Although those of us at io9 would have undoubtedly preferred to see *Andor* sweep the Emmys and collect every award available, the acclaimed Disney+ series set within the *Star Wars* universe nevertheless managed to secure several meaningful victories. Among the honors achieved, one stood out with particular significance: the award for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series. This distinction was earned by Dan Gilroy—himself the brother of Tony Gilroy, the creator and showrunner of *Andor*—for his work on a pivotal episode of the show’s second season. That episode, titled “Welcome to the Rebellion,” is especially memorable for the moment in which Senator Mon Mothma delivers a scathing and courageous denunciation of authoritarian brutality, condemning both genocide and tyrannical leadership in a thunderous address before the Galactic Senate. Her speech has become one of the series’ most iconic expressions of defiance against oppression.
The fact that *Andor’s* narrative continues to feel disturbingly relevant to contemporary political realities is not, in and of itself, a new observation. Tony Gilroy himself and other members of the creative team have noted on several occasions that the show’s depiction of creeping fascism and systemic cruelty echoes unsettlingly with real history as well as current affairs. However, recent events have intensified those parallels, making the themes woven into the series all the more incendiary. In particular, ABC’s controversial suspension of *Jimmy Kimmel Live!*—a decision made in response to the late-night host’s remarks about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk—has brought the real-world resonance of *Andor*’s anti-authoritarian themes into especially sharp relief. The suspension sparked calls among both artists and subscribing audiences to boycott Disney, which not only owns ABC but also serves as the corporate parent of *Star Wars*. In the midst of this cultural and political uproar, Dan Gilroy contributed to the conversation directly by publishing a pointed and passionate op-ed in *Deadline*. In tone and substance, his piece evoked the rallying cry embodied by Mon Mothma’s fictional speech: a warning that resonates far beyond the boundaries of science fiction.
Gilroy begins his essay with a reflection on the creative journey behind *Andor*: “As one of the writers on the Disney+ drama *Andor*, we spent six years thinking about a fascist takeover of a galaxy far, far away.” He goes on to emphasize how much mental and creative energy was dedicated to envisioning what happens when an authoritarian system consummates its grip over ordinary citizens. For more than half a decade, the storytellers explored the vulnerabilities of individuals attempting to survive, resist, or simply endure as an oppressive regime closed in around them. Gilroy notes that many viewers recognized obvious parallels between the fictional oppression within *Andor* and the escalating authoritarian tendencies witnessed across the globe today. He himself acknowledges seeing the same connections, saying they became impossible to ignore in light of the political developments of the preceding week.
The essay eventually shifts toward a direct denunciation of Disney’s decision to suspend Kimmel. While Gilroy concedes that the company may have faced a daunting dilemma and that the choice was likely not made lightly, he nonetheless states firmly that he profoundly disagrees with the action. For him, the suspension is emblematic of a dangerous willingness to appease power by silencing critical voices, something that history warns can rapidly become a slippery slope.
Addressing his colleagues across Hollywood and the wider entertainment community, Gilroy employs stark and uncompromising language. He warns his peers that the industry cannot afford to normalize, excuse, or tolerate this erosion of artistic and journalistic freedom, especially in what he characterizes as a “brave new Trumpian world.” As evidence for the urgency of his concern, he invokes a chilling historical precedent: when Vladimir Putin first consolidated power in Russia, one of his very first actions was to eliminate programming that openly criticized him. In Gilroy’s analysis, such patterns are predictable—authoritarian rulers instinctively target artists, writers, and performers first precisely because they fear the influence of culture and storytelling more than almost any other form of opposition. The creative community has the ability to challenge power, shape narratives, and stimulate resistance; therefore, it is often silenced before larger political freedoms are dismantled.
Gilroy closes his editorial by transitioning from analysis to a resolute call for action. According to him, the ultimate intention of oppressive systems is to instill fear: to render individuals paralyzed by helplessness, consumed by hopelessness, and ultimately broken in spirit so that obedience feels inevitable. He implores his audience not to capitulate to such tactics. Instead, he urges readers to take active steps—educating themselves about threats to freedom, organizing collectively to resist them, and continuing to speak courageously and truthfully to those in positions of power. As he reminds us, the narrative of history is not fixed or predetermined. The story is still unfolding, and, metaphorically speaking, every citizen, artist, and viewer holds the pen with which it will be written.
Gilroy’s complete essay can be found on *Deadline*. At the same time, for those who have not joined the chorus demanding the cancellation of Disney+ subscriptions in protest, the *Andor* series remains available to stream there, serving as a work of powerful entertainment that doubles as a potent reflection of the stakes we face in real life today.
For further exploration of genre storytelling, io9 also offers coverage of every major upcoming release across pop culture’s dominant universes, including updates on *Marvel*, *Star Wars*, *Star Trek*, the evolving landscape of the DC cinematic universe, and the ever-anticipated future chapters of *Doctor Who*.
Sourse: https://gizmodo.com/disney-jimmy-kimmel-andor-dan-gilroy-star-wars-2000661669
