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Cassian Jeron Andor, born Kassa, is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise, primarily portrayed by actor Diego Luna. Introduced in the feature film Rogue One (2016) as a co-lead, he is the protagonist of the ongoing prequel television series Andor (2022–present). He begins his life as an orphan on the abandoned mining planet Kenari.
Nov 23, 2022 · Andor reached its crescendo this week, as the season finale brought death and destruction to the streets of Ferrix. When Maarva’s final message to her people sparks a riot, the Empire opens fire ...
- Overview
- Biography
- Personality and traits
- Skills and abilities
- Equipment
- Behind the scenes
- Appearances
- Sources
"Everything I did, I did for the Rebellion. And every time I walked away from something I wanted to forget, I told myself it was for a cause I believed in. A cause that was worth it. Without that, we're lost. Everything we've done would have been for nothing. I couldn't face myself if I gave up now."
―Cassian Andor vows to accompany Jyn Erso to Scarif
Cassian Jeron Andor was a human male operative of the Alliance to Restore the Republic who was remembered as a hero after his sacrifice to secure the Galactic Empire's Death Star plans at the Battle of Scarif. An accomplished spy and assassin, Andor was well-respected within the Rebellion and was trusted with leading Alliance Intelligence missions by Alliance High Command.
Originally a Kenari boy named Kassa, the human was rescued from a Republic vessel that had crashed on his Mid Rim homeworld of Kenari by smugglers Clem and Maarva Carassi Andor prior to the Clone Wars. Thereafter, the boy was named Cassian Andor, given a forged identity as an individual born on the planet Fest, and settled with his adopted family, including the droid B2EMO, on the Free Trade sector world Ferrix. Andor eventually made his way into the war against the Empire, working as a skilled spy, assassin, soldier, and pilot, operating many rebel missions with aliases such as Willix, Aach, Joreth Sward, Clem, and the codename Fulcrum. Before officially joining the Rebellion, for a period of time he was a tourist on the planet Niamos using the alias Keef Girgo.
By 1 BBY, Andor was a captain for Alliance Intelligence and was assigned to assist in Operation Fracture: to extract Imperial scientist Galen Walton Erso, responsible for the development of a secret Imperial "planet-killer" superweapon. Erso had tasked cargo pilot Bodhi Rook with delivering a message about the weapon to renegade rebel leader Saw Gerrera on the moon Jedha. Andor, alongside his droid companion, K-2SO, and Galen's daughter Jyn Erso, traveled to Jedha City and made acquaintances with two local Guardians of the Whills: Chirrut Îmwe and Baze Malbus.
Together, they recovered Rook from Gerrera's enclave of rebel Partisans, and Jyn Erso watched her father's holographic message about the superweapon—named the Death Star. After narrowly escaping the test firing of the Death Star on Jedha, the crew traveled to the planet Eadu, where Galen Erso was stationed at an Imperial laboratory. Andor was secretly instructed by Alliance Intelligence's General Davits Draven to assassinate Galen Erso, and to that end, the rebel operative kept his intentions to himself and lied to Jyn Erso that they would retrieve her father.
Early lifeFomenting dissentIn the Rebellion's serviceThe road to Rogue OneSacrifice on Scarif"Make ten men feel like a hundred." ―Cassian Andor to Rogue One Rook was able to use Imperial clearance codes to pass the Shield Gate that protected the planet and steered the shuttle to Landing Platform Nine. There, Andor gave command of the troops to Sergeant Ruescott Melshi, instructing them to place explosives around the landing sites that surrounded the Citadel Tower. Meanwhile, after ambushing a trio of Imperials who came aboard to inspect their ship, Andor joined Jyn in stealing their uniforms, dressing as an Imperial officer, and infiltrating the facility with K-2SO. Inside, K-2 accessed another droid to find a map to reach the plans. When they neared the area where the plans were kept, Andor was contacted by Melshi, who told him that the soldiers outside were ready to go. Andor gave the command to blow the charges, and a widespread firefight began outside as a full garrison on Imperial troops were deployed to fight the invaders. Meanwhile, as Andor and Jyn attempted to retrieve the plans, a group of stormtroopers arrived and discovered that K-2, who was left outside to watch, was an enemy. K-2 sealed Andor and Jyn inside to protect them and sacrificed himself in a fight against several stormtroopers. As troopers began to attempt to breach the doors, Andor and Jyn decided to retrieve the plans by hand instead of using the mechanism and began to climb to reach them. When Krennic made his way inside, he shot Andor, who fell as Jyn continued to climb upwards to escape through a hatch. Andor survived and limped his way after Jyn, who had ascended to the top of the citadel to transmit the plans to the rebel fleet that had arrived over Scarif. After Jyn avoided a TIE, she was about to transmit the plans when Krennic arrived again. However, before he could kill Jyn, Andor saved her and shot Krennic, wounding him and escaping with Jyn. Seeking to ensure the plans would fall into the hands of those who could change the tide of the struggle against the Empire, Andor and Jyn beamed the plans to the fleet and went back to the beach where many of their rebel comrades lay dead. As they knelt on the sand, they watched as the Death Star fired at Scarif and destroyed the base. Cassian told Jyn that her father would be very proud of her. The two then accepted their fate and shared a final embrace before they were killed in the resulting blast.Overview
"Does he look like a killer?" "No. He has the face of a friend." ―Chirrut Îmwe and Baze Malbus A good rebel agent who held dark secrets, Andor was a human male standing at 1.78 meters tall with dark brown hair and brown eyes. He held a reputation for having striking good looks, which he used to lure in the unsuspecting during his service as a Rebel spy.
