THE Star Wars saga lives on in Andor, a new original 12-episode series from Lucasfilm.
Taking place prior to the events of the 2016 movie, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the live-action show focuses on Rebel captain and intelligence officer, Cassian Andor, and his journey to discover the difference he can make.
Set in the era of a burgeoning rebellion against the galactic Empire, danger, deception and intrigue are the order of the day as Cassian eventually embarks on a challenging path that is destined to turn him into a rebel hero.
Mexican star Diego Luna reprises his role as Cassian, who starts off here as a thief whose homeworld was destroyed by the Empire.
He is joined by a competent cast that includes Genevieve O'Reilly (who plays Mon Mothma), Adria Arjona (Bix Caleen), Denise Gough (Dedra Meero) and Kyle Soler (Syril Karn).
Luna, Kathleen Kennedy, Tony Gilroy, Sanne Wohlenberg and Michelle Rejwan serve as the show's executive producers, with Gilroy also being its creator and showrunner.
INTRICATE EXPLORATION
Gilroy said the new series would feature the development of Cassian that viewers had not yet seen.
"It's the idea that we can do a story that takes him literally from his childhood origins and walk him through a five-year history of an odyssey that takes him to that place, during a revolution, during a moment in history in a place where huge events are happening and real people are being crushed by it.
"The fact that we could follow somebody as an example of a revolution all the way through to the end, that was the walk-in for me," said Gilroy at a recent global press conference.
"Viewers will get to see him inside and out in a lot of ways, the adventures he goes through and the journey he goes through on an interior sense."
Gilroy added: "There are many characters in our show and everyone is going to be circulating, spinning and intersecting around the Cassian Andor story as we move towards Rogue One.
"It's a potent moment in history. And a lot of people are facing many really difficult times and difficult decisions along the way. And that's what the show is about. The opportunity to do that on a large scale, on a big canvas, that's why I'm here," he said.
COMPLETING THE ROLE
Luna, who plays the focal point of the series with his role, said that it was great to be able to return to fill in the details and complete the character.
"First of all, just the chance to be back working with this family, getting to do more stuff with Tony is amazing. But I think Rogue One is a film about an event. You don't get to know those characters. You don't get to understand exactly where they come from, what needed to happen."
Luna added: "For me, it's quite relevant today to tell the story of what needs to happen for a revolution to emerge, to exist, to come to life, you know. What gives meaning in the life of someone to be willing to sacrifice everything for a cause.
"What needs to happen? That journey matters to me. And the character says stuff that it haunts me in Rogue One.
"You know that he started to fight since he was 6 years old. What does that mean, exactly? You know why a 6-year-old would miss his childhood and start a fight?" he said about exploring Cassian's dark past.
REVEALING HER CHARACTER
The new series also features Mon Mothma, a senator who tries to navigate the politics of the Empire while secretly helping to establish the Rebel Alliance.
O'Reilly said viewers had met the character before in different iterations and versions of the Star Wars storytelling.
"And each time we've met her, we've seen this composed, regal, dignified woman who often, like in Rogue One, just sends people out on a mission.
"I think what's extraordinary about how Tony has written Andor and where he has chosen to begin this story is so different to where we find Mon Mothma in Rogue One. She is still that very dignified senator.
"But for the first time, we get to see the woman behind the role. We get to see a private face of Mon Mothma. We get to flesh out not just the senator, not just the would-be leader of a Rebel Alliance, but also the woman," she said.
STRONG RESISTANCE
Andor also features other strong female characters, including Arjona's Bix Caleen, who has no sympathy for the oppressive Empire.
"I liked a lot of things about Bix," said the actress.
"I think she's fearless. And she's bold, yet really deep inside, she's incredibly loyal and compassionate and cares a little too much about the people around her. And I think that is sometimes at her own detriment.
"I think this boldness and powerful thing is sort of like a facade that she almost puts on as a show. But deep down, she cares deeply about the people around her. And I think that's the part that I love the most about Bix," she said.
IMPERIAL AMBITION
Andor will feature the imposing and dominant side of the Empire and the destructive wake it wields upon the territories it occupies.
Its decisive iron grip is also reflected in the treacherous ambitions of its Imperial officers.
Gough, who plays Dedra Meero, a high-ranking Imperial officer who does not like Andor, said that she was very focused and determined to do her job well.
"Dedra is an ISP officer. When we meet her, she is at the kind of low end of the ladder but she's incredibly ambitious and meticulous.
"She's in this male-dominated world and I love portraying the effect that power just has on a person, like the danger of that pursuit of power and control, regardless of gender.
"I mean, I do kind of love that you're thinking oh, go girl. And then you remember, she's in a fascist organisation," she said with a laugh.
GREY AREA
Soler, who plays the other prominent Imperial officer Syril Karn, is happy to play a fully formed character.
"What attracted me to the role was Tony's writing. He had created a character that was really three-dimensional and had a big question mark over him as to indicate that he could kind of go either way.
"He could go into the Empire. He could go into the Rebel Alliance. And he's got a lot of grey area," says Sler, adding that there's an emotional dimension to Syril as well.
"He came from a place of such lack and it's such a pain in his home life, that he's trying to fill this void within himself through the fascist, corporate, bureaucratic structure, where he finds order.
"And he finds a place to be seen if he can supersede his station and climb those ranks. And so really, what Tony created and having a character that wasn't really sure about himself was what kind of made it the most fun to play," he said.
Andor debuts on Disney+ Hotstar on Sept 21 with a three-episode premiere.