The wait is over, and “Andor” is back in a galaxy far, far away. The hit “Star Wars” series is a prequel to “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” which itself is a prequel film to “A New Hope” and ends just minutes before the iconic opening crawl. It stars Diego Luna as the titular rebel spy Cassian Andor, who’s not afraid to get his hands dirty.
Many of the cast members from Season 1 return, including Adria Arjona as Andor’s love interest Bix Caleen, Stellan Skarsgard as ruthless spymaster Luthen Rael, Genevieve O’Reilly as Senator Mon Mothma, Kyle Soller as Imperial agent Syril Karn, and Denise Gough as the Imperial’s rebel hunter Dedra Meero, among others.
At the end of Season 1, Cassian escapes from the Imperial prison where he had been unjustly jailed and officially joins the rebel fight against the Empire. He rescues Bix, who had been tortured by Imperials, and takes Luthen’s offer to join the rebellion. They leave Cassian and Bix’s home on the planet Ferrix and fly far away from the Imperials, who are hunting down Cassian and Luthen. It’s also revealed that the secret project Cassian and his prison inmates on Narkina 5 had been working on was the Death Star. The prisoners had been assembling parts for the Empire’s ultimate, planet-destroying weapon seen in “A New Hope.”
In a shift from Season 1’s weekly episode drop, Season 2 will release three episodes per week that each jump ahead one year in the “Star Wars” timeline. It’s been more than two years since Season 1 finished airing on Disney+, so here’s a refresher of who’s who in the “Andor” cast.
Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) - Cassian has officially joined the Rebel Alliance and is one of Luthen’s spies. After escaping the Narkina 5 prison and rescuing Bix, they are off to a new planet away from Imperial eyes. Season 2 will show what Cassian was up to right as “Rogue One” was starting, leading to the rebel plot that resulted in the destruction of the Death Star.
Bix Caleen (Adria Arjona) - Bix is one of Cassian’s oldest friends, and there’s definitely a romantic spark between the two of them. Captured by Imperial forces and tortured near the end of Season 1, she carries the mental scars of her imprisonment as she joins the rebels.
Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgard) - Luthen will stop at nothing to take down the Empire. He has a network of spies, including Cassian, Vel, Cinta, and his assistant Kleya, at his disposal and lives a double life as a fine arts shopkeeper. As a skilled pilot, Luthen gives Cassian his first mission and invites him to the rebellion once he knows he can fully trust him.
Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) - Mon Mothma first appeared in “Return of the Jedi,” but her role was expanded in “Rogue One” and “Andor.” A senator from the planet Chandrila in the Galactic Republic, she refuses to side with Emperor Palpatine’s Imperial forces. In Season 1, her relationships with her husband Perrin and daughter Leida are strained as she secretly funnels money to the rebels, making a deal with shady businessman Davo Sculdun for his son to marry Leida.
Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) - Dedra is an Imperial supervisor hunting Cassian and Luthen, whom she’s nicknamed Axis. Ambitious and ruthless, she will do anything to rise through the ranks by catching the rebels. Dedra was the one who ordered Bix’s torture to get information on Cassian and was nearly killed in the riot on Ferrix in the Season 1 finale, but Syril saved her.
Syril Karn (Kyle Soller) - Syril is just as obsessed with hunting down Cassian and proving himself to the Empire as Dedra, but he has farther to go as a lower-ranking officer. After saving Dedra in the Ferrix riot, it seems like the two may join forces in their rebel hunt. He also has a very odd relationship with his overbearing mother Eedy.
Vel Sartha (Faye Marsay) - Vel is Mon Mothma’s cousin and one of Luthen’s spies who helped Cassian with the Aldhani heist in Season 1. Like Mon, she comes from a wealthy background and works with the rebellion alongside her girlfriend, Cinta.
Cinta Kaz (Varada Sethu) - Cinta is Vel’s girlfriend and another one of Luthen’s spies, who is more focused on the rebellion than her relationships. She also assisted with the Aldhani heist and worked with Vel on Ferrix when they were tasked with following Cassian.
Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) - Mendelsohn reprises his “Rogue One” role as Director Orson Krennic, a powerful Imperial official overseeing the construction of the Death Star. As seen in “Rogue One,” he has a rivalry with Grand Moff Tarkin, who steals the credit for making the Death Star from him.
Kleya Marki (Elizabeth Dulau) - Kleya is Luthen’s assistant who works at his antiquities shop, but secretly she’s just as involved in the rebellion as he is and keeps in contact with his network of spies.
Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker) - After being introduced in “Rogue One” and reappearing in “Andor” Season One, Whitaker’s unhinged rebel leader Saw Gerrera is back. Even though he supports the rebellion, Saw’s methods are more volatile than many would like.
K-2SO (Alan Tudyk) - K-2SO, voiced by Alan Tudyk, is a towering, sarcastic K2 droid who first appears in “Rogue One” and returns for “Andor” Season 2. A reprogrammed Imperial droid, K-2’s origins and how he meets Cassian will be shown this season.
Wilmon Paak (Muhannad Bhaier) - Wilmon, aka Wil, is a young adult living on Ferrix in Season 1, eager to join the rebellion after his father is taken prisoner and the riot on Ferrix breaks out. He takes center stage more in Season 2.
Brasso (Joplin Sibtain) - Brasso works in the salvage yard and is one of Cassian’s closest friends, used to giving an alibi for him when Imperial guards come looking. At the end of Season 1, he joins Cassian and Bix as they leave Ferrix for a safer planet.
With the first three episodes dropping on April 22, 2025, fans are eager to see how the series unfolds as it bridges the gap to “Rogue One.” The anticipation is palpable, and with returning characters and new developments, the stakes have never been higher in the fight against the Empire.