Younger days
As a young man, Andor kept his origins close to his chest, officially denoting that he hailed from the planet Fest instead of revealing the true nature of his childhood on Kenari. However, he did trust some close friends and romantic partners with the truth, including Bix Caleen. He did not tell many, but he also did not keep track of everyone that he told. Although he had needed to leave her behind years prior, Andor also never forgot his sister Kerri and actively searched for her. He was prone to owing various individuals money, at one point being in debt to Nurchi and Brasso, the latter of whom he was more keen to pay back due to being good friends with the man. He also had a reputation of being something of a womanizer. When trying to explain away a mysterious injury to Caleen, the latter wondered if it may have been caused by a jealous husband. When Andor's mother Maarva was trying to figure out who knew that Andor was born on Kenari, she stated that she was worried about "all his women," naming some of them before admitting that there were some names that even she did not know. Arvel Skeen was quick to inform Andor that their fellow Aldhani rebel infiltration team member Cinta Kaz was already "sharing a blanket." Andor eventually developed into a selfless man, which set him apart from other, more extreme rebels who blurred the same lines as him.
Rebel agent
As a Rebel, Andor was a committed, steady, practical, and by-the-book intelligence officer with a fair amount of combat experience, but that experience grew from missions that sometimes blurred the line between what was morally wrong or right. Despite his selflessness, he was cold and distant to others. Andor often kept quiet and reserved, a trait he had acquired due to his experience in war. Although fighting on the side of the Rebel Alliance, he'd been hardened by war to the point that he did not hesitate to commit morally questionable acts when necessary. During those days of the early rebel movement, he relied on the excuse that he was following orders to justify what he had done. Although he displayed some degree of remorse and regret after some of his actions, such as he chose to execute Tivik during the mission to the Ring of Kafrene, it was never enough to convince him to seek redemption until his adventure with Jyn Erso. Nevertheless, he was more morally conflicted than fellow insurgent Saw Gerrera, who also went to great lengths to uncover intelligence on topics, particularly weapons, that threatened the Rebels. In a briefing to Mothma, General Draven described Andor as "one of the most capable agents within Rebel Intelligence," with the ability to handle a wide range of missions, from reconnaissance to assassination and sabotage. Draven also said that Andor was capable of analyzing intelligence and acting on that intelligence without the need to contact superiors. Draven indicated that, since Andor worked for the rebellion since childhood, that the Alliance was like his family and that his loyalty was unwavering. Mothma, however, worried about the terrible things Andor and other Rebel agents were asked to do in the name of the Rebellion. Indeed, many of the missions he carried out for the Alliance were morally questionable. Mothma wondered if the command was doing enough to help agents like Andor to cope with the psychological damage inflicted by their actions. Comprising on their morals in the name of victory was dreadful for the emotional health of Rebels like Andor. In truth, Andor had been driven to the extremes he carried out by the anguish he carried inside him. Having lost everything in his life, Andor was able to hold back thinking about his morally questionable actions until his time with Erso. Whether it was due to killing Tivik or a change in his outlook due to the adventure he had with Erso, he disobeyed orders to kill Galen Erso before revealing his internal anguish by arguing with Jyn; she compared him to a stormtrooper for following orders he thought were wrong, which made him burst out in anger because of all he had done in the name of rebellion. In the end, Andor's selflessness and regret for his past actions led to him joining the ragtag Rogue One mission. Meeting Erso and joining that mission helped Andor remember why he became a Rebel agent in the first place. Paying the ultimate sacrifice he could in the apogee of his selfless devotion to the Rebel Alliance and wanting to bring a new hope to the galaxy, Andor willingly gave his life to ensure the Death Star plans were given to those who could use them to win the war.
