Beau Willimon, writer for Andor and Severance, discusses the pleasures of teamwork in his creative projects.
Beau Willimon's Journey Through Galactic Storytelling and Mind-Bending Dramas
In an engaging conversation with Variety, writer Beau Willimon, the brains behind the addictive "House of Cards", shared insights into his current ventures. He's on board as an executive producer for Apple TV+'s Severance and penned episodes for both seasons of *Andor.
During this chat, he referred to crafting stories for Andor as akin to being a "session musician on someone's album". This collaboration with Andor creator Tony Gilroy began on the Willimon-born Netflix series House of Cards, where Gilroy stepped in as a consulting producer.
"I thought he was joking when he asked if I wanted to write a few episodes," Willimon admitted. "But he claimed the less I knew, the better, as he wanted to tell a human, mature story."
Willimon went on to describe the six-week narrative brainstorming session he, Gilroy, and Gilroy's brother Dan Gilroy had on Andor. "My role was simply to write scripts my friend Tony Gilroy liked," he said with a smile. "I got to immerse myself in the Star Wars universe in a way I'd only dreamt of!"
About the ongoing season of Lucasfilm's hit series, he gushed, "I'm mighty proud of the second season!"
Willimon was also instrumental in developing the world of Severance for its Apple TV+ season. Although this wasn't his usual cup of tea, he took up the role of executive producer to lend a helping hand.
"I joined forces with the writers," Willimon shared. "It was an unparalleled experience because Severance is unlike anything out there. I thrive on challenges, and this beautifully designed universe and unique tone were irresistible!"
Willimon further emphasized that both Andor and Severance have kindled a fresh passion for producing. "Sometimes I observe from a distance, or I assist practically. I don't have the age-old dilemma of needing to protect my baby," he explained. "I simply help others nurture theirs."
Want more io9 news? Stay updated on the Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek universes, the future of Doctor Who, and the latest developments in the DC Universe on the big and small screens!
- Beau Willimon, who has ventured into both the Star Wars and Marvel universes with his work on Andor and Severance, expressed his excitement about the future of entertainment, especially in the realms of technology-driven platforms like Apple TV+ and Gizmodo's Movies-and-TV section.
- In the discussion about his role as an executive producer on Severance, Willimon highlighted the unique nature of this project, stating, "I've never seen anything like Severance in entertainment, and I jumped at the opportunity to innovate in this fascinating world."
- As Beau Willimon continues to explore diverse storytelling avenues, io9 readers can look forward to his insights on the latest trends and developments in the entertainment industry, covering not only Star Wars, Marvel, and Star Trek, but also Doctor Who and the DC Universe.
