Disney’s handling of the Star Wars franchise is facing renewed scrutiny as one of its most successful creators speaks out on how major intellectual properties should be managed. Tony Gilroy, the showrunner behind Andor and co-writer of Rogue One, is drawing attention for some harsh comments that are direct critique of the company’s broader creative strategy.
Since Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, the studio has pushed out a steady stream of films and Disney+ series tied to the Star Wars brand. That expansion has delivered mixed results. While projects like The Mandalorian brought early success, others such as The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ahsoka struggled to maintain consistent storytelling and audience momentum.
In contrast, Andor has emerged as a rare bright spot. The series focused on grounded political tension and character-driven storytelling, offering a tone that stood apart from other entries in the franchise. Viewers and critics responded positively, pointing to its tighter structure and more mature themes.
Speaking on the Backstory Magazine podcast, Gilroy outlined his approach to franchise storytelling. He warned against the instinct to rely too heavily on familiar elements. “A lot of times when you’re working on IP storytelling, your impulse is to open the toy box and start playing with all the toys,” Gilroy said. “You should try to resist that. What you should do is leave more toys in the toy box that were there when you got there.”
Gilroy added that creators should focus on building the world rather than recycling it. His comments land at a time when Disney continues to lean on legacy characters such as Luke Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, and Boba Fett across multiple series. That strategy has helped drive short-term engagement, but critics argue it has limited long-term growth.
The debate over nostalgia is not new for Star Wars. The sequel trilogy, beginning with The Force Awakens in 2015, faced criticism for closely echoing the plot of A New Hope. More recent projects have continued to revisit established characters and storylines instead of introducing new ones.
Gilroy’s work on Andor took a different path. The series explored political conflict within the Empire and the early rebellion, reflecting themes that were central to George Lucas’ original vision. That focus on political stakes has largely been absent in Disney-era productions, which have often prioritized spectacle and familiar imagery.
Industry observers note that Rogue One and Andor both delivered strong audience reception while avoiding heavy reliance on nostalgia. This raises questions about whether Disney’s current approach is sustainable as it prepares future releases, following the poor showing for this month’s The Mandalorian & Grogu.
Gilroy’s comments highlight a broader tension inside modern franchise filmmaking. Nostalgia can attract audiences, but overuse risks weakening the core story. As Disney continues to expand Star Wars, the success of Andor may serve as a reminder that restraint and originality still matter.
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English (US) · 