Andor Season 2 Will Not Feature Darth Vader or Palpatine

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The second and concluding part of the TV show Andor is now available on Disney+, focusing on the last phase before the incidents depicted in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Given this, significant characters from the Star Wars movies like Ben Mendelsohn’s Krennic are expected to have a crucial impact in this final season. This raises speculation about whether powerful Imperial figures such as Darth Vader or Emperor Palpatine might make a surprise appearance in the series.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, I shared my thoughts on why we didn’t include Darth Vader or Emperor Palpatine in our show. Writing Vader was too limiting due to his established character traits, but it was Emperor Palpatine who posed a greater challenge. His immense influence and weight in the Star Wars universe made it difficult for us to integrate him seamlessly into our series.

1. “No, it wasn’t something I had planned. Writing for Darth Vader proved restrictive due to his limited dialogue. I’ve tackled the task before, but found that Palpatine was too cumbersome a character to introduce. The burden of writing him was simply too much.”

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2. “No, it wasn’t on my schedule. Writing for Darth Vader is challenging due to his limited dialogue. I’ve given it a shot before, but I found that creating Palpatine was more than I could handle. The task seemed too overwhelming.”

Gilroy has been open about his creative journey on the show Andor, admitting that he initially thought it might not succeed when he began working on it. Now, his reasons for leaving out popular Star Wars characters align with the audience’s perception, given how realistic and grounded Andor feels compared to series like The Mandalorian.

‘Andor’ Omits Gratuitous Cameos in Favor of Good Storytelling

The promotions for the second season of Andor have largely emphasized its critical success, and rightly so. Unlike the Rebellion we saw in the original trilogy films, the first 12-episode season offers a grittier, more nuanced look at the movement’s origins. Stellan Skarsgård’s character, Luthen Rael, embodies this shift, portraying a morally complex figure who is ready to make tough choices in response to oppression.

Characters such as Darth Vader and Palpatine have already had significant roles in the main movies and Disney+ shows like “Obi-Wan Kenobi”. Introducing them into “Andor” might seem contrived, and it could potentially undermine the gritty, grounded atmosphere that the series has been building. Fortunately, Gilroy seems to understand the story he wants to tell and is not hesitant to acknowledge when a character may be too prominent or out of place for “Andor”.

In essence, Season 2 of Andor appears to be an impressive follow-up of the themes and narratives introduced in the first season. Critics have lauded its gloomy atmosphere and complex storylines, demonstrating that Diego Luna and the rest of the cast have maintained their form since the initial premiere back in 2022. It’s hoped that Andor‘s success will open doors for more tales with realistic perspectives, ones that don’t rely on characters from the Skywalker Saga to capture our imagination.

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2025-04-28 18:32