So not drastically different then.
No, for example, my character died in a different way. He dies quickly and fast, he got shot helping Cassian, and Krennic shot him in the original with this big blaster, and he just blew me away. The last thing I did was drag Cassian and Jyn to safety.
But I liked the changes. It didn’t change the tone drastically, but it just didn’t waste any opportunities. It brought the audience along; you were with it at the same time. Like, I feel like it was the type of movie, like, [the feeling was], “Oh, did they just die?” Wait a second. Like, when my character died, it was just kinda quick.
It was crazy, but it was a much better way of doing it. Every character got a hero moment; it really framed everything nicely with the theme of sacrifice.
I showed it all to a friend recently, a total “Star Wars” newb—all of “Andor” season one and two and then straight into “Rogue One,” she had never seen a lick of it before, and she said it totally worked.
Yeah, it’s interesting to do that—the music too! That struck me, as well, when I went into ‘Rogue One,’ because you got different music. It was much more John Williams-esque. Michael Giacchino, but it was at a time when there weren’t many prequels to that era—we were the movie, right before the original three. He wanted to show respect to those original three. There hadn’t been any TV shows yet, so the ‘Star Wars’ universe was a lot smaller then, and the influences were more limited. I loved it, though. It’s of its own time.
You were aware of a different version of “Andor” before Tony Gilroy came on?
Yes. K-2SO had a bigger role in that. I would have had a bigger role overall. When it went away and then it changed, I was disappointed, but I can’t think it would have been better than “Andor.” It feels wholly different and so good.
It probably would have been closer to what we’re used to with the current ‘Star Wars’ series, right? Which can be great, but it feels very different. It feels like it is wholly different, and it’s so good.
K-2SO is used sparingly in season two, but when talking to all the writers and Tony a bunch, it seemed like they wanted to leave the audience wanting more.
That and the tone of “Andor.” Too much K-2SO might change that tone. I’m glad to be a part of it, though. I really feel like it’s historical in its quality as science fiction. As a sci-fi fan, it’s so impressive. I love “Rogue One” for the freedom it gave me just to play, play, and play — and then “Andor” for letting me play a role in delivering this political thriller that feels so much about our time.
It was written and shot before the things we’re seeing now, where you watch it and go, “Oh my god, this feels so relevant right now.” Those moments were on the page before, but they ring so true in the present. It feels important in that way, and I’m thankful it exists.
Not to focus on too much FOMO, but there was also talk of a “horror episode” introducing K-2SO earlier that never happened.
I’ve heard about it. I don’t miss it. The things I liked about K-2 aren’t horror-based, you know? I mean, it could have been fun to see the difference, a jump in time from when he first turned on, to where we see him later as friends. But in the and, I can still keep my idea of what that was like, more of a Geppetto-and-Pinocchio relationship at the start, like father and son or something.
If they called you tomorrow, would you do more K-2?
Absolutely. Live-action, animation — anything. If it costs less to make, maybe they can do more, and I’m there.
You did voice work in James Gunn’s “Superman” and “Creature Commandos.” Are you officially in the DC world now?
I think so, I hope so. With “Creature Commandos,” I survived the first season, or at least some of my characters did.
I’ll be back for season two — at least, as long as James Gunn lets me live. He’s a lot like Joss Whedon in that way; he’s not afraid to kill a character. James has even talked about possibly doing a live-action version if people really respond to the show, which I’d love to do. I’d be on board for more motion capture and voice work, whether it’s for “Creature Commandos” or “Superman.”
“Superman” seemed fun, and your robot character, Gary [laughs]
David Corenswet is great to work with — the character is really funny. I’ve now played three robots, all very different, and Gary might be my favorite. That name was actually my idea; I wanted something other than “Four.” James explained that Four was the first model to really work, but on set, I said, “I want to be called Gary,” and David loved it. We shot it, and it stuck — though James told me later it was one of the most debated things in the edit.
Gary’s got a mischievous streak. There was a line cut from the film — when Superman arrives wounded and we’re in the Fortress of Solitude setting up this big solar healing device — where Gary says, “This is my favorite part.” Even though it didn’t make the final cut, that moment still captures who Gary is.
All seasons of “Andor” are streaming now on Disney+ and Hulu.
