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‘Star Wars’ has always been a family saga. For ‘Andor,’ Tony Gilroy tapped his brothers

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The filmmaking brothers Tony, Dan, and John Gilroy attribute their strong creative instincts to their deceased mother.

Raised in upstate New York, they found themselves constantly engaged at home by their mother, Ruth, with a diverse range of pastimes such as crocheting, knitting, embroidery, masonry, tree planting, and even beekeeping. They characterized her as inquisitive, daring, imaginative, “the wisest among us” and someone who was “constantly experimenting with new things.

In Tony Gilroy’s words, from the Disney+ series “Andor,” he expresses that our mother was the one who crafted everything within their home and instructed us on the art of creation. He recalls that the joy of creating things has always been a part of our being, stating that he feels unsatisfied if he isn’t engaged in some form of creation.

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Commentary: ‘Star Wars’ has always been political. ‘Andor’ made it must-see TV

The prequel to a prequel series, featuring Diego Luna as the character Cassian Andor (a future Rebellion spy), has been acclaimed as the pinnacle of ‘Star Wars’ television productions.

He believes it’s less about what our father, Frank, said and more about the essence of who we are, our actions, and the reasons behind our connections and continued actions.

It’s not by chance that one of the main characters introduced in “Andor” is a resilient mother whose courage and commitment to justice fuel the rebellion against the tyrannical Empire.

In a new joint project, the Gilroys have crafted something truly monumental, taking place in a distant galaxy – this could be their most significant creation yet. “Andor,” their prequel series to a prequel spinoff movie within an expanding universe, delves into the early stages of the Rebel Alliance’s formation. Focusing on characters like Cassian Andor (played by Diego Luna) from both sides of the conflict during the war’s infancy, it serves as a prelude to the 2016 film “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” The upcoming second and final season, airing on Tuesday, will seamlessly transition into those cinematic events.

2022 saw the debut of a gripping, realistic spy series titled “Andor.” This show garnered praise from both critics and viewers for its sophisticated narrative and exploration of political issues. Notably, Andor received eight Emmy nominations and a Peabody Award.

In his words, “This series brings back the same elements I used to play with as a child, only this time it’s all genuine,” says Tony Gilroy, who made his mark in the “Star Wars” universe by co-writing “Rogue One” and later being appointed as the showrunner for “Andor.” Joining him on the project was John Gilroy, serving as an editor, and also stepping up as an executive producer during Season 2, following their previous collaboration on “Rogue One.” Interestingly, Tony invited Dan Gilroy to contribute to the series even before the official writers’ room meeting. Dan penned Episodes 4 through 6 of the first season and Episodes 7 through 9 for the second.

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Journalists Tracy Brown, Matt Pearce, and Jamil Smith discuss their viewpoint that ‘Andor’ ranks among the finest Star Wars tales ever crafted.

These writers, specifically Tracy Brown, Matt Pearce, and Jamil Smith, believe that ‘Andor’ is one of the greatest Star Wars stories ever told.

On multiple occasions, the brothers have collaborated. John Gilroy served as editor in both of their directorial debuts – “Michael Clayton” (2007) by Tony Gilroy and “Nightcrawler” (2014) by Dan Gilroy, along with other later films; they also teamed up for “The Bourne Legacy” (2012).

But, as Tony Gilroy explains, they’re “always kind of working together.”

On a sunny March afternoon, nestled within a cozy booth at the Polo Lounge, the Gilroy brothers shared stories about their unconventional journey into the family trade – Hollywood. Their father, Frank D. Gilroy, was a celebrated playwright, recognized for “The Subject Was Roses,” and also dabbled in television and film writing.

During their childhood, they recall their father frequently visiting Los Angeles for extended periods, residing and working in hotels while pursuing job opportunities or creating movies. Additionally, Dan and John Gilroy can remember spending a couple of weeks at the Beverly Hills Hotel with him during one such trip, as he was busy filming the 1976 movie “From Noon Till Three,” starring Charles Bronson and Jill Ireland.

According to Dan Gilroy, having a close-up view of his father’s writing process when they were younger made the job of being a writer seem less mysterious. He would observe his father typing in his office for several hours at a time, or even not see him for periods of two or three months.

Nevertheless, none of the brothers showed any inclination towards pursuing their father’s profession. John Gilroy initially intended to study law in college, but his passion for directing led him to a career as a film editor in an editing room instead. Dan Gilroy, on the other hand, worked as a journalist at Variety magazine, but ultimately switched to screenwriting. Tony Gilroy, who had dreams of becoming a musician, was inspired by Dan’s success in screenwriting and decided to give it a try himself.

Tony Gilroy found the screenwriting process to be harder than he expected, but during this challenging period, he and Dan began collaborating on occasion. At times they wrote together, and at other times they worked separately, but they gradually formed a writing partnership.

They banter over the fact that their ambition for distinct income sources propelled them to embark on separate career paths. Yet, they continue to share their ongoing projects with one another, exchanging early versions for constructive criticism.

Dan Gilroy notes that we have a strong creative bond, and we frequently share our work with one another. At this stage of our careers, our creative understanding is so aligned.

John commented on how significant it is,” he said, “to have the ability to easily share tasks among ourselves like that.” This conveys the original meaning in a more conversational and simplified manner.

