Andor Season 2 Could Set Up a Major Rogue One Cameo (But Should It?)

Andor is rapidly approaching its long-awaited series finale, with its second and final season set to debut on Disney+ beginning April 22. The show will bridge the gap in Cassian Andor’s timeline, connecting his first chronological appearance with the events leading to his death shortly thereafter. Diego Luna and Tony Gilroy are both promising an action-packed and satisfying conclusion to Cassian’s story after the interminable three-year gap between seasons.

Lucasfilm has confirmed that the ending of Andor Season 2 will run directly into the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. This not only gives the series a chance to bring Cassian Andor’s story full circle but offers an opportunity to feature more concrete connections to other Star Wars movies. One major Star Wars character is very active during this point in the franchise’s timeline and could make an appearance in Andor‘s second season. However, a cameo from this character may be more trouble than it is worth.

Andor Season 2 Could Bring Back Princess Leia

Andor Could Repeat a Trick From The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett

Andor‘s second season delves deeper into the origins of the Rebellion against the Empire. Taking place in the weeks and months leading up to A New Hope, the series may feature several prominent leaders in the Rebel Alliance, including Princess Leia Organa. At this point in the timeline, Leia is serving as a member of the Imperial Senate, representing her planet of Alderaan. However, she and her father secretly support the Rebel Alliance. This would lead her into contact with individuals like Mon Mothma, a Rebel leader who plays a significant role in both seasons of Andor. Leia would fit seamlessly into Mon Mothma’s Season 2 storyline, playing a role in the Chandrillan Senator’s growing battle against the Empire. This could also help explain why Leia was present during the Battle of Scarif, as seen in Rogue One, even though it would compromise her position as a Rebel sympathizer. Andor could explain that Leia was there as a personal favor to Mon Mothma, who needed her help to recover the stolen Death Star plans.

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Of course, to bring back Leia Organa, Andor would most likely have to digitally recreate her character. The late Carrie Fisher, who portrayed Leia, was nineteen years old when she filmed the original Star Wars. Barring a recast, digitally recreating Fisher’s likeness would be the only way to bring Leia back for Andor Season 2. This trick has been used several times in the Star Wars franchise. Mark Hamill’s likeness was used to bring Luke Skywalker back at the end of The Mandalorian Season 2, with the original actor returning to help capture his original character. Skywalker returned for an extended sequence in The Book of Boba Fett, which boasted more refined special effects that helped perfect the Jedi’s younger appearance. Leia herself was digitally recreated at the end of Rogue One, proving that Star Wars already can put her character in Andor‘s next season. However, simply because Leia’s appearance in Andor is possible doesn’t mean that it should come true.

Should Andor Digitally Re-Create Princess Leia?

Star Wars Has Received Criticism For Using This Trick in the Past

While it wouldn’t be the first time Star Wars has digitally de-aged Carrie Fisher to bring back Princess Leia, Andor may want to avoid doing so out of respect for the actress. Rogue One came out right around the same time as Fisher’s death in 2016, but Princess Leia’s cameo had been filmed long before. Recreating the late actress now would feel disrespectful to her memory. Even though Leia’s cameo was mostly forgiven, Rogue One received far more criticism for the appearance of Grand Moff Tarkin. Peter Cushing portrayed Tarkin in A New Hope and died in 1994, but the filmmakers behind Rogue One saw no problem in using his likeness to bring the character back via digital methods. This stirred controversy in the fandom as viewers debated the ethics of using dead actors’ likenesses to resurrect their characters. This eventually led to a lawsuit against Lucasfilm, though it didn’t stop other films from repeating similar tricks.

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Since Rogue One‘s release in 2016, many different films have repeated its trick of digitally recreating dead actors to reprise iconic roles. Recently, audiences saw the return of Ian Holm in Alien: Romulus, allowing him to play yet another android in the iconic sci-fi franchise. Furthermore, in 2019, it was announced that Magic City Films would digitally recreate beloved 1950s actor James Dean for a new Vietnam War film. However, many viewers have expressed their distaste for this trend, arguing that it is disrespectful to an actor’s legacy. The growing controversy surrounding the use of AI in film and television has only turned audiences against this trend even more. It is one thing for Lucasfilm to bring back characters like Luke Skywalker, whose actor is still alive. It is something else entirely to recreate Fisher, who died almost a decade ago. Therefore, it would be in poor taste for Lucasfilm to digitally recreate Princess Leia for a cheap cameo in Andor.

There's a Better Way to Include Leia in Andor Season 2

Leia Can Be a Part of Andor Without Actually Appearing

Having developed a reputation as the best Star Wars Disney+ series, Andor is above digitally recreating dead actors. While the series could always recast the role of Princess Leia, there is a better way to include the iconic character without doing any harm to Carrie Fisher’s legacy. Leia doesn’t have to appear physically in Andor to have a presence in the show’s story. The character could play a role behind the scenes, with her name coming up as an important collaborator in the scheme to steal the Death Star plans. Even a mere mention of her name would go a long way with the Easter egg-loving Star Wars fans.

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A better option would simply be to include Bail Organa, Leia’s father, in Andor‘s second season. Bail Organa is a key member of the Rebel Alliance and the driving force behind Leia’s decision to join the fight against the Empire. Organa appears briefly in Rogue One, which takes place just before his death, proving that he is heavily active during this stage in the Star Wars timeline. His appearance in Andor could include a mention of his daughter’s whereabouts at this time, indicating her part in the Rebel scheme against the Empire. While this wouldn’t be as massive a moment as actually including Princess Leia in the series, it would be a better way to honor Carrie Fisher’s legacy.

When it comes to digitally recreating dead actors, Lucasfilm needs to spend more time wondering whether it should rather than if it’s possible. Andor‘s second season does have an opportunity to include Princess Leia, but the real-world ramifications may be too dire to justify such a decision.