The TV series "Andor" ended with three episodes released on Disney+ on Tuesday. The series' main character Luthen Rael, played by Stellan Skarsgård, had to pay the highest price for his rebellion against the empire – and committed suicide rather than being captured and risking to reveal his co-conspirators.
For "Star Wars" fans, Luthen Rael's death did not come as a surprise. In the timeline of the space saga, "Andor" ended right before the film "Rogue one", which in turn directly leads into the very first "Star Wars" from 1977. And there, the character is not present.
Seven-year contract
But that his character would die was also a requirement that Stellan Skarsgård made to the series creator Tony Gilroy when he accepted the project. "Andor" is now ending after two seasons, but from the beginning, it was intended that the series would last for at least five, maybe even seven years, he explains.
It was Tony who called me and wanted me to be part of it. Then I told him that I didn't want to sign for seven years with Disney," explains Skarsgård.
"Promise to kill me"
But it's standard to sign long contracts for TV series, so that production companies can ensure they have their actors if it becomes a success.
Then I got him to promise to kill me in the second year. So that I don't have to keep going for seven years. Because I don't know how I'll feel then, says Skarsgård and pulls a face.
I don't know if I'll be alive in seven years, I said to him. It took five years to make these two parts, anyway.
The moment of death came as a surprise to Skarsgård when he opened the script.
He had sketched it out, so he talked to me about it already during the first season about how it would happen.