The Gilroys often emphasize the importance of providing open, truthful feedback, a value they learned from their father. Additionally, they share the same remarkable work ethic as their father, which they describe as “extraordinary” or “impressive.

Initially, Tony Gilroy took on “Andor” without fully comprehending the extensive work it would entail. The reason being, nearly every detail mentioned in the script – objects, languages, traditions, places – required careful design before they could be presented. Consequently, there was a great deal that he had to collaborate with production designer Luke Hull on, leading Gilroy to acknowledge that Hull is as deserving of credit as any writer in the team.

In Season 2, Cassian and his associates – both friends and foes – will find themselves in fresh environments, some of which have been hinted at in “Star Wars” history but never before shown on screen. The creators have worked diligently to expand the universe for this 12-episode series, dividing it into four distinct story arcs, each consisting of three episodes. Additionally, they’ve developed new historical songs and rituals to enrich the world-building process.

“You’re making cultural ethnography” when working on “Star Wars,” says Tony Gilroy.

In the “Star Wars” universe, the tales frequently revolve around familial connections, with each film trilogy focusing on different generations of the Skywalker clan and their lasting impact. The series “Andor” initially follows Cassian’s quest to find his missing sister and delves into the complex family relationships of several characters.

Beyond the typical hurdles that come with creating a TV series on the scale of “Andor,” this project has encountered extra difficulties throughout both seasons’ production. The premiere season faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitating Tony Gilroy and his team to adapt to new circumstances like smaller crowd sizes and travel restrictions once filming commenced. Interestingly, Gilroy believes that the pandemic actually benefited the show, as it kept him from directing the initial episodes during a time when he had numerous other duties as showrunner.

In 2023, two significant labor disputes in Hollywood occurred during Season 2 production. This forced the showrunner to leave the project for a five-month period. Although Tony Gilroy had completed the scripting before the Writers Guild of America strike began, all 12 episodes of the season were primarily filmed without his involvement.

According to John Gilroy, who played a crucial role in creating the show alongside Tony, everyone found it eerie or unsettling. Normally, Gilroy offers his input on many aspects of the project. However, with him stepping back, everyone else had to take on more responsibilities. Fortunately, everyone was familiar with their roles from the previous season.

After the strike concluded, John Gilroy promptly handed over the preliminary versions of all twelve episodes to Tony. He felt certain that his brother would be pleased with the results and believed they had managed not to spoil his show.

Tony Gilroy admitted he initially found it very scary to even glance at it, but his fear quickly subsided after two days. He ended up consuming the show all at once and managed to watch it in a rather unconventional manner. … I’m not certain if I would have reached that point if I didn’t approach it as a fresh viewer, puzzled by some parts, thinking, “I don’t understand this.

Following a process that he approximated to have generated around 200 pages of notes, he made his way to London. There, four editing studios were operational, hosting all of the directors and editors for what he referred to as “an incredibly creative fortnight.

While the Gilroys are mindful of spoilers, they do tease some of what’s to come in Season 2.

Dan Gilroy expresses his delight in the development and background story of Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly), as it aligns well with the episodes he worked on, which feature a pivotal moment for the Chandrilan senator. Additionally, Tony Gilroy hints at the intricacy of Syril Karn’s (Kyle Soller) narrative and episodes delving into the events surrounding the Ghorman massacre, a tragic confrontation between Imperial forces and peaceful protesters that ultimately sparked the formal rise of the Rebel Alliance.

John Gilroy shares, “For four and a half years, cohabiting with these characters felt like the most natural thing for me. I never grew weary of their company. Essentially, I spend a lot of time alone in the dark, but interacting with those characters has been my primary source of companionship. In essence, I have grown quite fond of them.

John and Tony Gilroy both attribute their experience working on “Rogue One” as being instrumental in shaping their strategies for engaging with a “Star Wars” production.

As a movie enthusiast myself, I could feel the weight of expectation on this project like never before – a burden shared by many. The awareness of the audience and the accountability that came with it hit me right away.” – John Gilroy

According to Tony Gilroy on the set of ‘Rogue’, we discovered the intensity of people’s affection and the sincerity of their enthusiasm. Sometimes it can be a bit intimidating, but generally, it’s incredibly heartwarming. From the start, we resolved not to undermine that emotion. Our strategy was to avoid any hint of winking, joking, or cynicism. Instead, we aimed to approach it with more gravity than anyone else has ever done before.

In their approach, they prioritized adhering strictly to “Star Wars” lore and steered clear of elements that contradicted the narrative or were included merely for nostalgic reasons.

In “Andor” Season 2, we’ll uncover the history behind a well-known quote from “Rogue One.” This reference connects to moments familiar to viewers that add depth to previously known stories. (Apparently, Tony Gilroy was made aware of this chance by his son.)

Although Tony Gilroy is prepared for his tenure on “Andor” and the Star Wars universe to conclude, he does express a sense of nostalgia about it.

According to Tony Gilroy, he’s spent the last five years immersed in this project, and he describes it as an extremely potent influence. He explains that it’s been like working on something fascinating, from dawn till dusk, because you’re constantly generating content for it.

“What a great place to get lost in,” adds Dan Gilroy.

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2025-04-22 13:31

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