Empire Magazine’s newly-announced December 2024 cover focuses onAndorseason 2, confirming the return of Ben Mendelsohn’s Orson Krennic. Excitement is building forAndorseason 2, recently confirmed to launch on Disney+ on July 04, 2025. Lucasfilm’s most critically-acclaimed TV show to date, this is clearly seen as a big deal by the studio; marketing has kicked off even though it comes out after December’sStar Wars: Skeleton Crew. Even more excitingly,season 2 launches just after Star Wars Celebration, setting it up as a major event.
Andorseason 2 leads Empire Magazine’s 2025 preview, and both the cover and an exclusive image feature the return of Ben Mendelsohn’s Orson Krennic. Head of the Imperial Military Department of Advanced Weapons Research, Krennic is the man who oversaw construction of the Death Star.He’s clearly being set up for a major role inAndorseason 2.
Mendelsohn promises clashes with Denise Gough’s ambitious Dedra Meero, the ISB agent who’s hunting for Cassian Andor. “If they didn’t see eye to eye, to me, it’s cute,” Mendelsohn toldEmpire. “Dedra versus Krennic? I think it’s a bit of a mismatch. They’re all underlings to Krennic.” Still, for all they will clash, they’re agreed about the goals. “They’re all going in one direction,” says Mendelsohn. “The Empire, if you speak your mind, there are differences of opinion.”
What Krennic’s Return Means For Star Wars
Mendelsohn’s return as Orson Krennic was something of an open secret, and will strengthen the sense thatAndorseason 1 really is leading straight into the events ofRogue One: A Star Wars Story. At the same time, though, his position of prominence on Empire’s cover seems to hint he doesn’t just have a minor role; he’s a major antagonist, rather than making a brief cameo.That may well mean Cassian Andor is focusing on the Imperial Military Department of Advanced Weapons Research.
First footage fromAndorseason 2hints that Cassian Andor will conduct a major espionage project, even stealing an experimental TIE Fighter. This appears to be aTIE Avenger, a starfighter that would have changed the galaxy’s history had it been mass-produced. TIE Avengers had shields and functioning hyperdrives, making them more than a match for the rebel X-Wings.It would make perfect sense for Cassian to be infiltrating the Imperial weapons department responsible for creating the prototype TIE Avenger.
Our Take On Orson Krennic’s Return
Andorhas always been positioned as a prequel forRogue One, and there is a sense in which Cassian has unknowingly lived his entire life in the shadow of the Death Star; he was unwittingly responsible for helping build parts for it while he was imprisoned on Narkina 5. It increasingly looks as thoughAndorseason 2 will double down on this, though, bringing in familiar characters and concepts. If that is the case,Andorseason2 could well be everything the fanbase has been longing for - and so much more.
Andor
Cast
Andor is a Star Wars prequel series set before the events of Rogue One, following Cassian Andor as he navigates a world of danger and deception. The series delves into his transformation into a pivotal figure in the struggle against the Galactic Empire.
