Andor creator recalls why he had to stop watching another Star Wars series, The Mandalorian 

Andor drew attention in the Star Wars world by showing Cassian Andor before the story of Rogue One. It came from Tony Gilroy, who wanted to follow the character’s steps and the early rise of the Rebellion. Gilroy had also worked on Rogue One, but when it came to this new project, he realized something. To keep his head in the right place, he had to step away from the other Star Wars shows that were coming out. One of those was The Mandalorian.

This choice became one of the most striking aspects of his creative process. While most Star Wars stories tend to connect with one another, Gilroy separated his work from the larger timeline. He avoided influences that might take away the attention from the five-year span that defined Andor. That decision shaped not only how the story was written but also how it was perceived by audiences.

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The importance of The Mandalorian in recent years

Before the consensus about Andor’s quality, The Mandalorian had already shown that a live-action Star Wars series could succeed. The show introduced Din Djarin and Grogu and quickly became central to the Disney+ platform. It proved the potential for new narratives inside the franchise. Even so, Gilroy decided to stop following the series after watching the beginning.

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The moment of decision

Speaking on The Ringer-Verse podcast, Gilroy explained his choice. For him, watching events that did not belong to Andor’s time frame was disorienting. The show covers a five-year period that leads directly to Rogue One, and keeping that boundary was necessary for his work.

As reported by Collider, Gilroy said that following other eras of Star Wars disrupted his creative frequency. He stated:

"It was very disorienting for me to step outside my five year period. If I went backwards and looked at stuff, if I went forward and looked at stuff. I started watching Mandalorian in the beginning, but then I couldn’t watch anymore, because, as cool as it was, I loved it, it made me – I lost my frequency. I didn’t find it helpful to know what was gonna happen after so much… I definitely siloed my period off to make it work, as a defense mechanism I suppose, as much as anything."

The statement revealed that avoiding The Mandalorian became a way to protect the creative focus required for Andor.

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Different timelines within Star Wars

When you put the two shows next to each other, the difference is obvious. Andor sits before the original trilogy, right at the moment when the Rebellion is only starting to move. The Mandalorian comes after, years later, once the Empire is gone. Two very different points in time. Gilroy chose to keep that wall between them. He stayed inside the story he had, not outside of it, and let it live in that period only.

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Impact on the creation of Andor

This approach allowed the series to be developed without relying on external storylines. Each episode was built to serve its own logic while remaining connected to the larger arc that leads into Rogue One. The method gave the show a sense of autonomy inside the Star Wars universe, which was noticed by audiences and critics alike.

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Audience response and franchise fatigue

Andor was met with a positive reception. Screen Rant highlighted that there was a consensus about the show’s strength, while other parts of the franchise were beginning to face franchise fatigue. The fact that the show stood apart from other series may have contributed to its impact, as it did not depend on constant references to succeed.

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Plans and expectations for the future

Gilroy planned the show as a two-season series from the start. The limited format ensured that the story had a clear beginning and end. The first season introduced Cassian’s early journey, and the second is expected to reach the events that directly connect to Rogue One. Although there is still no confirmed release date, anticipation remains high for the continuation.

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Final considerations

Gilroy’s decision to stop watching The Mandalorian was not about rejection but about focus. By concentrating only on the defined period of Andor, he managed to keep the narrative aligned with its goals. The result was a series that established its own space within Star Wars, recognized as a distinct contribution to the franchise’s expanding history.