Beau Willimon, creator of Andor and Severance, discusses the pleasures of teamwork
Firing Up the Small Screen: Beau Willimon's Magic Touch
Hey there! Let's chat about the sizzling world of television, shall we? Beau Willimon, a big cheese in the biz, is making waves with his two latest projects - executive producer for Apple TV+'s 'Severance' and writer for 'Andor', both on the coveted streaming giant's roster.
In an exclusive sit-down with Variety, Willimon opened up about his role in these dazzling productions. He reckoned heading the 'Star Wars' spin-off ‘Andor' was akin to being a session musician for someone else's album. Sounds exciting, right? He started his musical ride with 'Andor' honcho Tony Gilroy back on their stint on Netflix's 'House of Cards', where Gilroy swooped in as a consulting producer.
"I thought Tony was joshing when he asked if I wanted to pen a few episodes for 'Andor'," Willimon confided. "I'm a fan of 'Star Wars', sure, but I ain't a geek about it. Gilroy's pitch was the game-changer: 'I want to craft a grown-up, human story, and the less you know, the better'."
Digging in, Willimon spent six weeks with the Gilroy bros crafting the story for ‘Andor’. He reveled in his newfound role, delivering scripts to his buddy Tony. "For the first time in my life, all I needed to do was be a writer," he laughed. "The weight of resposibilities usually shouldered by a showrunner was lifted off. Boom, no more burdens!"
On the current season of 'Andor', Willimon roared, "I'm mighty proud of the second season!"
Moving to 'Severance', Willimon attempted to lend a hand, serving as executive producer to deep-dive into the show's production side along with the writers. "It was a mind-blowing experience," he shared. "Nothing like 'Severance' out there. I've always craved diving into the unfamiliar, and this project - beautifully crafted world, tone, and all - was the ultimate challenge for me."
Willimon admits that facilitating others’ visions in ‘Andor' and ‘Severance' has rekindled his love for producing. "At times, I maintain a smidgen of distance and perspective that can help or just wear a simpler producer's hat," he explained. "I don't have to be that baby's mama, just help someone nurture it."
Keep your eyes peeled for exciting updates on upcoming 'Marvel', 'Star Wars', and 'Star Trek' releases, not to mention the next chapter for the ‘DC Universe' on the silver screen and small tube! And if you're a fan of the enigmatic Time Lord, prepare to be enthralled by the future of 'Doctor Who'.
- IO9 and Gizmodo might highlight Beau Willimon's future involvements in the technology-driven world of entertainment, given his roles in 'Andor' and 'Severance', two upcoming television shows on Apple TV+.
- As the screen-writing scene continues to evolve, news outlets like Movies-and-TV could feature interviews with Willimon discussing his experience working on 'Andor' and 'Severance', reflecting on his unique approach to storytelling in the realm of popular television and future projects.
- The entertainment landscape, including streaming giants and big-screen productions like Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, and Doctor Who, could see Beau Willimon's magic touch in the future, as he continues to explore opportunities outside of his traditional showrunner role, focusing on collaborating with other talented creators.
