Now that Andor's quality has set a new standard for Star Wars projects to live up to.

So, if the show is so good and beloved by audiences, why is Andor season 3 not happening? The first season was able to flesh out its story over an entire year, while the second had multiple time jumps to cover the remaining four. Looking at the show's original plan and the realities of producing a series like Andor helps explain why a third season wasn't on the table.

Andor Season 3 Was A Part Of Tony Gilroy's Original 5-Season Plan

A full season for each year of Cassian's journey

It may come as a surprise that Andor was originally conceived as a five-season show, with each season covering one year in-universe. This means each season would have been structured like season 1, and each three-episode arc from season 2 would have been one part of a much bigger whole. If that were the case, then that makes the lack of season 3 seem even stranger.

Andor Didn't Have The Realistic Capacity To Run For Five Seasons

It would have required way too much time and money

Of course, the idea of five full seasons was dropped early on in Andor's development, and it's easy to see why. Both seasons reportedly had a collective budget of $650 million, which is a massive investment, even for a Star Wars property. Spending that much money for three more seasons while maintaining the show's quality just wouldn't have been realistic.

There's also the actors and creative team to consider, especially with the time gaps between seasons. Andor season 2 came out three years after season 1, a result of such a huge production and the reality of how streaming services have changed the development of TV shows. Five seasons would likely result in the actors aging out of their roles and the creative team becoming burned out.

Andor Season 2 Finishes Right Where Cassian's Final Story Begins

Seamlessly transitioning into Rogue One

Thankfully, Andor season 2 made its new format work, eliminating the need for a third season. Tony Gilroy and the writers did an excellent job covering four years while still making each arc feel like it flows naturally into the next one. It feels similar to the Star Wars film trilogies, which have long gaps between them but still create satisfying arcs for their characters.

The Andor series finale seamlessly leads into Cassian's first scene in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, as well as putting the other characters in their starting positions for the film. Cassian doesn't survive the events of the film, and every other character receives a fitting conclusion to their story. Andor season 3 may not be happening, but Star Wars' best show is still excellent with only two seasons.