'Andor': Should you watch any of the Star Wars movies before the series release?
'Andor' is less than a month away, and the 12-episode first season sees Diego Luna return as rebel captain and spy, Cassian Andor. Over the years, 'Star Wars' spin-offs have shed light on characters who in their own way have shaped the course of the franchise history. The upcoming series serves as a prequel to 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' which in turn serves as a prequel to 'A New Hope'.
The timeline might be confusing considering the cannon is connected to each other and that provides the feeling of watching certain things in a specific order to enjoy the content better. However, some of the key players of the show feel it's not necessary to watch anything when it comes to 'Andor'. Producer Tony Gilroy felt the show could be a starting point. "There’s no secret; their partner, their boss, their girlfriend, their boyfriend, their mother, their father, there are a lot of people that are Star Wars-adjacent or Star Wars-averse. And you should be able to watch out show… This could be your entry point to Star Wars. You could watch our 24 episodes, that could be your way in. We’re doing a show that does not require any prior knowledge whatsoever to get involved…"
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Should you watch Star Wars movies before 'Andor'?
Like Gilroy, Adria Arjona, who plays Bix Caleen in the series, also shared her thoughts on what to watch before 'Andor's release. In an interview with Collider, the '6 Underground' star said: "I think the cool part about this show is that you don't have to be a Star Wars fan, and you don't have to have watched any of the movies to enjoy this show. That's kind of the honest truth. I think this show really stands on its own." For those keen to understand 'Andor' better, we do recommend giving 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' a watch. And a bit of a spoiler to those who haven't watched it, the movie doesn't end well for the good guys.
Here's the official synopsis of the movie: "Former scientist Galen Erso lives on a farm with his wife and young daughter, Jyn. His peaceful existence comes crashing down when the evil Orson Krennic takes him away from his beloved family. Many years later, Galen becomes the Empire's lead engineer for the most powerful weapon in the galaxy, the Death Star. Knowing that her father holds the key to its destruction, Jyn joins forces with a spy and other resistance fighters to steal the space station's plans for the Rebel Alliance."
Andor's introduction begins in 'Rogue One', but the prequel series looks at the life and times of one of the greatest spies in the franchise lore. For the casually curious, watching 'Rogue One' might help in understanding Andor's purpose and mission and how he went about it.
'Andor' premieres with three episodes on Disney+ on September 21.
