Ben Mendelsohn Reportedly Back for ‘Andor’ Season 2

One of the directors for Season 2 of the ‘Star Wars’ show has let slip that Mendelsohn’s Imperial Director will feature in the story leading up to ‘Rogue One’

Ben Mendelsohn as Orson Krennic in 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'. Photo: Lucasfilm.

Preview:

Ben Mendelsohn is reportedly back for ‘Andor’ Season 2.
The ‘Star Wars’ series has already shot the season.
Mendelsohn will reprise his role as Orson Krennic.

Much like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Team ‘Star Wars’ is famously circumspect when it comes to revealing information.

But, as with the Death Star plans, leaks do occur. Which brings us to ‘Andor’, the Disney+ prequel series that leads into the events of ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’, where Death Star plans played a slightly important role.

Season 1 of the show launched in 2022 to great acclaim, and executive producer Tony Gilroy and his team have been hard at work on Season 2.

And now, according to an unusual source, we’ve learned that the new season will reportedly see the return of Ben Mendelsohn’s Imperial Director Orson Krennic.

What was the story of ‘Andor’ Season 1?

Diego Luna plays Cassian Andor in Lucasfilm's 'Andor,' exclusively on Disney+.

‘Andor’ focuses on the character of Cassian Andor (played in ‘Rogue One’ and the series by Diego Luna). It’s the story how a young man went from an orphan whose people were attacked by Imperial Forces to a resistance fighter recruited by the Rebel Alliance to focus his anger.

Along the way, he learns that the fight against the oppressive regime is far from the black-and-white-conflict usually portrayed in the movies, and even ended up spending time in a high-tech Imperial prison.

How does Imperial Director Krennic fit into the story?

Ben Mendelsohn as Orson Krennic in 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'. Photo: Lucasfilm.

We first met Krennic at the start of ‘Rogue One’, striding across a windswept plain in a magnificent cape to bring Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen), chief designer of the Death Star back from where he has been hiding out to track down an issue with it –– an issue Erso himself created.

The Playlist talked to Mexican filmmaker Alonso Ruizpalacios for his new movie, and he revealed that not only had he been given the chance to direct the last three episodes of ‘Andor’s 12-episode second season, and that he had worked with great actors such as Stellan Skarsgård, Forest Whitaker and Mendelsohn.

It makes sense that since the end of ‘Andor’ Season 2 is designed to directly dovetail into the start of ‘Rogue One’, Krennic would eventually show up. And what of Mikkelsen? We’ll have to wait and see on that front.

Disney and Lucasfilm have of course not confirmed the casting, so keep that grain of salt ready for now, though Luna himself said at the recent ACE Superhero Comic Con that we can expect to see some familiar ‘Rogue One’ faces in the second season.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

"A rebellion built on hope."

PG-132 hr 13 minDec 16th, 2016

Showtimes & Tickets

Watch Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Online

When will ‘Andor’ Season 2 arrive on screens?

Disney has yet to officially confirm when the new season will land on its streaming service, but early 2025 would appear to be a possibility given how far along it is in the process.