‘Andor’ Showrunner Denies Rumor That Dave Filoni Dislikes His Show

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Ever since Dave Filoni took on a leadership role at Lucasfilm, fans have wondered what it means for the future of Star Wars, and if there’s any friction between Filoni and Tony Gilroy, the creator of the show Andor. There’s been talk that Filoni isn’t a fan of Andor, but Gilroy says those claims aren’t true.

Setting the Record Straight

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Doug Gilroy addressed a report from The Wrap claiming Dave Filoni didn’t enjoy the show Andor. Lucasfilm had previously dismissed these rumors, pointing out that Filoni actually praised the series in 2023. He stated, “Tony [Gilroy] did such a brilliant job with Andor. They’re just fantastic stories, and it’s great that it broadens the type of story that people can expect from Star Wars.”

Despite reports of disagreements, there’s been ongoing talk about creative differences between the shows Andor and The Mandalorian. A discussion on the r/StarWars subreddit in 2025 highlighted the distinct styles of each series, and as the debate intensified, people started to speculate about a possible rift between the creators.

THR offered Gilroy the opportunity to address the speculation directly.

Gilroy explained that he and Jon Favreau haven’t interacted much over the years – just a handful of conversations in the last decade. However, he emphasized that Andor wouldn’t have been possible without The Mandalorian, and he’s always been clear about that. He described their relationship as consistently positive and friendly, stating it’s always been that way.

Gilroy’s statements weren’t about disagreement, but highlighted that creating the Star Wars universe involves teamwork and allows for various creative ideas.

Building the Disney+ Era

Although The Mandalorian takes place earlier in the timeline than Andor, it came out first and opened the door to a new style of storytelling within the Star Wars universe. The show’s successful first season on Disney+ demonstrated that a live-action Star Wars series could attract a large audience, and it was a key part of Disney and Lucasfilm’s plan to grow the franchise and try out different ways of telling stories.

Because Andor led directly into the events of Star Wars: Rogue One, we already knew how Cassian’s story would end, making it a predictably sad one. This was quite different from the more fun and adventurous feel of The Mandalorian. Despite being dark and realistic, Andor’s two seasons were mostly praised by viewers.

Leadership Speculation and Fan Projection

Talk about who might take over leadership has only made the rumors spread faster. In 2025, Forbes magazine mentioned Gareth Edwards as a possible replacement for Kathleen Kennedy, but also pointed out he probably wouldn’t want to work on Star Wars for many years. This kind of discussion might have led fans to believe there was a competition between them, even though there was no proof of that.

Today, big franchises are heavily controlled by companies with specific long-term plans, so even small changes in how stories are told can seem like major disagreements. Social media often makes this worse, blowing creative differences out of proportion and turning them into apparent conflicts.

Some fans thought Dave Filoni, a longtime collaborator of George Lucas known for staying true to the original Star Wars vision, didn’t like the show Andor. This likely came from the idea that he disagreed with its different approach or felt overshadowed by the praise for its creator, Tony Gilroy. However, given what Gilroy has said publicly, it seems the story of a behind-the-scenes conflict was more of a fan-created idea than a real rivalry.

Do you think Dave Filoni disliks Andor? How did you feel about the show? Sound off in the comments!

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2026-02-26 03:56