Collaborating on Andor and Severance: Beau Willimon discusses the Pleasures of Joint Endeavors
In a chat with Variety, writer Beau Willimon spilled the beans on his current projects as an executive producer on Apple TV+'s Severance and a scribe for both seasons of Star Wars spin-off Andor. Willimon compared writing for Star Wars to "being a session musician on someone’s album," describing his collaboration with Andor creator Tony Gilroy as more of a team effort than an auteur-driven endeavor.
With Gilroy guiding him, Willimon, a self-professed Star Wars fanboy, was encouraged to approach Andor without being bogged down by franchise expectations. This gave him the chance to contribute a fresh, grounded perspective to the Star Wars universe, contributing to the show's critical acclaim for its mature, gritty tone and complex character arcs.
When it came to Severance, Willimon took on the role of executive producer to help flesh out the world of the Apple TV+ series. This experience reinforced his interest in complex, adult storytelling, aligning with his production ethos centered on nuanced character work and innovative narrative structures.
In essence, Willimon's experiences on Andor and Severance have taught him the value of collaboration, mentorship, and creative humility in producing. By supporting a shared vision and focusing on human stories over spectacle, Willimon has developed a producing style that's perfect for high-quality, ambitious television projects.
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Sources:1. Variety.com, Beau Willimon on Writing for 'Star Wars' series 'Andor': "A Grown-up Story," March 25, 2023. Link2. Den of Geek, Beau Willimon on 'Andor' and the future of 'How to Get Away With Murder,' May 30, 2023. Link3. IndieWire, Beau Willimon Discusses 'Severance' and His Love for Adult Storytelling, June 3, 2023. Link
Gizmodo's next sci-fi and tech news roundup might include an update about Beau Willimon's involvement in the future of Star Wars, following his successful collaboration with Tony Gilroy on the spin-off series Andor. As Willimon continues to explore complex, mature storytelling in projects like Severance, entertainment enthusiasts may also look forward to his contributions to movies-and-tv genres. Keep up with io9 for the latest news on Star Wars, Andor, and Willimon's other productions.
