In an era where Star Wars characters constantly cross over between shows and movies, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story has always stood out against the rest. Not only did it boast a more grounded and mature tone than the others, but it also introduced a vast cast of rebels with no plans of ever seeing them again. Yet with Andor now breaking the mold and giving Cassian his own show, it reveals just how much untapped potential is left in the characters of Rogue One.
While Andor returns to an old character, Cassian himself is only bound by the events of a single movie. This has allowed the show to really step out the boundaries of traditional Star Wars media, and provide a satisfying slow-burn story receiving tons of praise. And so, with how much variety is found in Rogue One, combined with the quality of the first Rogue One spin-off, it feels like a waste for other characters to not receive the same treatment as Andor.
A testament to Rogue One is how many great characters there are to choose from. Jyn Erso is the obvious choice, as she has a clear history between Saw Gerrera abandoning her and her imprisonment at the start of the movie. But the entire crew has interesting stories to tell; Chirrut Îmwe and Baze Malbus are a unique duo who have obviously been through a lot together, and Bodhi Rook was an Imperial pilot who defected, something rarely seen in Star Wars media.
Even the characters outside the Rogue One squadron have interesting stories to tell. The flashbacks with Orson Krennic and Jyn’s parents reveal a rough friendship in the past, with the Empire trying to commission Galen into the construction of a super weapon. This story was even told in the book Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel, which received positive ratings from readers. In fact, many of these Rogue One characters have appeared in novels and comic books, which should never be dismissed. But the simple truth is that most audiences only consume the shows and movies, and it would be a shame for fans to miss out on their stories.
Andor has shown the potential production quality of spin-offs, but that doesn’t mean they’d all have to feel the same. The Orson Krennic side of things could show off the political grabs for power within the Empire, whereas a spin-off about Chirrut and Baze could dig deeper into the spiritual side of Star Wars, as they eventually join the “Guardians of the Whills,” which was the original name of the Force.
Of course, there is the risk of telling stories just for the sake of fan service. While it’s been a shame to see little of the Rogue One characters, there’s something about their lack of background that makes the movie all the more appealing, as the entire point is that they’re a group of average people helping save the galaxy. But still, if there are interesting stories to tell, it could also improve the movie further by offering a deeper connection to the characters. And with the quality of writing seen in Andor, it can definitely be done.
