Latest news with #RogueOne
Gizmodo
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Cassian Andor's Aliases, Ranked
Cassian Andor lived a lot of lives before he gave it all on the beaches of Scarif in Rogue One. And part of living those lives, sometimes by choice, sometimes by necessity, was that Cassian Andor had to not be Cassian Andor. The man loved a secret identity, and with it a new name to inhabit, but some were clearly better than others. 10) Fulcrum Not even a real name as it's an Alliance codename, so by default it has to be last. It is fun however, especially after his encounter with the Force healer in Andor season two, to imagine Cassian inheriting this title from Ahsoka Tano, an actual-honest-to-god-backflipping-and-lightsaber-wielding Jedi, and just having it completely break his mind. 9) Aach This is one of several operational aliases given to Cassian in the Rogue One Ultimate Visual Guide, so there's something oddly charming about the idea that Cassian having a Rolodex of other names he's had to come up with for missions has been there since the very beginning. Come on though, Cassian, this one just sounds like you stubbed your toe before you could use the name you actually wanted to use, and rolled with it. 8) Willix Another from the Visual Guide, Willix was an identity Cassian used on Darknell while masquerading as a Senatorial contact. Points for sounding better than 'Aach,' at least. 7) Joreth Sward The last of Cassian's Visual Guide aliases, and he finally decided to give himself a full name! Aside from being a great name, Sward was an alias Cassian had while infiltrating the inner circle of an Imperial Admiral, Grendreef—a name that itself is actually a reference to the classic West End Star Wars roleplaying game, a frequent source of Easter egg references in Andor. Again, nice to know that that that's a connection that's always been part of this character. 6) Varian Skye Varian Skye, fashion designer, definitely looked the part on Ghorman with that gorgeous caped coat and his ginormous sci-fi shades, but really, the identity truly only comes together with that name. There's an airiness, it just sounds like a foppishly charming artiste who's here to rub shoulders with fellow followers of fashion. The clothes may make the man, but the name makes the secret identity. 5) Clem Sure we previously knocked points off for Cassian only giving a first name to an alias, but you gain a massive amount of 'd'awwwwwww' points when it's the first mission we see him go on for the nascent rebellion and he picks his adoptive father's name to go by. What a softie. 4) Keef Girgo An incredible Star Wars name. Andor gave us a few people with just Normal Real Names Spelled Slightly Differently (shout out to Timm, who sucked, but was also named Timm), but Keef being both so close and so far from Keith is perfect. Also just a real delight to hear Diego Luna say it and put a nice roll on that 'r' in Girgo. Love a name with mouthfeel. 3) Kassa Does Cassian's birth name count as an alias? I mean, kinda, if you accept that eventually Cassian Andor the man becomes a very different identity than that of Kassa the young boy of Kenari, the latter of which remains compartmentalized in the former's thoughts for the remainder of his life. What if taking on myriad identities came so natural to Cassian because he was used to giving them up from a young age? Sorry to get a bit deep in a shitpost list about Star Wars names for a second. 2) Cassian Jeron Andor Again, only kind of sort of an alias as the true self, but you're still rolling with me after the Kassa bit. But anyway it's already a fantastic name, and Andor's revelation of Cassian's life on Kenari then raises delicious worldbuilding and character questions about Clem and Maarva choosing to name him Cassian (did he tell them his name was Kassa, and they then anglicized it for Galactic Basic? What is the term for anglicization in a galaxy where English doesn't exist?). But adding the middle-name Jeron? Baby, that's Star Wars. 1) Ronni Googe I love Ronni Googe. Even putting aside that he's a journalist—thank you for the representation—even putting aside the Star Wars-ification of an otherwise perfectly real-world name, even putting aside that once again, this is a name with that wonderful mouthfeel element to it, Ronni Googe is a brilliant alias for a spy. You see, as Cassian tells multiple people when he adopts this persona in season two to extract Mon Mothma from the Imperial Senate building, 'Googe' is pronounced Goo-juh. That's very Star Wars, but also, again, it's a genius alias. Ronni Googe has had to tell everyone 'Actually, it's Ronni Goo-juh' all the time, it's a name that stands out as a name, so you remember that and its pronunciation instead of what Ronni Googe actually looks like, and how uncanny a resemblance he bears to noted Imperial criminal and Rebel agent Cassian Andor. It's a conversation starter, a way to appear polite and charming and put someone on the backfoot when you have to tell them this is how you actually say it, and it's easy to remember and appear naturalistic for a spy with a zillion other things running around in their head—because, again, Ronni Googe, Senate journalist for the Mid-Rim network, has had to tell people on and off the record every day of his damn life that it's Goo-juh. Two words, and a whole life for that identity is built. It's a fantastic alias, it's a fantastic Star Wars name, it's the total package. An alias worthy of the mission it was deployed on.
