Diego Luna and his Captain Cassian character Jeron Andor are back with this series, yet another opus in the universe of Star Wars which arrives on Disney+ on Wednesday. A clever mix of spy thriller and intergalactic science fiction story, this ante-episode to commercial success Snape One. A Star Wars Story (2016) should appeal to both fans of Star Wars and novices eager for thrills.
Andor even becomes the pre-episode of a pre-episode, since the story of RogueOne precedes that of the very first Star Wars (1977), Episode IV: A new hope. But no need to have followed all the films of the saga to appreciate the series. In the first episodes to which had access The dutythe whole universe is set up simply and without detour, enough to satisfy a wide audience of all ages.
Here we follow the character of Diego Luna five years before the events of RogueOne, as a rebel alliance forms against the Galactic Empire. Darker and more cyberpunk than the ” space western » The Mandalorian (from 2019 to present), another Disney series from Star Warsthe first episodes ofAndor intertwine an investigation into a murder – rich in suspense – and a story of revenge in the context of colonization.
In an industrial planet abused by the Empire, Cassian Jeron Andor tries the impossible and sets up his rebel alliance. Meanwhile, in the distant capital, Coruscant, Senator Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) supports the rebellion underground.
“It’s a show about real people. It’s a very dark era in the galaxy, there are no Jedi,” Diego Luna told a virtual press conference last August. “These people have to decide how to react in the face of oppression. It’s the Star Wars the most down to earth you will see,” he added.
Mirror of society
The series is also part of a desire from Disney – which owns the production house Lucasfilm, at the origin of Star Wars — to offer a cast that is more representative of its audience and to show a resolutely contemporary look at the saga, which is almost fifty years old today.
“We are supposed to be a mirror in which society can see itself. As a team [diversifiée]we send the message, the industry sends the message, that people come from different places, and that it is this diversity that makes the society in which we live so rich,” said Diego Luna, who is also co-executive producer of the series.
Denise Gough, who plays Dedra, a supervisor of the Empire’s police force, clarified that despite her surreal alien world, Andor does not hide his political side: “My character evolves in a universe dominated by men, in a fascist organization”, she says, stressing that the series denounces social injustices through the band.
larger than life
The actors gathered at the press conference were unanimous in their amazement at the grandeur and precision of the costumes and sets. We expected nothing less from Disney. The series proves to be as grandiose and ambitious as the films of Star Wars.
Andor however, manages to stand out thanks to a visual universe of its own. The gloomy cityscapes of the first episodes evoke sci-fi classics such as blade runner. Other images, from nature, are more reminiscent of the Dunes by Denis Villeneuve, where striking landscapes rub shoulders with dramatic lighting.
Adria Arjona, who plays Bix Caleen, an ally of Cassian Jeron Andor, was also enthusiastic about the film set: “It was huge, spread over ten street corners. Every aspect of the shoot reminded us Star Wars. “ Tony Gilroy, author of the series, explains moreover that he wanted to make the places “as realistic as possible”, to facilitate the play of the actors.
“The series exists because there is a huge community passionate about the universe of Star Wars, really loyal. That’s what gave us the money and the impetus to do such an incredibly ambitious show. We want to give them something completely different from what they’ve had before,” says Tony Gilroy.
However, the author believes that everyone can benefit from it. “A lot of people don’t like Star Wars. The series could be your gateway. We make a show that requires no prior knowledge. »