Rumors are flying thatDarth Vaderwill have a cameo inAndorseason 2, butAndorshowrunner Tony Gilroy confirmed three years ago that Vader and the rest ofthe Skywalker family treewould not be in the show.The finalAndorseason 2 trailerdropped earlier this week, and viewers immediately clocked Imperial Security Bureau agent Dedra Meero seemingly being Force choked. While Darth Vader isn’t the onlyStar WarsSithto use Force choke, it is his signature move.
This would make sense, given Vader appeared inRogue One: A Star Wars Story, for whichAndoris a spin-off. Although the evidence was compelling,it’s unlikely Darth Vader will actually appear inAndorseason 2, as, pertheNew York Times,Andorshowrunner Tony Gilroy previously said:
“Like I said, the galaxy is enormous. It would be like if you tried to tell the whole history of 20th-century England just through ‘The Crown.’ ‘Oh, there’s only this royal family, these seven people, their lineage and who they’re [expletive] — that’s all that matters.’ We will not be dealing with the royal family of ‘Star Wars.’ When we have legacy characters return, or when we touch on things that are familiar, we don’t want to do it in a way that would be perceived as fan service. We want it to be protein.”
It’s clear Gilroy felt very strongly about this subject, so it seems rather unlikely (although not entirely out of the question) that this approach would have changed in the years since.
Tony Gilroy Already Promised Us He Wouldn’t Be Using Darth Vader
It’s Clear The Skywalkers Aren’t The Focus Of Andor, Which Is More Than Valid
Star Warshas struggled to step away from the Skywalkers, even after the Skywalker Saga was said to have ended withStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerin 2019. In the franchise’s defense, it has to be difficult to walk away not only from some ofStar Wars’best charactersbut also from characters who are guaranteed to draw audiences. The Skywalkers have therefore popped up in severalStar Warsshows since then, includingThe Mandalorian,The Book of Boba Fett,Ahsoka, and others.
Yet,Andorsets itself apart by very clearly wanting separation from these characters and these stories. This show isn’t about the galaxy’s most well-known characters (or, as Gilroy puts it, the royal family inStar Wars), though.Andoris about the boots-on-the-ground efforts of Rebel fighters whose names didn’t go down in history the way the Skywalkers did. It therefore makes sense for Gilroy to insist that Vader and the other Skywalkers not appear.
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Tony Gilroy Is Right: A Darth Vader Cameo Would Shrink The Galaxy
Excitement Was Building About A Vader Cameo, But Gilroy Has Made The Right Call
Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader is my favoriteStar Warscharacter bar none, but even I have to admit Gilroy’s stance is the right one.Star Warscan’t realistically incorporate the Skywalkers forever, and it’s for the best that the franchise proves stories completely separate from that family can stand on their own two feet.This is especially important forAndor, as this show is meant to focus on the everyday people.
It feels nearly like a matter of respect thatAndorseason 2 not crowd out the stories of characters like Cassian Andor and Bix Caleen with the franchise’s most attention-grabbing characters (who have already gotten plenty of screen time). Particularly asAndorseason 2 is all about fighting the Empire, Darth Vader would feel out of place. Some fans may be disappointed, but Tony Gilroy seemingly confirmed three years ago thatDarth Vaderwill not be appearing inAndorseason 2.
