Back in 2019 at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, Lucasfilm presidentKathleen Kennedyformally announced aRogue Onespin-off show. This was a prequel series since,you know, and would focus onDiego Luna’s somewhat morally ambiguous Rebel Cassian Andor and his sidekick, a reprogrammed Imperial droid named K-2SO (performed and voiced byAlan Tudyk). Kennedy then brought both actors out on stage, and they addressed the audience of rabid Disney fans. Luna made a joke about the two sharing a “Telenovela moment” at some point in the series. But in the months since that announcement, we haven’t heard much about Tudyk’s involvement, which you think would be a major selling point for the new series. Back in December at the heavily Disney+-focused Disney Investor Day, behind-the-scenes footage was shown of the production, but there were no images of Tudyk in a funny mo-cap suit. Now, Tudyk has confirmed to us that everyone’s favorite sarcastic droid will not be returning forAndor… at least notyet.
While talking with editor-in-chief Steve Weintraub for his new Syfy seriesResident Alien, Tudyk let it slip that he isn’t a part ofAndor, at least initially, but could return later.
“They’re shooting it right now, I’m not in it. But, if it stays on the air, stories keep getting told, I’ll end up in there,” Tudyk told us.
He also acknowledged that he has been brought out for all of the corporate dog-and-pony shows regardless of his actual involvement: “I’m all these announcements for the show, and I had suggested at D23 when we announced in the show, that it be calledK2 Fast K2 Furious: The Cassian Andor Seriesand, um, that’s not happening, it’s calledAndor!”
One of his only concerns, as he gets holder, is performing in the elaborate mo-cap suit. “I do know this: I have to be on stilts for it, because the character is 7'1", and I’m not one of those guys that says, ‘somebody else do the motion capture, and I’ll voice it later’. I’ll have to do the motion capture, and I turn 50 in March,” Tudyk explained. “So I hope they get to it soon, because I’m not going to be on stilts in, like, five years. I’m not doing it!”
Still, he’s resolute that he will be onAndorat some point and that series creator (andRogue Oneco-writer)Tony Gilroyhas a plan for his character in mind, which is pretty exciting. “I’m going to be in the show. It’s just that the story that Tony [Gilroy] is telling doesn’t involve K-2SO until later on… I can’t be too specific, but I can definitely say that I’m not going to be in the first season.” So there you have it: K-2SO will return but not yet.
What’s also interesting about Tudyk’s comments is that it seems to confirm thatAndorwill be an ongoing series, likeThe Mandalorianand not a “limited series” like the upcoming, highly anticipatedObi-Wan Kenobi(which is set to returnEwan McGregorto the titular role). Kennedy referred toAndoras merely a “series” in December, leaving room open for continued speculation. Also, the fact that Gilroy will also seemingly be steering the ship beyond Season 1 is pretty exciting (he was supposed to direct a portion of the inaugural season but declined due to travel restrictions related to COVID-19). By all accounts it was Gilroy that helped steerRogue Onetowards success during its particularlyfraughtpost-production process.
Be sure to check back for more from Steve’s chat with Tudyk, including more onRogue One,Resident Alienand everything else.