"He can pilot. He can shoot. He can lie. He speaks Alarin, Myo, Nari. He's got steady nerves and he's not afraid to kill."
―Luthen Rael, about Cassian Andor — Listen (file info)
Andor found that gathering intelligence required more than spying alone. He is an expert in espionage, saboteur, and assassinations throughout his missions. Andor was a committed soldier and fighter, rebelling against various regimes over the course of his life. Although sometimes he questioned his actions, he accepted that he did what had to be done in the name of a good cause. He was prepared to double-cross allies to get the job done. On one occasion, he killed his informant Tivik instead of risking letting him be captured by Imperial forces.
Andor was often an unassuming man that his opponents would underestimate. After killing two Corpos on Morlana One, the Preox-Morlana sent a squad after him, with Linus Mosk warning the group not to underestimate Andor.
"His weapon was in the sniper configuration."
―K-2SO on Cassian Andor's A280-CFE blaster
Prior to joining the Rebellion, Andor wielded an MW-20 Bryar pistol, which was wielded by his adopted father Clem Andor years earlier. Andor carried Karn's blaster for a time. During the preparation for a mission on Aldhani, Arvel Skeen became suspicious of Andor after seeing the corporate-issue blaster and questioned Andor as to whom it belonged to. After the mission, Andor stashed the weapon away in a hidden box on Niamos, where it was left after he was arrested and detained in the Narkina 5 Imperial Prison Complex. When Andor later returned to the planet with Ruescott Melshi after their escape from Narkina 5, he retrieved the box and handed the blaster off to Melshi before the two parted ways.
As a member of the Rebellion, Andor wore a brown Corellian-cut field jacket that depicted his military rank and also held a personal identifier transponder that concealed a suicide pill. He also wore brown military fatigues. On Jedha and Eadu he used a blue-colored coat with fur lining. Andor owned a UT-60D U-wing starfighter/support craft called the LMTR-20.
He carried a canvas bag over one shoulder on the Ring of Kafrene and a backpack on Jedha. Andor carried an A-180 blaster before Erso stole it. Due to his years of law-bending, Andor had honed his escapology skills, and he carried a compact security kit hidden inside one of his boots.
Cassian was capable with a variety of blasters. He primarily wielded a BlasTech A280-CFE blaster—a versatile, modular heavy blaster pistol that could be reconfigured into an assault rifle or sniper rifle by adding a barrel and stock attachments, which he carries in a thigh holster. On the Ring of Kafrene, Andor killed Tivik and a pair of stormtroopers with a concealed blaster pistol of unidentified model. He used the same weapon to dispatch Krennic during the Battle of Scarif.
Conception and portrayal
"I think what's remarkable is the sacrifice that Cassian Andor makes for the galaxy." "I know what he represents. This is the story about the people. It's a story that has the most to do with us. It's about what we can do, it's about the power we have." ―Kathleen Kennedy and Diego Luna reflect on Cassian Andor's story Cassian Jeron Andor, portrayed by Diego Luna, is a character created and developed for the 2016 film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Luna's casting in the film was first announced on August 15, 2015. At this time, the first photo of the character was released, and the first footage of the character was shown in the Rogue One teaser trailer on April 7, 2016. Luna spoke with his natural Mexican accent while playing Andor. When Luna jumped to the tower in the Scarif vault, he broke his rib but did not notice it. He did not tell anyone about his injury. After Rogue One's release, Luna shared a story from a fan who took her Mexican father to see the film because of his accent, which he said made him emotional.
