The Star Wars universe is home to a vast array of characters, and fans often get excited when they spot familiar faces. The series Andor has already featured a few unexpected appearances, and with the upcoming season leading directly into Rogue One, viewers can expect to see even more familiar characters – although not necessarily played by the original actors.

In a recent interview with the Hollywood Reporter, showrunner Tony Gilroy discussed the challenges of incorporating legacy characters into the show, citing real-world constraints and budgetary issues that have forced some adjustments to the season two plans.

According to Gilroy, some episodes underwent significant changes due to these constraints, and in at least one instance, a character from the early part of Rogue One will be portrayed by a different actor. Additionally, a couple of characters intended to appear in Yavin will also be recast.

Gilroy explained that reuniting original actors with their characters can be a complex and costly endeavor, with some performers having prior commitments or being unavailable. The approach to handling this issue has varied across Star Wars projects; for example, Ahsoka has recast the role of Baylan Skoll with Rory McCann following the passing of Ray Stevenson in 2023, while Jim Cummings will reprise his role as Hondo in Star Wars Outlaws.

Meanwhile, other projects have opted for alternative solutions, such as utilizing generative AI and deepfakes to recreate iconic vocal performances, as seen with Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. In some cases, deceased actors’ characters have been recreated using CGI, as with General Leia and Grand Moff Tarkin.

For fans invested in maintaining continuity, the introduction of new actors may create a slight disconnect when seeing Andor and Rogue One back-to-back. However, as with the beloved Glup Shitto, the essence of the character remains the same, even if the on-screen portrayal changes.

For more io9 news, check out the latest release dates for upcoming Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek projects, as well as updates on the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.