Andor Creator Discusses Show's Prescient Themes

Tony Gilroy says the series was based on historical records, not clairvoyance.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The recent tragedies in Minneapolis have drawn comparisons to the Ghorman Massacre storyline in Gilroy's Emmy-winning series Andor, which depicted an occupying Imperial force violently cracking down on peaceful protesters. Gilroy downplays the notion of clairvoyance, stating he based the show on historical records of fascist tactics rather than predicting current events.

Why it matters

Andor's depiction of an oppressive government's violent suppression of dissent has resonated with viewers in light of real-world incidents, highlighting the show's thematic relevance and Gilroy's skill in crafting a narrative that echoes disturbing historical patterns.

The details

Gilroy tells The Hollywood Reporter that the show's writers consulted a "Fascism for Dummies" book to incorporate as many common fascist tactics as possible into the series in an "artful way." He rejects the idea that the show was clairvoyant, stating they were simply drawing from historical records rather than predicting current events.

  • The recent tragedies in Minneapolis' Twin Cities occurred in 2026.

The players

Tony Gilroy

The creator of the Emmy-winning series Andor.

Renée Good

A Minneapolis resident killed by federal agents.

Alex Pretti

A Minneapolis resident killed by federal agents.

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What they’re saying

“You get out your Fascism for Dummies book for the 15 things you do, and we tried to include as many of them as we could in the most artful way possible.”

— Tony Gilroy, Creator, Andor (The Hollywood Reporter)

The takeaway

Andor's depiction of an oppressive government's violent suppression of dissent has resonated with viewers in light of real-world incidents, highlighting the show's thematic relevance and Gilroy's skill in crafting a narrative that echoes disturbing historical patterns.