey & the Bandit, The Longest Yard, and Boogie Nights, he acknowledges now how appealing it would have been to be part of Star Wars. In an interview with Business Insider in 2016, he admitted, “I didn’t feel like playing that type of role at the time, but I regret it now. If I could go back, I would have taken the part.” Reynolds has a history of turning down other prominent roles, such as Michael Corleone in The Godfather and James Bond.

2025-03-10 20:54