BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — “Andor” is making its way back to Disney+ for a second season with a three-episode debut this Tuesday, bearing the narrative burden of the expansive “Star Wars” saga.

Nonetheless, creator Tony Gilroy says that he and his team didn’t face creative constraints from Disney or Lucasfilm while crafting a story about growing dissent against the Galactic Empire and the genesis of the Rebel Alliance — background leading directly into the events of the 2016 film he wrote, “Rogue One.”

“We weren’t given a single creative note for this series,” said Gilroy, whose storytelling career includes penning four “Bourne” films and directing the Oscar-nominated “Michael Clayton.” Speaking to The Associated Press, he added, “I’ve never had so much freedom with any project, not even those where I had final cut. The range they allowed us was incredible.”

The new season — delayed due to the Hollywood labor strikes in 2023 — arrives with big hopes from fans, especially following a mixed reception to past “Star Wars” television titles and the absence of new films over the past six years.

Rebellion through ordinary lives

The latest chapters build upon the flame sparked in Cassian Andor, played by Diego Luna, as seen in the first season from 2022. This time, the revolutionary sentiment spreads across the galaxy through characters rarely centered in “Star Wars.”

“This new season is all about the layers — the cultural, social, and political conditions that ignite revolution,” Luna told the AP. “The universe has so often skipped over the stories of everyday people who end up being pivotal to the events we know.”

Gilroy says he pulled from a wide array of real and fictional revolutionary stories for inspiration.

“Honestly, who else gets the opportunity to write 1,500 pages about uprising with this level of funding and creative power?” he noted.

Grand narrative, intimate moments

Despite its massive narrative scope, the show's emotional core lives in quiet one-on-one interactions.

“I create from the smallest details,” said Gilroy. “One teaspoon at a time.”

One such scene kicks off the season. Cassian inspires a young Empire mechanic to assist him in a major mission, capturing the emotional rush of fighting for something bigger.

“There’s something incredibly poetic and idealistic about revolution,” said Luna. “That feeling of hope... it’s such an important theme.”

According to the cast, working with Gilroy feels like being part of something refreshing. He shares details freely, avoiding the secrecy common in large franchises.

“He doesn’t use information as power,” said Adria Arjona, who portrays Andor’s ally Bix Caleen. “I knew exactly how my story ended before filming even began — that kind of openness is almost unheard of.”

Bix’s journey includes challenging subject matter, touching on addiction and deep trauma — themes “Star Wars” hasn’t traditionally explored.

Expanding the ‘Star Wars’ boundaries

Gilroy said he wasn’t forced to battle over canon details. While certain conventions like no paper or knives initially took time to adapt to, the creative space has significantly widened.

“Canon has really loosened over time,” he said. “It used to be tighter when I made ‘Rogue One,’ but it’s shifted a lot since then.”

The show’s trajectory was largely set from the beginning.

“With Cassian, I had a clear path,” Gilroy shared. “Season one covers how he becomes a revolutionary — his pivotal transformation. I always knew it was leading to Rogue One.”

Other story angles, such as Mon Mothma’s (Genevieve O’Reilly) evolution from noble senator to resistance leader, emerged more organically during writing and filming.

Early on, her storyline includes a lavish wedding steeped in newly-invented traditions. Gilroy enjoyed constructing brand-new lore, saying he has fun pulling from the depths of his creative mind.

“Five years of unrestricted writing — I poured it all into the show,” he said.

Returning faces from Season 1 and ‘Rogue One’

Familiar characters from “Rogue One” who appeared earlier are back, including Forest Whitaker’s Saw Gerrera. A powerfully delivered mantra from him — “Revolution is not for the sane!” — features in the trailer.

This season also welcomes some new-to-TV “Rogue One” characters, including Andor’s blunt-speaking droid K-2SO, voiced by Alan Tudyk, and the Death Star architect Orson Krennic, played by Ben Mendelsohn.

Luna said he was especially excited to reunite with Tudyk’s sharp-tongued droid companion.

“I had a blast working with him before — bringing him back just feels right,” said Luna.

The initial trio of episodes functions as a cinematic experience, essentially forming a 2.5-hour film. Cassian navigates tensions between clashing rebel forces, Bix hides in a rural community under threat, and Mon Mothma juggles family obligations with growing rebellion. All three are soon thrust into new, dangerous circumstances.

The series is intentionally structured into layered arcs.

“Honestly, across five years, we didn’t make one show — we crafted eight distinct films,” Gilroy said.