Andor and further development
"There's so much that this series answers, that Rogue One just questions. For me, Rogue One is very much about an event, and now we're going to get the chance to actually understand and get to know [Cassian Andor] — who he is, what pain he carries. What are his fears? What is his real motivation? It's all going to be answered here." ―Diego Luna discussing Andor By 2018, Lucasfilm Ltd. has begun developing a television series set before Rogue One which starred Andor and K-2SO. They would be similar to the film characters Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and they would storm the Citadel. After viewing the script sent by Lucasfilm, Rogue One writer Tony Gilroy thought the material was fine but hard to sustain over a long run. He then wrote a forensic manifesto explaining why the idea would not work and what Lucasfilm should do instead. Gilroy explained that the show should have a large hole that Andor climbs out of over the course of five years. Gilroy added that Andor's journey should not involve escapades with K-2SO because it could get repetitive. Gilroy's idea became the Andor television series, which was called "The Education of Cassian Andor" during early development. The show would explore Andor's backstory, revealing how he changed from a nihilist into a selfless martyr. Gilroy wanted the first season to explain why Andor sacrificed himself in Rogue One. When Gilroy was conceptualizing Andor's larger story arc, he started to map out a narrative journey for Andor that would feel compelling and complete. This included showing Andor at a low point in his life at a time when the Empire was gaining power across the galaxy. Gilroy used Andor's story to depict the intertwining lives of common people as they orbit around the formation of the Rebel Alliance. To create a 24-episode series spanning five years, the show's directors worked in blocks of three episodes with Season One having four blocks. Gilroy realized that maintaining the show's scope for four more seasons would be overwhelming, so he and executive producer Sanne Wohlenberg decided to use the same structure used in Season One. For Season Two, Gilroy and the crew decided to use each block to represent a year, which Gilroy found to be very exciting from a narrative point of view. Gilroy was drawn to the idea of a story spanning Andor's childhood origin and a five-year history that takes him to a revolution. The show had Andor stop pretending he is not affected by the Empire and choose who he is going to be. Gilroy used Andor's line about being in this fight since he was six years old as a jumping off point to create Kenari. Andor's murder of Kravas Drezzer and Verlo Skiff in the episode "Kassa" was meant to show that he is a survivor in an oppressive galaxy with no sense of justice. Andor's decision to spare Syril Karn was meant to show that he learns from his mistakes. Giloy wanted to have Melshi in the show, so he figured that the Narkina 5 prison was a great place to show where and how they met. During the writers' room in November, 2019, Gilroy told the writers he was interested in seeing Andor escape during a prison sequence. In an early iteration of the story, Andor and the prisoners would steal the guards' boots to escape the prison on Narkina 5. Writer Beau Willimon said the goal of the prison episodes was to make Andor feel the Empire's oppression in a serious, sustained, and inescapable way. He viewed Andor as a recruiter for Kino Loy in a similar way to how Luthen Rael recruited Andor. Concept art depicting Andor was created by concept artists Vincent Jenkins, Chester Carr, Peter McKinstry. and Luke Hull. In mid-2019, Gilroy called Diego Luna and told him the full plan for an Andor-focused story. Luna was glad that Gilroy's proposal included details that resonated personally with him and he was convinced by Gilroy's ground-level approach. At the end of the call, Luna agreed to reprise his role in the series. He then talked about returning for two or three years before shooting started. Luna was excited to explore the darker side of Andor's psyche, as well as to show the nuance and complexity of a younger version of the character. To prepare for reprising his role, Luna imagined aspects of Andor's history that never made it into Rogue One, and he used that as background to bring the character to life. He and Gilroy discussed this as the scripts came together, helping to personalize Andor for the actor. Luna thought about people who are forced to run due to outside pressures, but decide to stop and make a stand. Costume designer Michael Wilkinson was tasked with making Andor someone who can disappear by hiding in his clothes but still be compelling, have "some swagger," and be something the audience is drawn to. Wilkinson decided that the arc of Andor's costumes would begin with him hiding in his clothes due to being a mess-up. As the series progressed, Andor shed his layers a little bit and his silhouette became more tailored with longer lines, and his shoulders became square. This was intended to show Andor is subtly becoming the character he is in Rogue One. The Aldhani rebels' disguises were made using natural fabrics. Wilkinson made the costumes very dark, textural, and organic. Production began in late November of 2020. Scenes on Ferrix were filmed in an intricate set in Little Marlow, Buckinghamshire. According to Tony Gilroy, everything