Beau Willimon, the creator behind both Andor and Severance, discusses the pleasures of teamwork in his projects.
Hangin' with Beau Willimon, the genius behind Apple TV+'s hot shows, we delve into his current projects and his unique approach to storytelling. He's an executive producer on "Severance" and penned a few episodes for "Andor."
In a chat with Variety, Willimon compared writing for "Star Wars" to being a session musician on someone's album. His collaboration with "Andor" creator Tony Gilroy began on the hit Netflix series "House of Cards," with Gilroy joining as a consulting producer.
"Gilroy asked if I wanted to write a few episodes, and I thought he was joking," Willimon said. "He wanted a fresh perspective, as he aimed to tell a human and grown-up story."
Willimon and the Gilroy brothers spent six weeks breaking the story for "Andor." This was a dream scenario for the writer, who usually bears the burden of being a showrunner. All he needed to do was write for his friend Tony Gilroy, ensuring he liked what he read.
"I'm thrilled with the second season of 'Andor,'" Willimon added.
The writer also lended a hand in fleshing out the world of "Severance" for the second season of Apple TV+. Unlike his usual role, he took on the job as an executive producer to provide extra help.
"I helped the writers on 'Severance,'" shared Willimon. "It was a unique experience, as there's nothing like this show. It was like helping a friend bring his child into the world."
His experiences with "Andor" and "Severance" have given Willimon a new appreciation for producing. "I can purely facilitate someone else's vision or provide a helpful perspective," he said.
As for future projects, keep an eye out for updates on "Marvel," "Star Wars," "Star Trek," and the "DC Universe." Plus, don't miss the latest on "Doctor Who." Stay tuned, folks!
In the future, Beau Willimon may be involved with productions based on "Marvel," "Star Wars," "Star Trek," the "DC Universe," and "Doctor Who." His experiences working on "Andor" and "Severance" have piqued his interest in producing and have allowed him to facilitate others' visions or provide a helpful perspective. In his current projects, Willimon not only wrote for "Andor" but also helped flesh out the world of "Severance" as an executive producer.
