Andor could also be over, however the Rise up lives on. Whereas the critically acclaimed Star Wars live-action collection got here to its highly effective conclusion in Could, a pair of latest books have an opportunity to fill within the blanks whereas fleshing out among the present’s most intriguing (and underused) characters.
Alongside a number of different comics and books introduced throughout Lucasfilm’s 2025 San Diego Comedian-Con panel, the “Reign of Empire” trilogy following Mon Mothma, Bail Organa and Noticed Gerrera additionally obtained an replace. Its second and third ebook titles had been revealed: Fringe of the Abyss (by Rebecca Roanhorse) and From The Ashes (by Fran Wilde). Their launch dates had been additionally pushed to fall and summer season of 2026 and 2027, respectively.
Very similar to the primary ebook, Masks of Worry, these new titles will observe Mon, Bail and Noticed as they proceed to combat towards the oppressive grip of the Galactic Empire. However what has me most enthusiastic about Fringe of the Abyss usually is when it’s set: an entire yr earlier than Andor season 1.
Star Wars is a tremendously huge universe, spanning a number of eras with subsets of followers and fandom feverishly loyal and intrigued by what every stretch of galactic historical past has on supply. With the crucial acclaim Andor obtained for each season 1 and a pair of, the thought of its characters showing in Fringe of the Abyss isn’t as a lot as a need, however a necessity for among the present’s most intriguing heroes who by no means received their due on Disney Plus.
When you may argue we all know the whole lot there’s to find out about our favourite characters from Andor through the TV collection, I urge to vary. With Fringe of the Abyss set a yr earlier than the present, it is a prime time interval to discover the lead-up to the rebel and reply questions the streaming collection couldn’t cowl. For instance, is there a cause why Bail doesn’t seem within the first season of Andor, regardless of being current throughout the second? How did Mon Mothma discover herself entangled with the Axis Community to the purpose she felt assured to fund it?
Nevertheless it isn’t simply the three important protagonists of the “Reign of the Empire” trilogy I’m taken with. Mon, Bail and Noticed all arguably have large presences throughout the bigger Star Wars narrative, with all three showing repeatedly in each live-action and animation throughout movie and tv. So if we’re going to discover Andor characters throughout the following two books, I’d argue there are a number of different characters related to our important three that deserve the limelight.
The obvious is, in fact, Luthen Rael. Performed to perfection by Stellan Skarsgård, Luthen runs a covert spy and resistance group (dubbed the Axis Community by the ISB) decided to take down the Empire through acts of rebel, such because the Aldhani heist in Andor season 1. We all know Mon Mothma helped fund Luthen’s operations, however we don’t actively know the way the 2 grew to become intertwined. The identical might be stated of Noticed and Luthen, who, regardless of combating for a similar trigger, come at rebel by way of totally different views and strategies. And with the Axis Community round, it might be pretty remiss to not contain Luthen’s second-in-command, Kleya Marki.
Whereas I’m a lover of the whole lot Kleya (she’s simply the most effective a part of Andor season 2), I’m really extra within the involvement and look of Mon Mothma’s cousin, Vel Sartha, and Vel’s lover and fellow insurgent, Cinta Kaz. Whereas their roles in season 2 had been considerably reduce, and their love story tragically (and considerably controversially) lower brief, Vel and Cinta’s relationship was simply one of the crucial intriguing season 1 B-plots, and I would have cherished to know extra about them, notably Cinta, whose background stays shrouded in thriller outdoors her household being destroyed by the Empire’s stormtroopers.
Past Vel and Cinta’s love story, there’s additionally the query of what drew them to the Axis Community within the first place. It’s clear in season 1 that each Vel and Mon are a part of Luthen’s internet and have been for some time, however how did that occur? Did Cinta recruit Vel? Did they meet earlier than Aldhani? Vel’s cause for becoming a member of the Rise up is rarely established, although contemplating the heteronormative Chandrilan traditions, it is established that Vel’s a insurgent in additional methods than one. Nonetheless, even in season 1, she’s considered one of Mon Mothma’s closest confidants, each for the Rise up and the continued battle Mon faces in her private life. The truth is that characters like Vel or Cinta will seemingly by no means get the Cassian Andor remedy of a brand new present or movie, so if Fringe of the Abyss goes to steer us into a brand new story with Mon, it is smart to attach as many threads as potential.
There are, in fact, unique characters throughout the Reign of the Empire trilogy that can little doubt get the highlight too. However with Andor successfully ended, Roanhorse (who additionally wrote my private favourite sequel-era ebook, Resistance Reborn) has the chance to do one thing nice: give different Andor characters the eye and care they deserve.