on Ferrix was filmed first. As Luna spent more time on set, he started to enjoy the process more and fall in love with his character, and he did not enjoy playing the role until the third or fourth day. He felt that his costume was either too big or too small. The actor managed to embody a rash and more impulsive Andor with a younger mindset. Luna aimed to let audiences understand his character and explain how six-year-old Andor got wrapped up in a rebellion. He said that the trick is in telling a story that people can connect with and explaining how Andor got to where he was in Rogue One. Luna found it very important to understand that the show depicts a childish version of Andor who is unaware of the consequences of his actions. The rehearsals between Luna and Fiona Shaw, the actress who played Maarva Andor, were limited to what could be conveyed through a mask due to COVID-19 production protocols. One of the first scenes filmed with Luna and Shaw was an argument between their characters in the Andor household. Luna found it very important for young Andor to be played by a Mexican actor to show that the two actors shared something. Young Andor was played by Antonio Viña in flashback scenes. When Viña flew to London for his last session, Luna made sure that he was the right actor for the role. Luna noticed that Viña does a lot with his eyes, which Luna found very important for the role. Scenes on Aldhani were filmed at the Cruachan Dam and the surrounding mountains in the Scottish Highlands. According to Faye Marsay, Vel Sartha's actress, the scenes were filmed during the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Sanne Wohlenberg, the Narkina 5 prison scenes were filmed last before the wrap of Season One. When Andor and the other prisoners arrived at the prison, all of the actors choreographed their convulsions to happen when the lights changed. Andy Serkis, the actor that played Kino Loy, said that all of the actors would walk on metal plates for with bare feet, which drained their energy. The logo for Speaking at Celebration Anaheim, Luna stated "You're not going to recognize Cassian Andor in the beginning. I cannot wait for you to meet him" when discussing his character's journey, revealing that Andor would start off the show as a selfish character before undergoing an awakening that transforms him into the man seen in Rogue One. The series' logo, title, and a behind the scenes video for the series was revealed on December 10, 2020 at a Disney investors meeting. Tony Gilroy had a long-game plan of how the season would get to the fifth year in terms of Andor's story. The show's two seasons will be the last time Luna plays Andor in Star Wars. Michael Wilkinson worked on Andor's new look in the second season. On December 9, 2022, Luna announced on Twitter that he was currently filming the second season of Andor. For his performance in Andor, Luna was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Actor - Drama Series.
Discrepanices
2016's Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide states that Cassian Andor was born on Fest, 26 years before the events of Rogue One, which corresponds to 26 BBY. This was repeated in later sources. However, with the release of Andor in 2022, the titular character's place of birth was confirmed to be Kenari. Thereafter, Andor's updated Databank entry on StarWars.com states that the character was nine years old when he was taken off Kenari, while the StarWars.com Episode Guide for the "Reckoning" episode of Andor, released on September 21, 2022, states that the Confederacy of Independent Systems had yet to be formed and the Clone Wars was yet to be fought at the time of the character's departure from Kenari. Since previous sources establish that the Confederacy was formed in either 24 BBY or 22 BBY and the Clone Wars started in 22 BBY, this article assumes that Cassian Andor must have been born no later than nine years before 24 BBY, or 33 BBY, making the previously stated birth year of 26 BBY impossible.
Non-canon appearances
•Star Wars: Rogue One As Told By LEGO - Mini Movie on the official LEGO YouTube channel (backup link) •LEGO Star Wars: All-Stars — "From Trenches to Wrenches: The Roger Story" (In flashback(s)) •LEGO Star Wars: All-Stars — "The Good Stuff!" (In flashback(s)) ••LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (DLC) •Star Tours: The Adventures Continue (2024 update)
Non-canon sources
•SWCA 2022: 7 Things We Learned from the Summer of LEGO Star Wars Panel on StarWars.com (backup link)
Oct 4, 2024 · The second instalment in the series has been long awaited ever since Diego Luna's Cassian Andor stole everyone's imagination in season 1, with the show quickly becoming one of the most beloved ...
Nov 29, 2022 · Andor family friend Brasso (Joplin Sibtain) rounds out Cassian's rebel motivation by delivering Maarva's last message to her adopted son. "Tell him, he knows everything he needs to know and feels ...
Nov 23, 2022 · The primary focus of the final episode of Andor Season 1 is the funeral for Cassian’s foster mother Maarva Andor. Knowing that she has died, and that Cassian is likely to try and attend the ...
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Nov 23, 2022 · Cassian Andor and Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård) have had a complex relationship over the course of season 1, which took a major step forward in the season finale.
