Andor’s Original Concept Unveiled with Strong Mission Impossible Influences

Andor, the series that dives into the backstory of Cassian Andor from Rogue One and the early days of the Rebel Alliance, has garnered widespread acclaim. It’s often celebrated as “the best of Disney’s Star Wars,” winning the hearts of both fans and critics.

However, the official behind-the-scenes book, The Art of Andor, reveals that the initial vision for this gritty sci-fi series was quite different from what showrunner Tony Gilroy ultimately delivered.

The original concept centered around the enigma of Cassian’s character as introduced in Rogue One. How did this seemingly cold figure become the leader of the crucial mission to deliver the Death Star plans to Leia Organa in A New Hope?

In April 2018, writer-director Jared Bush, known for his work on animated hits like Encanto and Moana, was tasked with exploring that question. His early outlines were titled Star Wars: Alliance, which later evolved into Star Wars: Andor Five, with the project codenamed Whitesnake.

Dominic Sikking, the lead graphic designer for Andor, noted in the companion book that the series was pitched as a spy drama reminiscent of the original Mission: Impossible TV series. It was meant to follow Cassian and a group of rebels as they infiltrated the Empire using Cold War-style espionage.

Bush’s concept leaned heavily into the spy genre, focusing on Cassian’s missions. While this theme becomes more prominent in Season 2, the first season primarily sets the stage for the struggles of the Axis Network, a smaller rebel faction, and their efforts to recruit Cassian into the Rebellion.

In Bush’s vision, Cassian was already an intelligence operative for the Rebellion. However, after a significant setback caused by an Imperial mole within their ranks, he finds himself accused of being that mole. To clear his name, he must infiltrate the Imperial planet Okara and identify the true traitor. Alongside Avnee, his originally intended love interest, and K-2SO, no other characters were detailed in Bush’s Andor bible.

Despite the ambitious nature of Bush’s original plan, it was ultimately set aside when Tony Gilroy submitted his own pitch to Lucasfilm’s president at the time, Kathleen Kennedy. Gilroy stated that he wasn’t seeking the job but wanted to contribute, which led to Bush’s concept being shelved.

The first season of Andor stands out as one of my favorites, offering a gripping slow burn that highlights the sacrifices made by Cassian and the Axis Network in their fight against the Empire. Still, I can’t help but feel intrigued by the idea of a Cassian who was already entrenched in the Rebellion, potentially leading to more intricate spy narratives. While it seems unlikely that Bush’s original vision will be revisited, if Lucasfilm ever considers giving it another shot, I wouldn’t be opposed.

Sabine Wren would definitely approve.