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Andor Season 2: Star Wars' boldest story returns
For a spinoff of a film that itself was a spinoff from a franchise built on the spectacle of lightsabers and the supernatural powers of the Force, it is pleasantly surprising that the second season of Tony Gilroy's Andor once again sidesteps the toy and merchandise-selling facet of Star Wars to tell an actual story. In doing so, Andor proves for the second time why it is currently the best offering on television and the franchise as a whole. Picking up a year after the events in the first season, the thief-turned-spy Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) continues hurtling through the galaxy, from one mission to the next, as his handler Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgard) continues to scheme of ways to disrupt the operations of the Galactic Empire and unite all the different factions of rebels into a single alliance. At the same time, the Empire's director of advanced weapons research Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) sets his eyes on the planet Ghorman for its rare minerals, a critical element the Empire requires for its 'sustainable energy programme'. Rather than directly invade the planet, Krennic puts Imperial Security Bureau (ISB) supervisor Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) in charge of manufacturing a complex scheme that eventually leads to a planet-wide genocide. Leaning into the political thriller and espionage framework that he laid in Andor's first season, showrunner Gilroy's second journey into this side of Star Wars is far more intense. Whether intentional or otherwise, Andor's deeply layered, intricately weaved story bears strong similarities to current-day events. Gilroy leverages the smaller moving components – some almost never mentioned or talked about in prior Star Wars media – to work the bigger machinations of the plot, such as the ISB and Dedra's use of the media to spread propaganda and maintain control of the 'Empire good, rebel bad' narrative, and the Empire's – or Krennic's – plan to use false flag operations to take over Ghorman. The show explores even weightier themes, such as the differing views Cassian, Luthen, Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly), Bail Organa (Benjamin Bratt) and others in the burgeoning rebel alliance have over the best way to fight the Empire, mirroring the discord within and among real-world militias on strategy and tactics. As Andor is the prequel to 2016's Rogue One, which itself was a prequel to 1977's Star Wars, even the most casual viewer would know how this story plays out, yet Gilroy does not allow this narrative awareness to hinder the particular journey his characters have to take. He instead uses the series, particularly the second season, to focus on the characters whose actions or inaction led to the events that would become a part of pop culture history. Though he plays with the similar images, sets, costumes and props that are signature to Star Wars, the way they are used is remarkably different. Free from the shackles of obsessing over the Skywalker family, flashy lightsabers or Force-powered nonsensical gymnastics, Gilroy successfully introduces new ways to tell a Star Wars story with both seasons of Andor and the franchise is all the better for it. Andor's second season is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Rebels need no Skywalker
For a spinoff of a film that itself was a spinoff from a franchise built on the spectacle of lightsabers and the supernatural powers of the Force, it is pleasantly surprising that the second season of Tony Gilroy's Andor once again sidesteps the toy and merchandise-selling facet of Star Wars to tell an actual story. In doing so, Andor proves for the second time why it is currently the best offering on television and the franchise as a whole. Picking up a year after the events in the first season, the thief-turned-spy Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) continues hurtling through the galaxy, from one mission to the next, as his handler Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgard) continues to scheme of ways to disrupt the operations of the Galactic Empire and unite all the different factions of rebels into a single alliance. At the same time, the Empire's director of advanced weapons research Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) sets his eyes on the planet Ghorman for its rare minerals, a critical element the Empire requires for its 'sustainable energy programme'. Rather than directly invade the planet, Krennic puts Imperial Security Bureau (ISB) supervisor Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) in charge of manufacturing a complex