Movies

Andor may have been Star Wars’ last chance to break through at the Emmys

BBG News

In the 2025 Emmy nominations, Andor garnered recognition across 14 categories including Outstanding Drama Series, direction, writing, cinematography, sound design, visual effects, and voiceover performance by Alan Tudyk, among others. However, the excitement surrounding potential acting nominations was somewhat deflated as only Forest Whitaker received a nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Saw Gerrera, while the lead actor Diego Luna surprisingly did not make the cut.

Whitaker’s nomination signifies a seldom-granted Television Academy honor in acting for Star Wars, even though it was limited to a guest role. His portrayal of Gerrera resonated deeply with fans of Rogue One, and the performance carried enough weight to secure recognition from the Emmy authorities this year.

Despite Cassian Andor serving as the anchor of the show, some viewers believe Luna should have been nominated in the Outstanding Lead Actor category. This oversight is particularly painful considering his outstanding performance that defined the series and its critical success.

In a surprising twist, Pedro Pascal, who became widely recognized as the main figure of Star Wars TV series despite not revealing his face until the end of season 1, has never been Emmy-nominated for his remarkable performance in The Mandalorian. This is quite striking, given that the show garnered six Primetime Emmy nominations and an incredible 42 Creative Arts nominations. However, Pascal was only recognized within technical categories.

His Emmy victory arrived late, specifically for the series “The Last of Us“, where he’s up for another nomination this year, a point that has sparked some debate due to the omission of Luna in the nominations.

Comparing Across the Franchise

Despite bagging a total of 14 Emmy Awards, the series “The Mandalorian” did not receive any acting nominations for either Pedro Pascal or Giancarlo Esposito.

In the Emmy Awards, Obi-Wan Kenobi received recognition with five nominations in categories like Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. However, the esteemed accolade failed to acknowledge Ewan McGregor’s portrayal of the Jedi Master.

Despite garnering five Primetime Emmy nominations and winning a Saturn Award for Rosario Dawson, Ahsoka has yet to receive recognition in the acting categories, surprising some who had anticipated it.

2023 saw Star Wars series amassing a total of 22 Emmy Award nominations, however, no acting accolades were bestowed upon any cast members in the series, namely Andor, The Mandalorian, or Obi-Wan.

The persistent bias towards genre is still hindering the Emmy nominations for “Star Wars”. Despite its down-to-earth storytelling and well-developed characters, recognition in major acting categories continues to evade sci-fi series. Although “Andor” significantly reshapes science fiction into a political drama, it seems the Academy remains unfazed, acknowledging only Whitaker’s guest role.

Given that “The Mandalorian” is moving to theaters and not many significant series are upcoming in the Star Wars universe, it’s worth pondering: Could “Andor” have been Lucasfilm’s final opportunity to secure a Lead Actor Emmy award?

The short answer is, “Not necessarily.”

The focus is on the upcoming season 2 of Ahsoka, which might be Star Wars’ next opportunity to win an acting Emmy Award. If it manages to break through, it could potentially open new paths, but only if Ahsoka delves more into dramatic elements rather than focusing on spectacle.

In its initial run, the first season of Ahsoka successfully transitioned popular characters from Rebels to live action, boasting stunning visuals (including those purrgils!) and enriching the storyline. However, it fell short in terms of the emotional depth necessary for major awards consideration. To challenge for the top prizes, season two of Ahsoka needs to move beyond mere fan service by introducing new, engaging elements beyond bringing Thrawn, Ezra Bridger, and others into live action.

Dawson’s characterization of the ex-Jedi should delve deeper, as she struggles with the death of Anakin Skywalker (played by Hayden Christensen) and the true nature of her legacy. If this thematic change isn’t executed skillfully, there’s a risk that the performance, despite its potential for acting accolades, might not fully meet expectations.

Although Andor might have boosted the chances of Star Wars for acting recognition in the upcoming period, the fourteen nominations are definitely something worth celebrating by the team. While Star Wars garnered respect at the Emmys, it was more on the periphery. The main characters will need to keep patiently waiting in the wings before they can secure a significant acting award.

Read More

2025-07-19 22:02

Previous post A new Barbie movie is coming – but it’s not the one you want
Next post James Argent’s ex Nicoline Artursson, 32, sparks romance rumours as she cosies up to hunky Italian tennis player Lucianco Darderi, 23 – two months after the TOWIE star’s suspended jail sentence for pushing her down steps