As the WGA strike continues, more and more showrunners find themselves in dilemma. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy (Beirut, The Great Wall) found himself in this position and decided to stop working altogether. Gilroy was singled out on social media for allegedly continuing to work on his non-writing duties after the strike prevented him from working as showrunner in full capacity. He recently told The Hollywood Reporter that this was not the case as he had stopped any non-writing duties for his popular Star Wars show, Andor, prior to the beginning of the strike.
“I discontinued all writing and writing-related work on Andor prior to midnight, May 1,” Gilroy said via The Hollywood Reporter. “After being briefed on the Saturday showrunner meeting, I informed Chris Keyser at the WGA on Sunday morning that I would also be ceasing all non-writing producing functions.” Keyser would later confirm these details with THR.
Matters got complicated for showrunners when major studios, like Disney, demanded showrunners to show up and continue their non-writing duties amid the strike. Many writers and showrunners have reminded everyone that writing doesn’t end when the scripts are submitted but continue throughout filming and editing. Writers and showrunners must be present throughout filming to make decisions that affect the dialogue and story of the show amid filming. Asking showrunners to only do their production services shows little concern for the WGA members’ demands.
Andor’s cast includes Diego Luna (Narcos: Mexico, And Your Mother Too) as Cassian Andor; Stellan Skarsgård (Mamma Mia!, The Avengers) as Luthen Rael; Denise Gough (Under the Banner of Heaven, Martyrs Lane) as Dedra Meero; Kyle Soller (Anna Karenina, Poldark) as Cyril Karn; Genevieve O’Reilly (Tin Star, The Dry) as Mon Mothma; Adria Arjona (Morbius, Father of the Bride) as Bix Caleen; Faye Marsay (Game of Thrones, Lady Chatterley’s Lover) as Vel Sartha; Varada Sethu (Jurassic World: Dominion, Strike Back) as Cinta Kaz; Anton Lesser (Game of Thrones, Endeavour) as Major Partagaz; Andy Serkis (Lord of the Rings, Rise of the Planet of the Apes) as Kino Loy; Fiona Shaw (Harry Potter, Killing Eve) as Maarva Andor; and Jacob James Beswick (1917, The Ritual) as Attendant Heert.
The Star Wars show Andor follows Rogue One character Cassian Andor before he joined the Rebellion. In the show, the audience gets to see what Cassian has been through. The audience meets Cassian’s mother and his friends and what led him into the Rebellion in the first place. He first crosses paths with the Rebellion when he steals an important map that both the Rebellion and the Empire are looking for. Intertwined with Cassian’s story is the story of Rebellion leader Mon Mothma and how she has been helping the Rebellion.
Season two of Andor will premiere sometime in 2024. Season one of the show is available on Disney+. Rogue One and all other Star Wars movies are also available on Disney+.