Tony Gilroy and Genevieve O'Reilly, creators of Andor, discuss Mon Mothma's significant dance scene and its impact on her character's journey.
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Dive into the heart-pounding action of Andor season two, now streaming on Disney+, as we rejoin our heroes in the early days of the Star Wars rebellion for an adrenaline-fueled ride.
io9 caught up with showrunner Tony Gilroy and star Genevieve O'Reilly, who portrays Mon Mothma, to discuss the epic cliffhanger ending of the third episode of this week's installment. Gilroy also shared insights on the inspiration behind the three-episode mini-movies format for the season.
Sabina Graves, io9: Initially, Andor was intended to run five seasons, each covering a year. However, that plan morphed into these three-episode "movie" arcs. How much of the backstory was developed as you went along?
Tony Gilroy: I initially thought, "Uh-oh, are we going to struggle with too much exposition?" I didn't want to bog the story down with characters catching up on the past, so I was worried I'd have to spend a lot of time writing extensive backstories. Thankfully, that wasn't the case. In episode four, it was essential for Adria [Arjona] and Diego [Luna] to know specific details about the soldier and their missions. But as the story progressed, there were few questions left to answer, and I seldom had to write memos detailing the events in between.
io9: Genevieve, it must have been freeing to have this broad span to explore Mon Mothma's formative years building the rebellion. The emotional release Mon experiences in episode three was captivating. Can you share some insights into developing that moment for her character?
Genevieve O'Reilly: Absolutely! The first three episodes cover just three days and are set in Mon's ancestral home, immersing us in her heritage. With minimal exposition, we understand her rich cultural practices intuitively. As we move through those days, we witness the family dynamics and Mon's relationships with her daughter, husband, in-laws, and Luthen, ultimately reaching a critical turning point.
Luthen, the clear-eyed visionary, presses Mon to confront the reality of what rebellion truly entails, asking her to confront the bloodshed that may be necessary. Mon tacitly agrees, resulting in the emotional outburst you mentioned. On the dance floor, Mon wrestles with her internal struggles amidst the celebration.
io9: The dance sequence and emotional release are beautifully executed, Tony. What did you see as the strength and beauty of juxtaposing that with the other characters' moments of personal crossroads?
Gilroy: I wanted to create a complex crescendo, drawing on my previous experience crafting such moments in films. I chose an electronic dance music track, pushing the boundaries of traditional Star Wars scoring. During the final moments, I'm able to showcase Cassian's triumph, Mon's catharsis, and Eedy's introduction all at once.
The dance sequence also strengthens the bond between the audience and Mon, as she's the only one among the revelers who knows the gravity of the situation. Her struggle becomes our struggle, creating a powerful emotional connection with the characters.
Andor is now streaming on Disney+.
Stay tuned for the latest on upcoming Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, DC Universe, and Doctor Who releases at io9.
- The second season of Andor, streaming on Disney+, continues the action-packed journey of the characters in the early stages of the Star Wars rebellion.
- Tony Gilroy, the showrunner of Andor, discussed the three-episode mini-movies format for the season with io9, revealing that the initial five-season plan transformed into this structure.
- Sabina Graves of io9 inquired about the amount of backstory developed as they progressed, to which Gilroy admitted he initially worried about excessive exposition but found such concerns unnecessary.
- Genevieve O'Reilly, who portrays Mon Mothma, shared insights on the development of Mon's emotional release in episode three with io9.
- In the dance sequence of episode three, as Mon grapples with her internal struggles, a powerful emotional connection is created with the audience, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
- For entertainment news on Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, DC Universe, Doctor Who, and more, visit io9's movies-and-tv section.
