Haynes was hired in September 2020 after a production delay due the COVID-19 pandemic, and Gilroy joined the series as showrunner in early 2019, replacing Stephen Schiff.
Cassian flees to the planet Ferrix, where he attempts to hide his involvement by convincing B2EMO, the droid of his adoptive mother Maarva, and his friend Brasso to cover for him.
Back on Morlana One, the chief inspector of security elects to cover up the murders, to improve his report to the Imperial authorities, but his deputy, the ambitious Syril Karn, is determined to solve the case.
Disney CEO Bob Iger announced in February 2018 that there were several Star Wars series in development,[1] and that November one was revealed as a prequel to the film Rogue One (2016).
The series was described as a spy thriller show focused on the character Cassian Andor, with Diego Luna reprising his role from the film.
[3] Tony Gilroy, who was credited as a co-writer on Rogue One and oversaw extensive reshoots for the film,[4] joined the series by early 2019 when he discussed the first story details with Luna.
[18][19] The episode consisted of the first depiction of the BBY/ABY timescale (Before or After the Battle of Yavin) in any Star Wars series or film when it featured BBY 5 on the screen during the opening scene.
Previously the scale was used only by fans to create a timeline of the events of the franchise, with a zero point being the Battle of Yavin in A New Hope with the destruction of the first Death Star.
[20][21] The episode stars Diego Luna as Cassian Andor,[2][22] Kyle Soller as Syril Karn, Adria Arjona as Bix Caleen, Joplin Sibtain as Brasso, James McArdle as Timm Karlo, and Rupert Vansittart as Chief Hyne.
[28] For the action sequence towards the beginning of the episode, Gilroy had wanted to keep a closeup shot on Andor's face throughout his speech with the Corporate Security officers approaching him from behind.
The site's critical consensus reads, "With a premiere drenched in the atmosphere and grit of film noir, Andor announces right out of the gate that is a bold departure from the attitude and style of previous Star Wars stories.
"[37] Writing for Collider, Maggie Lovitt gave the episode an "A+", calling it a "refreshing venture back to the early days of a rebellion" and comparing Andor's time on Morlana One as something out of Blade Runner.