Genevieve O'Reilly, the actress who plays Mon Mothma in the Star Wars spin-off series Andor, has teased that the character will face even more difficult choices and sacrifices in the show's upcoming second season. Speaking to Screen Rant after the Lucasfilm Showcase panel at Star Wars Celebration, O'Reilly explained how the first season of Andor established who Mon Mothma is and the sacrifices she has made. However, she hinted that there will be even more challenging decisions for the Rebel leader in the show's second season.
O'Reilly also praised the show's writing, stating that within the structure of the first season, audiences get a clear understanding of Mon Mothma's personality, her fight, and the idea of her sacrifices. The second season is expected to delve even deeper into Mon Mothma's character, exploring where she draws the line, how her ideals affect her choices, and what the cost is of those choices. The character will have to navigate the Empire not only at work but also at home, which will have both emotional and physical costs.
"Good question; sneaky question. I love that, within Tony's writing and within the structure of season 1, I feel like we know who she is. We know what her fight is, and we kind of have an idea of where her sacrifice is. We really lean into that in season 2. Where does it cross a line? Where does it get ugly? Where does it get costly, both emotionally and physically?
In season 2, Tony really digs down [into] what the cost is of her choices. What it costs, for her in particular with her ideals, to have to navigate the Empire not just at work but at home as well." O'Reilly said.
Mon Mothma has been an important figure in the Star Wars universe since her debut in Return of the Jedi. She has also been featured in the prequel trilogy and the animated series Star Wars Rebels. Andor takes place five years before the events of Rogue One and follows an ensemble cast of characters forming the Rebel Alliance in opposition to the Galactic Empire. The series stars Diego Luna as Cassian Andor, a thief who becomes a revolutionary and eventually joins the Rebellion.
Andor Season 2 Release Window and Plot Details Revealed
The highly anticipated second season of Andor is expected to return on Disney+ for its second (and final) season in summer 2024, according to the show's creator, Tony Gilroy. The announcement was made at the Star Wars Celebration event in 2023, where fans were treated to the first footage of Andor Season 2. Gilroy also revealed that knowing the ending of the show has helped with creativity and delivering the story, making for an emotionally satisfying conclusion to the series.
“If you know your ending, it really helps. We know exactly where we’re going. You know what you have to deliver emotionally and what the story has to do. It’s a decision borne of survival, but it’s good for us creatively.”
Andor Season 2 promises to take viewers on a journey through the four years leading up to the events of Rogue One, providing a deeper understanding of the events that shaped the Star Wars universe. The upcoming season will delve into the backstory of the characters, revealing their motivations and relationships. Many are hoping for the return of Alan Tudyk's character, K-2SO, who was initially supposed to appear in the first season. It remains to be seen whether K-2SO will make an appearance in Andor Season 2, but fans are excited to see what's in store for their favorite characters in the upcoming season.