Empire Strikes Back Vibe Teased for Cassian Andor Series

By Savannah Sanders Posted:
Cassian Andor Series

Now that Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker has been released on digital, fans are learning more about what went on behind-the-scenes of filming, as well as the number of fun Easter Eggs and tributes hidden in the film. However, there is still even more to learn about the making of this film and what's to come in future Star Wars projects. In a recent article published by Yahoo , Neil Scanlan, the Jedi Master of Star Wars creatures and makeup effects, revealed more about certain Rise of Skywalker storytelling decisions and how some of the film's creatures were brought to life, including the popular Babu Frik.

NEWS

Neil Scanlan was 19 years old when The Empire Strikes Back was released in theaters 1980, a film he feels is one of the franchise's strongest and whose style was revived in Rogue One 's style of storytelling. According to Yahoo, Scanlan's next project once again involves Rogue One as he takes on the upcoming Cassian Andor series, a spin-off of Rogue One , coming to Disney+.

In addition to Scanlan himself, Tony Gilroy, who oversaw Rogue One's reshoots, is also returning for the Cassian Andor series.

“We’re going to see the hard edges again with Tony at the helm... It feels slightly less compromising and gritty in many ways. I look forward to being a part of the tapestry of that aspect of Star Wars . I mean, a droid like K-2SO is formidable! It’s like, ‘Wow, what a presence.’ I like that particular language, and it’s used very well in Rogue One .”

WHAT THIS MEANS

The return of Tony Gilroy means fans can expect the darker, grittier vibe of Rogue One - a film that creators like Neil Scanlan believe to be reminscient of The Empire Strikes Back - to be present in the upcoming Cassian Andor-focused show. This approach also echoes both the asthetic and tone of the wildly successful series The Mandalorian which is also on Disney+. If the Cassian Andor series also proves to be a success, Disney may decide to lean further into the style of Rogue One and The Empire Strikes Back instead of the flashy, polished epic style of the recently completed sequel trilogy.

- In This Article: Andor (Season 2)
Release Date
2025
Platform
Actors
Genevieve O'Reilly
- About The Author: Savannah Sanders
Savannah Sanders joined The Direct as a writer in 2020. In addition to writing for The Direct's Star Wars, Marvel, and DC teams, Savannah specializes in the relationship between Disney's blockbuster franchises and the Disney Parks.