Vanity Fair’s Star Wars live-action special issue also provided a few new details about the Andor series, namely its late summer release window, but it also confirmed the existence of the Grammar Rodeo project with a few new insights provided.
Andor
In the VF article, Andor’s star Diego Luna offered up some anecdotes on what the experience of shooting the series has been for him, and how he depicts the story of the series.
“It’s the journey of a migrant. That feeling of having to move is behind this story, very profoundly and very strong. That shapes you as a person. It defines you in many ways, and what you are willing to do.”
Diego Luna – VF
The show’s show runner, Tony Gilroy, also discussed what Andor is about and how the first season will portray the titular character:
“This guy gave his life for the galaxy, right? I mean, he consciously, soberly, without vanity or recognition, sacrificed himself. Who does that?. That’s what this first season is about. It’s about him being really revolution-averse, and cynical, and lost, and kind of a mess. His adopted home will become the base of our whole first season, and we watch that place become radicalized. Then we see another planet that’s completely taken apart in a colonial kind of way. The Empire is expanding rapidly. They’re wiping out anybody who’s in their way.”
Tony Gilroy – VF
So fans will essentially see Cassian’s home world destroyed early on in the series, and then as he is aimlessly running through life he will find a new home with the Rebellion. This is probably why Genevieve O’Reilly’s Mon Mothma is being teased as another lead in Andor. She is the only other actor who got featured in the photoshoot for this VF issue, so she’s more than likely playing a major role and one that will see her working hand-in-hand with Cassian as he rises through the ranks of the Rebellion cells.
Grammar Rodeo
While concrete details around this secret project weren’t divulged, the article to go as far as confirming its existence and setting a time period for it to take place, which will be post Return of the Jedi.
The show takes place during the post–Return of the Jedi reconstruction that follows the fall of the Empire, the same as The Mandalorian, but its plot remains a secret. It’s created and executive-produced by director Jon Watts and writer Chris Ford, who made Spider-Man: Homecoming for Marvel. A casting notice has called for four children, around 11 to 12 years old. Inside Lucasfilm, the show is being described as a galactic version of classic Amblin coming-of-age adventure films of the ’80s.
VF
Considering that it is taking place during the same timeline as Mando, it doesn’t seem like this will be about Jedi kids like many had predicted. Luke was just starting his temple at this time, so it seems unlikely that he’d already have a group of young kids training with him, so again this series may not feature Force users at all.
Nick and I will talk more about these shows on today’s episode of the SWTS, so don’t forget to tune into the Star Wars Time Show on a weekly basis via our podcast platforms or via YouTube if you prefer the livestream angle.
