Cameras are still rolling on Andor season 2, and while showrunner Tony Gilroy is no longer able to write the series (he maintains that the scripts were finished prior to the WGA strike beginning), he has shared some new details in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter (via SFFGazette.com).
After playing around with various genres during the first 12 episodes, it sounds like season 2's overall feel will differ significantly when the show returns next year.
"It’s not as clearly delineated in terms of genres, but it’s more clearly delineated in that each block of three episodes will be separated by a yearlong gap," he explains. "So they’re really stand-alone, and in many cases take place over one, two or three days."
The trade goes on to reveal that, with a $250 million budget, Andor is actually the most expensive Star Wars TV show ever made. That figure makes it pricier than The Mandalorian's first season - which cost roughly $100 million - and even the likes of Obi-Wan Kenobi and the upcoming Skeleton Crew.
We'd assume the decision to shoot practical locations was a big part of that, especially as Andor doesn't exactly feature much in the way of splashy space battles and lightsaber duels...which, in large part, is what makes it so great.
Reflecting on being given that financial freedom, Gilroy said: "We got lucky making this during the gold rush a few years ago. A lot of people now have cold feet, and you can’t do this show inexpensively."
"I’m just so relieved at the reaction because we were making this huge, obscure thing and we knew it was crazy. Like, ‘Is this too much? Have we gone too far?’ There were no focus groups or test audiences. Now it will be good if we can stick the landing and go out strong."
Andor season 2 is still expected to premiere on Disney+ sometime in August 2024.