Should Star Wars Slow Down Their Production of Content? What Disney Could Learn from Andor
The Star Wars universe is a crowded place these days. With a seemingly endless pipeline of shows, movies, books, and animated spin-offs, it's easy to forget just how rare and monumental a new Star Wars project used to feel. But in the age of streaming and the rise of Disney+, Star Wars has been on its content grind since Disney’s acquisition.
And yet, in the middle of this bottomless pit of content, Andor stood out. Tony Gilroy’s grounded, character-driven political thriller about the early days of the Rebellion didn’t just succeed, it succeeded because it was different. It dared to slow down. And in doing so, it revealed a path forward for Star Wars that Disney might want to seriously consider.
Quantity vs. Quality in a Galaxy Far, Far Away
Since Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, the studio has released five theatrical films and over a dozen Disney+ shows or specials. That doesn’t include the mountain of High Republic books, comics, games, and animated fare. And while much of it is enjoyable, even great in places, the franchise has often been accused of quantity over quality.
The cracks really began to show after The Rise of Skywalker. Audiences were left divided, fatigued, and in some cases, outright disillusioned. The theatrical slate has been in flux ever since. Meanwhile, shows like Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Book of Boba Fett have struggled to justify their existence beyond surface-level fan service.
And then came Andor.
No lightsabers. No Skywalkers. No cameos shoehorned in to make a Twitter trend. Just a slow-burn story about the costs of rebellion, the banality of evil, and the stakes behind a galaxy-spanning empire. It wasn’t just a breath of fresh air, it was oxygen.
What Andor Gets Right
Andor made a few critical decisions that set it apart—and should serve as a blueprint for future Star Wars stories.
It Took Its Time
The pacing was deliberate, even patient. Instead of rushing to big moments, it earned them. Character arcs were built with care. Tension was allowed to simmer.
It Focused on the Personal
Cassian’s story wasn’t about saving the galaxy with a lightsaber. It was about surviving under oppression, finding purpose, and realizing that the fight for freedom is often ugly, thankless, and deeply human. That grounded lens made the stakes feel more real than many recent Star Wars spectacles.
It Trusted the Audience
Gilroy’s team didn’t spoon-feed exposition. There were no long lore dumps or callbacks. The show respected viewers’ intelligence and rewarded close attention. It treated Star Wars less like a product and more like a piece of serious storytelling.
Slowing Down Doesn’t Mean Doing Less
To be clear, this isn’t a call for less Star Wars. It’s a call for better Star Wars. Slowing down doesn’t mean canceling shows or mothballing characters. It means giving creators the time, space, and trust to make something meaningful, not just something timely.
Disney’s current model sometimes treats Star Wars like a checklist: fill a release slot, tease the next show, and connect everything. But the galaxy doesn’t need to be “connected” to feel compelling. It needs to be authentic. It needs to breathe.
Marvel is already learning this lesson the hard way, with recent comments from Bob Iger and Kevin Feige suggesting that even superhero fatigue is real. Star Wars has a chance to avoid that fate.
What’s Should Be Next
Shows like The Acolyte and Skeleton Crew have shown flashes of uniqueness, and the upcoming The Mandalorian & Grogu film could be a turning point for the brand’s theatrical ambitions. But if Disney wants Star Wars to remain not just profitable, but culturally vital, it needs to take a cue from Andor.
That means betting on bold visions. Telling stories that take risks. Letting writers and directors dig deeper into the galaxy’s emotional core, beyond the lightsabers and legacy characters.