Andor star called Jodie Whittaker for advice on sci-fi dialogue

What do Andor and Doctor Who have in common besides taking place in galaxies far, far away? Not much, except for the friendship between cast member Denise Gough and Doctor Who’s Jodie Whittaker. There was some overlap between the two franchises after Gough called Whittaker seeking advice on how to deliver sci-fi dialogue. Speaking to Empire for the upcoming September 2022 issue, Gough revealed that placing a direct call to the TARDIS was absolutely necessary in order to prepare for Andor.

So what wisdom did Whittaker impart on Gough? “Oh, mate, you have to imagine all those pictures in your head,” Gough said, recalling Whittaker’s advice.

Gough plays the role of Imperial officer Dedra Meero in the upcoming series. Andor will take place five years before the heist to steal the Death Star plans on Scarif, which we saw in 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The new series will follow Cassian Andor’s (Diego Luna) transformation from thief to badass Rebel spy. Andor has a bone to pick with the Empire, and he’s not going to stop until his vengeance is complete. I’m so here for that!

Many are wondering what will set this series apart from the other Lucasfilm productions we’ve seen thus far. Well, first and foremost, they did not use the “Volume” technology that simulates alien environments, instead using practical sets. Showrunner Tony Gilroy hopes that Andor will rope in not only die-hard fans but also those who have never watched Star Wars or don’t get the hype. That’s a mighty difficult task but I love the initiative!

Can Andor be exciting if we know the ending?

One of the big questions about Andor is whether it’s a story worth telling given that the title character’s journey came to an end in Rogue One; anybody who saw that knows how this all wraps up.

That said, Gilroy doesn’t think that’s a problem. “We’re all living in a prequel. We’re all gonna die,” he said during the Television Critics Association press day, per SyFy Wire. “The suspension of disbelief is even more tenuous than that, because you can watch a movie for the third time when you just saw it six months before, and if you love it, you’re invested in it. So that is not a concern as a dramatist.”

Luna agrees that there’s still plenty of reason to watch. “Everything that made sense when you were watching that film is now going to be challenged,” he said. I do have that in mind. I know where it ends, and I can be very creative about how to get there. I think it triggers a different part of your creativity when you start backwards.”

The first three episodes of Andor will premiere on Disney+ on Friday, September 21. Meanwhile, Whittaker’s final Doctor Who episode will air later this fall.

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h/t SYFY Wire