Andor has very rapidly become the benchmark for all other Star Wars TV shows to be measured against, something many fans have already rolled their eyes at after seeing the series used as an excuse to unfairly tear into The Mandalorian season 3 and Ahsoka!
The show is undeniably fantastic, but it's also a very different beast, replacing classic Star Wars lore with an in-depth exploration of a specific Rebel character we first met - and watched die - in 2016's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
While work on season 2 has come to a halt due to the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, a cast listing shared on Spotlight (via SFFGazette.com) seems to confirm the return of a familiar face.
Duncan Pow is reportedly set to reprise his role as Ruescott Melshi after debuting in Rogue One and later appearing in four episodes of Andor's first season. Melshi and Cassian's meeting on Narkina 5 began a friendship that clearly stood the test of time, with a reunion in season 2 likely to expand on their dynamic.
He watched him die while fighting the Empire on Scarif, so Andor is bound to further explore how he came to join Cassian as a member of the Rebel Alliance.
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Season 2 of Andor is going to play out across four three-episode blocks, with a year passing between each of them. Along the way, we anticipate seeing more familiar faces, especially as the plan is for the final episode to lead directly into Rogue One.
Earlier this year, Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy confirmed he'd finished writing season 2 prior to the WGA strike. That meant production on the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story spin-off was able to proceed as planned, though SAG-AFTRA members have also since hit the picket lines.
For a time, at least part of Andor remains in production at Pinewood Studios without SAG-AFTRA cast members. Those actors were likely part of the British acting union Equity. They haven't called for strike action and previously warned its members they risk being sued for breach of contract if they walk off set in solidarity with their American colleagues.
That was only sustainable for so long, of course, and we recently saw footage of sets being torn down due to work on the series coming to a standstill.
Andor season 2 is currently set to premiere on Disney+ in August 2024. Stay tuned for updates.