Tony Gilroy, the series creator and showrunner of Andor, explained why Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin didn’t appear in the show. Andor debuted on Disney+ in September 2022 and went on for two seasons before concluding on May 13, 2025. Notably, the series serves as a prequel to 2016’s Rogue One within the Star Wars franchise.
Tony Gilroy on why Darth Vader didn’t appear in Andor Season 2
Gilroy explained his reasons for leaving Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin out of Andor Season 2 during a new interview with Deadline. When asked why these two iconic Star Wars characters didn’t show up in the series, Gilroy responded, “If I’d needed them, I would’ve brought them in.”
Star Wars is an expanding franchise, and there are numerous characters who do not appear in Andor. However, Vader and Tarkin were specifically mentioned during the interview, likely because of the roles they played in Rogue One.
Tarkin is the one who causes the deaths of Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor and several others. Toward the end of the movie, Tarkin instructs the Death Star to fire at the Citadel Tower on planet Scarif, killing Andor, Felicity Jones’ Jyn, and more. Meanwhile, Vader murders numerous rebels in his attempt to regain the Death Star schematics, though he is ultimately unsuccessful.
The ending of Andor Season 2 perfectly sets up Rogue One. Cassian and the former Imperial droid K-2SO set out for the Ring of Kafrene for a rendezvous with the informant Tivik, which the viewers see early in that movie.
In the same interview, Gilroy made it clear he had no plans for a third season, adding that he didn’t know “how to figure that one out.” He also dismissed the notion of his involvement in the Star Wars franchise beyond Andor. When asked if there was more Star Wars for him, Gilroy said, “I don’t think so. I’ve been doing it for 10 years now, between Rogue and this.”
