Where does Andor fit in the Star Wars timeline?
The blockbuster series sets the stage for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
The latest Star Wars project to land on Disney Plus is a prequel to a prequel, revealing the events that happened in Cassian Andor's life before he stepped up to lead a daring mission in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Indeed, the franchise timeline has gotten rather more complex than it was in the days of George Lucas, whose six films focused on the core Skywalker saga, with an array of spin-offs and streaming shows to account for.
It's important to know exactly where a given franchise lands on the Star Wars timeline as each era has its own distinct heroes, villains and pivotal locations – from Coruscant to Endor and Tatooine to Jakku.
Luckily, we're here to help clear up any confusion! Here, you can find our in-depth guide to where exactly Andor fits into the wider jigsaw puzzle that is Star Wars, as well as how it ties into Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Where does Andor fit in the Star Wars timeline?
The main storyline featured in Andor unfolds in the year 5 BBY.
For those unfamiliar, BBY and ABY are the two periods by which Star Wars fans measure time in the fictional universe, representing events before and after the Battle of Yavin.
Another thing to note: the Battle of Yavin is another name for the destruction of the Death Star by Luke Skywalker at the end of A New Hope – so for reference, 0 BBY is the year that the original Star Wars movie takes place.
From this, we know that Andor takes place roughly 5 years before the events of A New Hope, which is why both the Rebel Alliance and the Empire are less organised than they are in that film.
Here's a list of Star Wars projects that take place in roughly the same time period, so you have an idea what context you're stepping into with Andor.
- Solo: A Star Wars Story - 13-10 BBY
- Obi-Wan Kenobi - 9 BBY
- Andor - 5BBY
- Star Wars: Rebels - 5 BBY
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - 0 BBY
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How long does the series chart in the timeline?
The first season of Andor takes place over the course of one year in the title character's life, chronicling how he initially came to be involved in the fight against the Empire.
However, Andor season 2 (which has already been ordered by Disney Plus) will cover four years in total, jumping forward in time every three episodes and leading all the way up to his first canon appearance in Rogue One.
"From a narrative point of view, it’s really exciting to be able to work on something where you do a Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and then jump a year," said creator Tony Gilroy at Star Wars Celebration 2022 (via Empire).
Which Star Wars characters are returning in Andor?
Most of the characters in Andor season 1 are new creations, such as Stellan Skarsgård's mysterious Luthen Rael, but there are some familiar faces to longtime followers of the Star Wars franchise.
Genevieve O'Reilly is back in her fan favourite role of Mon Mothma, who she has previously portrayed in Revenge of the Sith, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and animated series Rebels.
Meanwhile, Forest Whitaker is also returning to his Rogue One role of Saw Gerrera; a freedom fighter with extreme tactics, who first appeared in The Clone Wars and was brought back for its spiritual successor, The Bad Batch.
Fiona Shaw, Adria Arjona, Denise Gough and Kyle Soller are new additions to the Star Wars family with this project, but nevertheless they hold highly important roles in the Andor cast.
How Andor ties into Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Given how recent hits The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi have been such treasure troves for Easter eggs and fan service, it may come as a surprise just how little Andor has to offer on that front.
The show makes minimal references to the wider Star Wars universe in its first three episodes, streaming now, which was a conscious choice by creator and head writer Tony Gilroy.
“We didn’t want to do anything that was fan service,” he told IGN. “We never wanted to have anything… the mandate in the very beginning was that it would be as absolutely non-cynical as it could possibly be, that the show would just be real and honest."
Andor is available to stream on Disney Plus on Wednesday 21st September 2022. All previous Star Wars movies and series are streaming now on Disney Plus.
You can sign up to Disney+ now for £79.90 for a year or £7.99 a month. If you're looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide or visit our Sci-Fi hub.
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Authors
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