scheme that eventually leads to a planet-wide genocide. Leaning into the political thriller and espionage framework that he laid in Andor 's first season, showrunner Gilroy's second journey into this side of Star Wars is far more intense. Whether intentional or otherwise, Andor 's deeply layered, intricately weaved story bears strong similarities to current-day events. Gilroy leverages the smaller moving components – some almost never mentioned or talked about in prior Star Wars media – to work the bigger machinations of the plot, such as the ISB and Dedra's use of the media to spread propaganda and maintain control of the 'Empire good, rebel bad' narrative, and the Empire's – or Krennic's – plan to use false flag operations to take over Ghorman. The show explores even weightier themes, such as the differing views Cassian, Luthen, Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly), Bail Organa (Benjamin Bratt) and others in the burgeoning rebel alliance have over the best way to fight the Empire, mirroring the discord within and among real-world militias on strategy and tactics. As Andor is the prequel to 2016's Rogue One, which itself was a prequel to 1977's Star Wars, even the most casual viewer would know how this story plays out, yet Gilroy does not allow this narrative awareness to hinder the particular journey his characters have to take. He instead uses the series, particularly the second season, to focus on the characters whose actions or inaction led to the events that would become a part of pop culture history. Though he plays with the similar images, sets, costumes and props that are signature to Star Wars, the way they are used is remarkably different. Free from the shackles of obsessing over the Skywalker family, flashy lightsabers or Force-powered nonsensical gymnastics, Gilroy successfully introduces new ways to tell a Star Wars story with both seasons of Andor and the franchise is all the better for it.
Geek Tyrant
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Death Star Detail in ROGUE ONE Makes Alderaan's Destruction in NEW HOPE Even More Devestating For Princess Liea — GeekTyrant
Star Wars fans are always rewatching, reanalyzing, and recontextualizing the films and shows in the franchise. Thanks to Andor and a fresh look at Rogue One , one specific connection has started to sting a little more, specifically a new perspective on Princess Leia's reaction to Alderaan's destruction in A New Hope . On Reddit, a fan recently pointed out something that many of us might not have considered, and now it's hard to unsee. Leia wasn't unfamiliar with what the Death Star could do when Tarkin ordered the obliteration of her home planet, but what she saw still shattered her. The post reads: "In A New Hope, when Leia is forced to watch Alderaan be destroyed, she reacts with horror and surprise (valid reaction).' It goes on: "But there's a second part to this I never realized until I just watched Rogue One again. She was present at Scarif. She saw the effects of the Death Star there. 'She was not present at Jedha, but I'm sure she heard of the aftermath. So in her mind, as Tarkin gives the order, she's expecting a big explosion on the surface and a lot of people to die. 'And then her entire planet just vaporizes in a second, right before her eyes. Completely subverting not just her expectations, but the Rebellion's." That's the gut punch. Leia knew it was coming, but she just didn't know how bad it was going to be. In Rogue One , Leia is nearby when Scarif is hit by the Death Star, watching the fallout from a distance just after the plans are transmitted aboard the Tantive IV. That moment, along with the wreckage at Jedha, gave the Rebellion a preview of the weapon's destructive force. But Alderaan's destruction wasn't just a tactical display, it was personal. And the weapon wasn't just killing people this time, it was wiping out Leia's past, her culture, and her entire planet in an instant. One fan also noted the stark contrast in how the destruction is shown: "It's wild to go from the drama of Rogue One showing the Death Star looming over Jedha and Scarif, people reacting from the ground, detailed, up-close destruction of the planets' crust rending apart as the music swells… to Alderaan instantly turning into a stock footage explosion that the camera only lingers on for about four seconds with almost no fanfare." Sure, some of that difference is technical limitations. A New Hope was made in 1977 and Rogue One in 2016, but the emotional difference is amplified when you watch in story order. In Rogue One , the destruction feels colossal and terrifying. By the time we get to Alderaan in A New Hope , the horror is quieter, but for Leia, now seen in a new light, it's far more devastating. With Andor recently filling in more about the construction of the Death Star and the origins of the Rebellion, this small but interesting connection just adds another layer to Leia's story.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ryan Reynolds reveals details on R-rated ‘Star Wars' movie pitch
