Simon Kinberg, best known for his work in the X-Men franchise, is hinting that the future of the galaxy far, far away may look a lot more like Andor than your typical blockbuster trilogy. In a recent interview shared by GamesRadar, Kinberg openly credited the Disney+ series as his inspiration for the next set of films, specifically noting Tony Gilroy’s penchant for morally complex characters and political intrigue. “There’s a ton of wildly talented folks that want to do great work,” Kinberg said. “I was super inspired and just sort of awestruck by what Tony Gilroy did with Andor. I thought that was about as good of science fiction storytelling as you can do in any franchise.”
For fans who’ve been craving something beyond flashy lightsaber action sequences, Kinberg’s remarks are a little thrilling. The Andor series, which focuses on Cassian Andor’s early life and the formation of the Rebel Alliance leading up to the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, has been praised for its gritty realism and exceptional storytelling. Kinberg briefly addressed his excitement for his upcoming trilogy, about which little is known, “Just to be told there’d be more movies would have been unbelievable. To be allowed on the set of any of them was already a dream. My enthusiasm only grows with working on and around it."
Kinberg’s comments also serve as a subtle critique of some past Star Wars films. While not explicitly calling out any particular entry, he suggested that smaller, more intimate stories resonate more than the overly orchestrated, effects-heavy set pieces that largely defined the sequel trilogy. By pointing to Andor as a model, he’s indicating to the fan base that the next trilogy is likely to priortize depth and character development.
So, what could all of this actually mean for Star Wars on the big screen? We can expect the potential for morally gray heroes, political maneuvering, and complex choices that mirror the tonal richness of Andor.
Additionally, Kinberg’s acknowledgement of the original creative team behind Andor signals that he may be looking for a similar group, if not some of the exact same production staff. Kinberg clearly understands that future Star Wars films will need strong writers, directors, and showrunners who understand why Andor’s tone was so successful if they’re going to effectively replicate the series’ impact on a cinematic scale.
While details about the next trilogy remain scarce, Kinberg’s praise for Andor could lead to any number of storylines. Could we focus on the political intrigue of Coruscant or the moral ambiguity of the rebellion in the far reaches of the galaxy? With Kinberg openly drawing inspiration from Andor, the next Star Wars trilogy might mark a creative shift that could be just what Lucasfilm needs. For fans who have wanted something more grounded, yet complex, the path forward may finally align with the gritty, human-scale storytelling Andor has proven is possible.