Andor Creator on Why Vel Should’ve Been in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

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Tony Gilroy, the mind behind the show “Andor”, shared his thoughts about a character from the series he would have included in the film “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” if he had been involved from the start. It’s important to note that “Andor” is actually a prequel to “Rogue One”, released in 2016. Gilroy joined the project during production, wrote additional scenes, and served as the second-unit director under Gareth Edwards.

Tony Gilroy says he would’ve wanted Vel in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Gilroy expressed in a recent interview, published in Empire magazine’s latest issue, his desire to have included Faye Marsay’s character Vel Sartha in Rogue One. He said, “I would definitely want Vel there.” He further discussed the intriguing dynamic that could have developed between Vel and Felicity Jones’ Jyn Erso, the film’s protagonist. Gilroy commented, “Wow, imagine Vel’s portrayal of Jyn Erso! I bet she’d have some strong opinions about her.” He added, “I think Jyn would ignite all of Vel’s annoyance.” (via ComicBook)

In the early 2000s, John Knoll, visual effects supervisor of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, first proposed a spin-off titled “Star Wars: Underworld.” This idea never came to fruition, but after Disney bought Lucasfilm, Knoll pitched it again. Screenwriter Gary Whitta (The Book of Eli) initially worked on the project, but he eventually stepped down. Chris Weitz (About a Boy) later took over the scriptwriting duties. Originally, director Gareth Edwards planned an ending where the main characters would live. However, the producers opted for the movie’s current darker yet hopeful conclusion instead.

2016 saw the addition of Gilroy to the film’s production team, which subsequently required additional filming sessions. Additionally, Gilroy played a crucial part during the on-set filming of the film’s current ending and the post-production phase, even though Edwards continued to be associated with the project throughout this period.

Significantly, the series “Andor” was broadcast over two seasons on Disney+ from September 21, 2022, to May 13, 2025. In this show, Vel is a member of the rebellion against the Galactic Empire and is related to Mon Mothma, portrayed by Genevieve O’Reilly.

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2025-07-10 14:10