Collaborative Creation: Insights from Beau Willimon on Andor and Severance Production Processes
Beau Willimon Rolls Up His Sleeves for Star Wars and Severance
Beau Willimon, the brain behind Netflix's "House of Cards," has been putting his writing and producing skills to the test on the current TV scene. As an executive producer for Apple TV+'s "Severance" and a regular writer for the "Star Wars" spin-off series, "Andor," Willimon is diving headfirst into some of the most exciting projects out there.
"It's kind of like being a session musician on someone's album," Willimon told Variety about his experience working on "Andor." His collaboration with creator Tony Gilroy started on "House of Cards," with Gilroy joining as a consulting producer. When Gilroy approached Willimon to write a few episodes for "Andor," Willimon wasn't sure if it was a joke - after all, he's not exactly a "Star Wars" aficionado. But Gilroy had a different plan: "I want to tell a human story and a grown-up story."
Collaborating with Tony Gilroy once again, Willimon, Gilroy, and Tony Gilroy's brother Dan Gilroy spent six weeks breaking the story for "Andor." For Willimon, the experience was unlike anything he's ever done before - he simply had to deliver scripts to his friend Tony Gilroy, as long as he liked them. The result? A second season that Willimon is "very proud of."
But Willimon didn't stop at "Andor." He also lent a hand to the producers of "Severance" for its second season. Working alongside the writers, Willimon found himself in a unique position, helping bring the show's beautifully crafted world and tone to life. "I was in service of the story like anyone else," Willimon said. "I didn't have to bear the burden of this being my baby. I could simply help someone raise this child."
Willimon's experiences working on "Andor" and "Severance" have given him a newfound love for producing. "I can simply help someone else's vision come to life, whether it's purely facilitative on a practical level or if I have a bit of distance and perspective that can be helpful," Willimon explained. "Either way, it's been a fantastic experience."
With "Andor" and "Severance" under his belt, Willimon isn't slowing down anytime soon. Expect more groundbreaking TV in the future as Willimon continues to explore new worlds and help other creators' visions take shape. Stay tuned for the latest releases from Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, DC, and Doctor Who.
Fun Facts:-Did you know that Beau Willimon wrote every episode of the first three seasons of "House of Cards?"-Tony Gilroy, the creator of "Andor," also wrote the screenplays for the "Bourne" movies.
Source: Variety (Link: https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/beau-willimon-interview-andor-severance-star-wars-1235429428/)- Originally published on April 22, 2025- Written by C.J. Prince- Updated on August 5, 2025- Sources consulted: IMDb for "Star Wars: Andor," "House of Cards," and "Severance," and Apple TV+'s press release for "Severance" second season.
- In the realm of entertainment, Beau Willimon's future endeavors may include projects from Gizmodo's 'Movies-and-TV' section, as he continues to stretch his producing skills beyond Star Wars' "Andor" and Apple TV+'s "Severance".
2.io9, a renowned technology and science-focused entertainment site, might cover Willimon's upcoming collaborations given his knack for incorporating innovative technology in television shows such as "Andor".
- As Beau Willimon delves into the future of entertainment, his name may appear in headlines on Variety, among other renowned entertainment news outlets, as he continues to leave his mark on television productions.
