By George & Josh Bate
While we and other Star Wars fans around the world eagerly await the trailer for Andor Season 2 to drop, we find ourselves thinking back to footage of the new Star Wars season that was presented exclusively to the crowd of Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023, in addition to footage shown at D23 Expo 2024. For those desperate for Andor crumbs, here is a detailed description of that footage….
The Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023 footage is set to musical compositions for Andor Season 1 by Nicholas Britell. After the Lucasfilm logo flashes across the scene, the footage shows various characters walking from behind. One of these characters is Major Partagaz, played by Anton Lesser. This high-up in the Empire’s Imperial Security Bureau (ISB) was an understated, menacing figure in Season 1, and this footage confirms Partagaz is back for Season 2.
A voice can then be heard saying, “I had a feeling you’d be coming back soon.” The footage then cuts to Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor. Combined with other footage shown, we suspect this line is hinting at Cassian’s return to Coruscant.
Several brief shots catch the audience up with Mon Mothma, Syril Karn, Dedro Meero, Bix Calleen, Luthen Rael, and Vel Sartha. It is a testament to the powerful character work done in Andor Season 1 that mere shots of these characters get us excited for their return (and had the crowd in London cheering and shouting.
In a covert exchange with a previously unseen individual, someone tells Syril, “Something is happening.” Syril responds, “You don’t know the half of it.”
Other brief shots from Season 2 are presented, including an intimate exchange between Cassian and Bix that suggests the two will rekindle their romance this season.
One of these brief shots is of Syril having breakfast with his mother again. And, just like in Season 1, they seem to be enjoying breakfast cereal with blue milk.
Dr. Gorst, the villainous Imperial doctor who tortured Bix in Season 1, then shows up in the trailer. Seemingly overseeing the torture of another individual, Dr. Gorst says, “Everyone has their own rebellion, right?”
After a shot of civilians protesting against Stormtroopers (could this be the Ghorman Massacre depicted in live-action), Genevieve O’Reilly’s Mon Mothma is seen walking with other political figures on Coruscant, before telling someone, “If we do not stand together, we will be crushed.”
A revealing shot next shows Lonni, the undercover agent who is the recipient of Luthen Rael’s epic monologue from Season 1. Lonni is in the same elevator that took him to see Luthen in Season 1, but he now appears to be in distress, frantically reaching for a blaster.
Another shot of the trailer shows Cassian, dressed in fancy clothes and brandishing slicked back hair, crouching in a tunnel. Alongside him is fan favorite Brasso.
The footage then shows Wilmon Paak, the young man who lost his father in Season 1 and whose distraught and inspired face looking up at Maarva’s speech gives us goosebumps.
Vel’s partner Cinta is also shown in the trailer, confirming her return this season. Cinta places her hand lovingly on Vel’s cheek.
Luthen wearing his long-haired wig is depicted strutting through his antiques shop.
Another shot of Wilmon Paak shows the aspiring rebel engaging in some espionage, communicating with someone via an earpiece.
Hinting at some much-deserved justice this season, an unknown character pulls a blaster on Dr. Gorst.
Another shot shows Adria Arjona sleeping with a blaster in hand, followed by a clearer image of Major Partagaz speaking to the ISB.
Finally, an ISB officer shouts, “Shut it down!” on a comm system.
All the Celebration Europe 2023 footage seemingly revolves around a protest against the Empire, which co-occurs with rebels like Wilmon Paak executing some operation. Whether this is what is eventually known as the Ghorman Massacre remains unclear, although we suspect that Season 2 will depict the harrowing event that eventually sees Mon Mothma make a public stance against Emperor Palpatine and his regime.
Additional footage of Andor Season 2 shown as D23 Expo 2024 parallels much of the footage from the Celebration presentation, while retaining the intensity and grounded tone of Season 1. Particular highlights of this newer footage include a closer look at Cassian wearing fancy clothes and having slicked-back hair, Mon Mothma struggling to hold back tears as if she had just experienced something heartbreaking, the return of Forest Whitaker’s Saw Gerrera, an appearance from Ben Mendelsohn as Orson Krennic, and the first look at K-2SO in the series as the droid flies a ship and participates in a dangerous mission alongside Cassian.
Based on this footage, here is a list of every Andor Season 1 character confirmed to return for Season 2….
- Cassian Andor (obviously)
- Mon Mothma
- Luthen Rael
- Syril Karn
- Eedy Karn (Syril’s mother)
- Bix Caleen
- Dedra Meero
- Major Partagaz
- Brasso
- Lonni
- Vel Sartha
- Cinta Kaz
- Saw Gerrera
- Wilmon Paak
- Dr. Gorst
Hopefully these Andor crumbs help satisfy fans eager to get their hands on the newest Star Wars series.