Writer and showrunner Tony Gilroy hopes canceled Star Wars: Underworld TV scripts were surprisingly mature. Disney has generally been reluctant to push the boundaries of the franchise, with the notable exception of Tony Gilroy's Andor, set to return for a highly-anticipated second season from April 22.

Speaking in the latest issue of SFX Magazine (via GamesRadar), showrunner Tony Gilroy reveals he hopes Andor will lead to a new wave of experimental shows. "I always fantasised that the show would break new ground, that someone would be able to make a three-camera sitcom in Star Wars or a horror movie," he observes. "I always fantasized that the show would break new ground, that someone would be able to make a three-camera sitcom in Star Wars or a horror movie. I think the first thing I said to [Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy] when she said they wanted to open a line, was, 'Could you do a courtroom drama?' And why not? We've worked really hard on Andor to make our lane, and it's up to other people now to find another way to do it."

Even more excitingly, though, Gilroy teases that Andor season 2 may actually serve as setup for something rather different. "I think we've made our lane with Andor, and Skeleton Crew was trying to do their own, too," he points out. "The hope is that you can do anything, and we're going to open up some canonical things and concepts in Andor that maybe will get people excited to do other things."

Star Wars Hasn't Really Focused On An Experimental Approach

But When It's Tried, It's Worked

Lucasfilm has come in for heavy criticism for its refusal to push the boundaries of Star Wars - including from George Lucas himself. Lucas' reactions to Star Wars: The Force Awakens are legendary; he criticized it for completely lacking anything new, although later seemed to regret being so open over his disappointment. Andor and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew are exceptions; the former is aimed at more mature audiences, the latter is more of a child-friendly adventure.

What is particularly interesting, though, is that Gilroy claims Andor season 2 opens up "some canonical things and concepts" that could explicitly lead to new Star Wars ideas. It seems Andor isn't "just" a prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, but rather that it is also a potential launchpad for so much more besides. That makes the Star Wars TV show even more exciting.

Our Take On Andor Season 2's Potential

This Is All Getting Even More Exciting

I genuinely don't think I could be much more excited for Andor season 2. The first season of Andor was largely standalone, and that worked well but also affected its reception in a fandom sometimes obsessed with Easter eggs. Andor season 2 promises to continue Gilroy's deft writing, while also integrating the story into the wider canon and lore. I'm thrilled at the idea this could even be a launchpad for a more diverse vision of Star Wars - and I can't wait to learn more.

Source: SFX (via GamesRadar)