In recent discussions within the Star Wars community, many critics and fans have hailed the first season of Andor as the pinnacle of the franchise, even surpassing its predecessor, The Mandalorian. This sentiment has intensified, especially following the mixed reactions to the third season of The Mandalorian, which did not resonate as positively with audiences as the first two seasons did. However, Andor creator Tony Gilroy has made it clear that he does not view this as a competitive rivalry between the two shows. In fact, he credits the success of The Mandalorian as a fundamental stepping stone for Andor.

In an insightful interview with Empire Magazine, Gilroy expressed his gratitude towards The Mandalorian's achievements, stating, “The success of The Mandalorian gave us the platform to jump off. Their success is what would fuel the whole thing. I mean, no Baby Yoda, no Andor. Seriously. Don’t think that we don’t know that.” This acknowledgment reflects a deep respect for the groundwork laid by the earlier series, which helped establish a broader universe for subsequent storytelling.

Gilroy also addressed rumors about a rivalry between himself and fellow creators Jon Favreau, who helms The Mandalorian, as well as Dave Filoni, the chief creative officer of Lucasfilm. “Online, [people] try to drive a wedge all the time between us, and [Jon] Favreau and [Dave] Filoni,” he remarked, criticizing the negativity that often surrounds fandom discourse. “It’s horrible what people say; it’s terrible. And the truth is, we don’t have a show without them. They gave us the muscle to go.” This collaborative spirit is evident in the way both series contribute to the rich tapestry of the Star Wars narrative.

This year promises exciting developments for both series. The Mandalorian is set to expand into theaters with a feature presentation titled The Mandalorian & Grogu next year. Meanwhile, the highly anticipated second season of Andor will mark the conclusion of this Rogue One prequel series. Diego Luna, who portrays the titular character Cassian Andor, shared insights with SFX Magazine about how the ending of the show will seamlessly transition into the events of Rogue One.

Luna enthusiastically stated, “If you have your DVD or Blu-ray of Rogue One, you should plug it in as soon as the season ends, and you’ll see a film that will be resignified.” He emphasized that viewers will appreciate the film from a different perspective, armed with new information about the group of rebels depicted in the movie. “You knew nothing about this bunch of Rebels that got together and made this sacrifice, and then we did a show of 24 episodes about one of them. I definitely believe it’s going to change the experience because it’s now so full of answers – almost many more than you even wanted when you watched Rogue One.”

Fans can look forward to the premiere of Andor season 2, which will kick off with an exciting three-episode launch on Disney+ on April 22, promising to deliver profound answers and enriching context to the beloved universe.