After spearheading Marvel's first R-rated superhero movie with last year's Deadpool & Wolverine, Ryan Reynolds says he has made a similar pitch to take the Star Wars universe in a different direction. 'I pitched to Disney, I said, 'Why don't we do an R-rated Star Wars property? It doesn't have to be overt, A+ characters. There's a wide range of characters you could use,'' he said in an interview with Scott Mendelson's The Box Office podcast. 'And I don't mean R-rated to be vulgar. R-rated as a Trojan horse for emotion. I always wonder why studios don't want to just gamble on something like that.' Star Wars has experimented with darker storylines, most recently in its two-season Rogue One spinoff Andor, but the franchise has firmly remained in the PG realm. Reynolds said he liked the idea of expanding the story as a way to 'surprise' Star Wars fans. But his story wasn't one that he was angling to star in. 'I'm not saying I want to be in it. That would be a bad fit,' he said. 'I'd want to produce and write or be a part of behind the scenes. Those kinds of IP subsist really well on scarcity and surprise. We don't get scarcity really with Star Wars because of Disney+, but you can certainly still surprise people.' Putting something darker onto streaming, which Disney has also tried with last year's Acolyte series is more likely, but Reynolds insisted to Mendelson that an R-rated big screen adventure would leave a more lasting impression. 'You're never going to get the same emotional investment from a streamer that you are from a theatrical movie, because they're getting in cars and paying for parking, and babysitters, and sitting down, and watching the movie, and then driving home. That's the emotional investment you can try to sell,' he said. 'On a streamer, my only note, always, is that, for God's sake, with everything you can, to grab them in that first shot, like that first thing that happens in the movie… Start with something, 'Holy s—!' and then, 'How did we get here?'' People sitting at home can quickly become disengaged in a way they can't when they're at the cinema. 'We have all these distracto-fat things clogging our arteries of attention, and it is so easy to tune out unless you have them right at the top,' he said. Before it was reimagined into The Book of Boba Fett TV series, James Mangold, who is slated to write and direct an upcoming Star Wars film, eyed his own take on the intergalactic bounty hunter that was 'borderline rated-R.' 'At the point I was doing it, I was probably scaring the s— out of everyone, but I was probably making much more of a borderline rated-R, single-planet, spaghetti western,' Mangold told the Happy Sad Confused podcast in a 2023 interview. 'The world would never be able to embrace Baby Yoda if I had made that, because he didn't really belong in the world I was kind of envisioning.' Mangold's new entry will focus on the dawn of the Jedi, but he said that writing his earlier Boba Fett movie was a 'beautiful period' in his life. 'I was just listening to Ennio Moricone all day, all night and typing away,' he said. 'But I'm not sure it ever would've happened. I'm not sure it was in anyone's plans what I was thinking about.' After Andor wrapped its second season earlier this month, the Star Wars universe will expand with a Mandalorian spinoff movie hitting theatres next May. Reynolds' Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy is also set to go into production on Star Wars: Starfighter with Ryan Gosling later this year. The plot is still under wraps, but Levy announced at Star Wars Celebration last month that the film will take place roughly five years after the events of 2019's Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker. 'This is a standalone adventure that takes place a few years after the events of Episode IX,' the filmmaker teased. 'What could that mean? It could mean so many things … This is not a prequel. This is not a sequel. It's a new adventure.' Also on the horizon: a new trilogy from X-Men scribe Simon Kinberg, a Star Wars film directed by Taika Waititi, and the return of Daisy Ridley as Rey in a film helmed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. mdaniell@ Ryan Gosling and Shawn Levy's 'Star Wars: Starfighter' sets May 2027 release 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' teases new action-packed footage at Star Wars Celebration Writer reveals real reason Quentin Tarantino's 'Star Trek' film died
