The upcoming release ofAndorSeason 2 is an exciting time for fans ofStar Wars. With the show premiering so close toStar Wars Celebrationin Japan, the cast of the show were there to talk about the lead-up to Cassian Andor’s (Diego Luna) journey inRogue One. At Collider’s media suite at the event, starsKyle SollerandDenise Goughspoke with Collider’sSteve Weintraubabout the upcoming season and broke down what it feels like tobe on a show as beloved and praised asAndor.
Soller spoke about howshows likeAndorare rare, explaining that they all believe it’s going to “change Star Wars history.” He explained:
“Honestly, these shows don’t happen very often, if at all. To have worked on it, even though it’s two seasons, five or six years of our lives, to be greeted here with the reception that we have, ready to give this new little baby, the final piece, away, which we all think is genuinely going to changeStar Warshistory — it’s moving the needle and it’s opening up new avenues —it’s incredible, man.”
Gough agreed with him, saying, “It’s such a privilege. And it is hard to think, ‘What do you follow that with?’ It’s like doing a really amazing play and then thinking, ‘How do I ever do anything that will fill me up like that?’ It’s hard.I don’t know what I’m going to do.” Gough went on to talk about the fortunate (or unfortunate) timeless sort of relevance of projects likeAndorand a production ofAngels in Americashe did on Broadway.
“I remember doingAngels in Americaon Broadway, and we did it 30 years after it had been originally done, and the relevance it had then was as strong as when it had first been done, becausegreat writing is timeless. you’re able to showAndor50 years ago, and in 50 years, and you will have, fortunately or unfortunately, similar themes all the time.As humans, we keep coming up against the same thing.At least withAndor,you feel like we have the opportunity to create an empathy. It’s an empathy gem. That’s what fiction is. You try andTrojan Horse the empathy in there.”
Are Dedra Meero and Syril Karn Working Through Their Issues?
When asked about couples' therapy for their characters, the two joked about who would speak first, and Gough said, “Judging by every interview we’ve ever done, I think me.” Soller cut in that he thought Syril would be the first to go. “I would talk first. See, this is exactly what I’m talking about.” Then they joked about how Dedra will “never give him that space” to allow him to go first. But then Gough joked that Dedra takes her chance when she can.
“He breathes in, and I think, ‘Is he breathing in because he wants me to start talking?’ So when he breathes in, I take my chance,” she said with Soller joking back, “I just want to chop the vegetables and not get pressured about how I’m cooking dinner.” Don’t worry, Gough understood the bit and said, “But you’re not chopping. "
Taking Their Characters to New Places in ‘Andor’ Season 2
Soller and Gough were asked about their initialreactions to Season 2and shared a spoiler-free take on the journey both Syril and Dedra go on throughout the series. “I remember talking to him [Tony Gilroy] on the phone. He sketched out my arc and your arc, and then kind of did a smattering of everybody else’s, and I just was silent for a bit,” Soller said. “He was like, ‘You okay?’ and I was like, ‘Wow, man. Wow!'” Gough shared then that each character will get their own conclusion, saying, “Everybody got an ending.”
Soller then shared how it felt to be so connected during the process of bringing the series to its natural conclusion, and teeing up the events ofRogue One.
“Everyone is so invested and has the most incredible journey. There’s no fat. It’s all explored and it’s so exceptional. It’s so deep what every single one of these characters go through. I was amazed thatTony could pull the magic trickof taking four years and turning it into one season. God, watching it back, I was an emotional wreck.”
Gough went on to talk about how she attributesthe dedication of each of these characterstoLuna and Gilroy, saying, “A lesser writer would just focus on Andor, on Cassian, and everybody else would be filler for that.What he did was open up this huge thing. It’s also a testament to Diego Luna, because Diego, as number one on a call sheet, he wants to be part of a community.He wanted to be part of something, not just like, ‘Let’s put a central character and then everybody else is sort of extraneous.'”
You can see both Soller and Gough on Season 2 ofAndor, which premieres on Disney+ on Tuesday, April 22. Stay tuned at Collier for more news out of Star Wars Celebration.
