Andor Season 1: Showrunner Gilroy wanted Maarva to say, "F*ck the Empire", here's what happened instead

Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy sat down for an interview with Mashable's Chris Taylor on March 15, 2025. In the interview, Gilroy discussed a contentious topic regarding the first solo series featuring Diego Luna's Star Wars character. The finale of the acclaimed series while loved by fans and critics, was a topic of discussion regarding a particular moment.

The moment in question involved the usage of profanity and was ultimately changed. Cassian Andor's adoptive mother Maarva, played by Fiona Shaw, was supposed to say the expletive.

Benjamin Caron back in a 2023 interview explained why the line was changed to "fight the Empire":

"Disney wouldn’t let us use it. So we changed it to ‘fight the Empire.’ I remember having a call with Tony Gilroy saying, ‘Are we gonna get away with this?'"

Looking back at the change, now Gilroy seems to agree with it.

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What did Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy say?

Andor Season 1 streamed on Disney+ between September 21, 2022, and November 23, 2022. All twelve episodes of the series have received critical and popular acclaim. One of the most powerful moments in the first season can be found in the season finale, titled Rix Road. Cassian's mother Maarva passes away in the penultimate episode and the finale focuses on her funeral.

Maarva's android B2EMO, plays a recorded message that was meant to serve as her eulogy. In the message, Maarva encourages the people of Ferrix to fight against the Empire and its oppressive policies. Her exact words were "Fight the Empire" and the imperial officer topples the android B2EMO. It is this action of the officer that is the last straw for the people of Ferrix and a riot breaks out.

This entire moment is really powerful and Shaw's monologue is powerful and relevant to this very day. Andor showrunner for both seasons 1 and 2 agrees with the change. He expressed this opinion in a recent Mashable interview.

Firstly Gliroy clarified the back and forth between him and Disney about the inclusion and exclusion of the profanity in the Andor Season 1 finale was not a fight. He said:

"It wasn't a fight. It was a discussion, the way it should be."

Girloy reflected upon his experience working on the show and how the entire season finale played out with the change. Admitting that Disney was right to cut the expletive, Gilroy said:

"The whole experience with Kathy [Kennedy, Lucasfilm president] and Lucasfilm and Disney, all the way through from Rogue One... I mean, nobody has ever messed with us at all," Gilroy said. "The gamble they've taken with us, the way they've backed our play, it's extraordinary. It's the thing every filmmaker dreams about. They've been unbelievable. So yeah, they were right."

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Our take on the Andor season finale change:

While some may support cutting the profanity because Star Wars is a franchise geared toward kids, we believe that cutting the word makes sense from a thematic standpoint. Andor is a series that's geared towards adults more than children and the writing needs to be mature according to it. While adults may swear it is also true that they won't appreciate needless swearing too.

Also changing the word to "fight" makes sense because all Maarva wanted to do throughout her life was to fight the Fascist Empire and inspire others to do the same.

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Andor Season 2 will be available to stream on Disney+ from April 22, 2025, to May 13, 2025. Until then, catch the incredible season 1 finale.