Andor can provide some key lessons for the next trilogy in the Star Wars franchise. For many, Andor is the best of Star Wars TV shows. Andor proved the type of storytelling that could be possible in a galaxy far, far away, with upcoming Star Wars movies seemingly learning these lessons.

Simon Kinberg was announced to be developing an entire trilogy of Star Wars movies. Lucasfilm’s President, Kathleen Kennedy, has stated that this trilogy will be the new Star Wars saga that will lead the franchise into the future. As such, development has been progressing well, with more news expected in 2026.

What makes all of this all the more exciting, though, is how Andor could influence Kinberg’s Star Wars. The filmmaker noted that the acclaimed TV show is one of the biggest inspirations for his movies, raising the question of what specifically Star Wars’ next trilogy could learn from Andor.

Star Wars Shouldn’t Be Afraid To Take Risks

Perhaps the biggest thing that Kinberg’s Star Wars trilogy can learn from Andor is to take risks. If Andor can be described as anything, it is different from previous Star Wars projects. The way Andor looks, sounds, feels, and is presented is unlike anything else in the franchise, which is certainly a risk.

As proven by the reaction to Andor, though, these risks paid off. Some of Star Wars‘ more recent movies, namely The Force Awakens and The Rise of Skywalker, have been criticized for playing things too safe. The next Star Wars trilogy should avoid this by taking a page from Andor‘s book.

Star Wars Should Go Back To More Practical Filmmaking

Since Star Wars ventured into the TV realm in 2019, the franchise has relied less on practical filmmaking. Of course, this is not to say there are no practical elements in Star Wars’ many TV shows. Still, the development of technology like The Volume has led to fewer practical sets and a reduction in on-location shooting.

Andor changed this. Although Andor‘s budget within Star Wars makes it one of the most expensive projects Lucasfilm has ever produced, the show’s sheer quality made it worth it. Andor‘s practical sets, props, vehicles, and tangible locations made it the most grounded, beautiful-looking project Star Wars has ever produced.

Kinberg’s Star Wars movies should follow suit. The original trilogy and sequel trilogy, admittedly, used practical effects well, but the prequels relied more on technology. Star Wars’ TV shows have emulated the latter techniques, but the next Star Wars trilogy should implement what made Andor look so great.

Star Wars Can Be A Place For Mature Storytelling

Another thing that Andor proved has a place in Star Wars is mature storytelling. From normal curse words to hook-ups, domesticity, and even unsettling depictions of Sєxual ᴀssault, Andor is undoubtedly the most mature Star Wars project ever. This played a part in making Andor feel so compelling, as it blended a galaxy we love with a refreshing sense of realism.

The maturity found in Andor ranged from sobering to exciting, but it always imbued the show with a magnetism that enabled it to become Star Wars’ best. Star Wars’ upcoming movies could utilize this. While I am not saying the franchise should release R-rated movies unsuitable for kids, Star Wars should be unafraid to dip into more mature themes and stories.

Star Wars Should Put An Emphasis On Writing & Dialogue

Yes, Andor had its fair share of exciting action scenes, Star Wars dogfights, heists, and prison breaks, but where the show thrived was in its writing and dialogue. Rarely has Star Wars’ writing been so confident in exploring characters, their motivations, their relationships, and their dynamics with one another and the galaxy at large.

Andor, however, focused on this more often than anything else. Some of the show’s best scenes range from long monologues to characters simply sitting around and talking. Tony Gilroy and his writing team were so certain in their ability to craft compelling characters and stories that they felt unburdened by the need to include conventionally exciting Star Wars scenes.

Star Wars’ next trilogy could learn from this. Obviously, I am expecting the sweeping, cinematic Star Wars action that the franchise has become synonymous with. What Andor proves, though, is that there is definitely room for in-depth writing and dialogue alongside these conventional action beats.

Star Wars Movies Do Not Always Have To Be About The Force

Andor‘s maturity and dialogue make another thing clear: Star Wars does not have to be about the Force. There is one outwardly Force-sensitive character in the entirety of Andor, with the rest of the characters simply being depicted as normal, flawed beings who desire to see the galaxy freed from tyranny.

Certainly, the Luke Skywalkers, Anakin Skywalkers, and Obi-Wan Kenobis of the galaxy are important.

Despite that, Andor proved that regular people without the Force can be just as impactful to the wider galaxy. Kinberg’s Star Wars trilogy may be Episodes X, XI, and XII of the Skywalker Saga, but I hope the filmmaker learns from Andor that regular people are just as important as Star Wars’ eponymous family.

Star Wars Politics Can Be Interesting Again

George Lucas’ prequel trilogy was criticized for focusing too intently on the politics of the Star Wars galaxy. Although the perception of these movies has changed over time, Andor reaffirmed how interesting Star Wars’ politics can be.

Andor‘s maturity allowed the politics of Star Wars to be explored in ways both similar and different from prior projects in the franchise. If Kinberg can implement this into his upcoming Star Wars trilogy in a way the sequels moved away from, Andor will have taught the franchise yet another valuable lesson.

Star Wars Characters Can Be Recast

The box office failure of Solo: A Star Wars Story resulted in Lucasfilm learning the wrong lessons about Star Wars recasts. Since then, the franchise has proven itself to be hesitant about recasting major characters, as emblematic by the CGI Luke Skywalker appearing in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett.

Even before that, the CGI recreations of Grand Moff Tarkin and Princess Leia in Rogue One highlighted the hesitancy to recast legacy characters. Andor proved this can be done, though, with Benjamin Bratt appearing as Bail Organa in place of the unavailable Jimmy Smits. Bratt’s performance as Bail was excellent and proved to future Star Wars movies that recasting works.

Star Wars Canon Does Not Have To Be As Rigid As First Thought

Although Andor can teach Star Wars movies that there is more to the galaxy than just the Force, it can also impart the wisdom that the Force does not always need to be light and dark, Jedi and Sith. Andor included a Force Healer, the aforementioned only Force-sensitive character in the show.

This character proved that the Force can be used in a variety of ways, as opposed to being confined to one of the dogmatic approaches Star Wars has focused on at length. The Force is mysterious, and future Star Wars movies would do well to explore this as Andor did.