Star Wars was never a story about a galaxy far, far away. It was about us – we just didn’t realise it.
Creator George Lucas confirmed as much in a 2019 interview with James Cameron, when asked about his tale of guerrilla rebels taking down an oppressive evil empire. The spaceships, aliens and Jedi masters were just a bonus – his tale was really about revolution and the mid-1970s political realities he was writing it amidst.
“They were the Viet Cong,” said Lucas, referring to the Rebellion. “The little guys won, and the big technical empire lost. That was the whole point.”
But since Lucas stepped away from the franchise after selling it to Disney in 2012, the story’s political roots have been largely left aside. Increasingly, the fixation on Skywalkers and space fantasy has made the franchise often fall into the trappings of grown men playing with action figures with very little grounding in our reality.
That is, until Tony Gilroy, the man behind the Bourne franchise and Michael Clayton, started applying his mind to the world of Star Wars to write Rogue One. And finally, Lucas’s vision found a kindred spirit – and the seeds of a grander, deeply political story were planted.
Gilroy tells The National: “I've been reading history my whole life as a sort of idiot armchair historian. I’m fascinated by all this stuff. And it is material I thought I would never have a chance to use anywhere.”
That material became the original series Andor, perhaps the most acclaimed Star Wars creation since The Empire Strikes Back in 1980. And in case there’s any doubt, Gilroy does not mince words on what his series, now in its second and final season, is really trying to say: “It's about revolution".
“I want to drop the mic on revolution stories. I want to get it all in there. I want it to be timeless. I want it to feel like it's honouring all the revolutions that we've ever read about, all through history,” he says.
The series follows Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), a man who initially embodies the sort of “scum and villainy” that Obi-Wan Kenobi once warned about. Over the course of the show’s two seasons – the second premiered on Wednesday on Disney+ globally – Andor is radicalised, slowly becoming a true believer in a revolution he initially wants nothing to do with.
But as the story evolved, it became grander in scope. Throughout the show, a panoply of characters across the landscape is featured. We follow a docile senator secretly working with an art dealer to fund and organise the rebellion. We meet guerrilla soldiers bickering in the jungle and farmers just trying to survive as the powers that be clench their fists. And we even experience the banality of evil through government workers deep inside the empire’s bureaucracy.
Gilroy had no shortage of historical antecedents to draw from. “The Russian Revolution, for one. The French Revolution. The American Revolution, obviously. Oliver Cromwell – I got really into that and the complications of him. Zapata. I know a lot about Mao.”
“Revolutions are like families,” Gilroy adds. They're all the same, and they're all different, you know? So I'm pulling from everything here. And as far as how molecular it is, I mean, I've always worked that way.”
Gilroy knew how rare an opportunity it was to get to make such grand political statements within a major intellectual property. But to his surprise, even as he laid his vision bare to Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy and other top Disney brass, no one blinked.
“Disney knew what I was going to do. I did a lot of work beforehand to show them, to make sure that they were really into what we were doing, but they wanted to go this way. And it's a big gamble for them, too,” Gilroy says.
For Luna, who serves as both producer and star, the show is not just about history – it’s about the world we live in now.
Luna says: “Yes, there's reference to the past, but sadly, history repeats. We're not that different from our parents or our grandparents.”
As season two evolves across its 12 episodes, and the war between the rebellion and the Galactic Empire heats up, Luna was surprised to see how much of it reflected current conflicts happening across the world.
“This story suddenly feels like, ‘Oh my God, it's talking about today’. And it's because Tony has a very honest process as a writer. He reflects on what matters to him. And a story of people wanting to bring change to their community is timeless.”
But for Ben Mendelsohn, who played the Galactic Empire’s military leader Orson Krennic in Rogue One and returns to the franchise in Andor season two, the show is the “pinnacle” of Star Wars because it captures the humanity on all sides of the political equation.
“The real secret to the empathy game is this: The rebels are fighting for a good idea, but the Empire is also fighting for what they see as a good idea. And that’s history in a nutshell. It’s a series of disagreements about good ideas,” says Mendelsohn.
And part of the reason the series feels so rich, especially in the second season, is that the heroes are morally complex. Characters in life and death scenarios must constantly confront whether evil actions can serve the greater good, and what kind of violence can be justified. And even the revolutionaries consistently disagree on what measures must be taken.
For Denise Gough, who plays methodical and Machiavellian Imperial security strategist Deedra Meero, those themes resonate strongly – and impart lessons that perhaps none of its characters ascribe to.
“It makes you think, wouldn’t it be amazing to be in a world where we all admit that maybe there's something other than this violence? That maybe the actual care of humanity is the best idea, as opposed to, like, wiping everybody out all the time?” says Gough.
Episodes one to three of Andor season two are out now, with three more episodes releasing weekly on Disney+ until May 13
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
My Country: A Syrian Memoir
Kassem Eid, Bloomsbury
BMW%20M4%20Competition
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GROUP RESULTS
Group A
Results
Ireland beat UAE by 226 runs
West Indies beat Netherlands by 54 runs
Group B
Results
Zimbabwe tied with Scotland
Nepal beat Hong Kong by five wickets
Dolittle
Director: Stephen Gaghan
Stars: Robert Downey Jr, Michael Sheen
One-and-a-half out of five stars
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
Info
What: 11th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship
When: December 27-29, 2018
Confirmed: men: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Kevin Anderson, Dominic Thiem, Hyeon Chung, Karen Khachanov; women: Venus Williams
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae, Virgin megastores or call 800 86 823
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Specs%3A%202024%20McLaren%20Artura%20Spider
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Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
World Series
Game 1: Red Sox 8, Dodgers 4
Game 2: Red Sox 4, Dodgers 2
Game 3: Saturday (UAE)
* if needed
Game 4: Sunday
Game 5: Monday
Game 6: Wednesday
Game 7: Thursday
Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
INDIA'S%20TOP%20INFLUENCERS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBhuvan%20Bam%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fbhuvan.bam22%2F%3Fhl%3Den%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EInstagram%3C%2Fa%3E%20followers%3A%2016.1%20million%3Cbr%3EBhuvan%20Bam%20is%20a%2029-year-old%20comedian%20and%20actor%20from%20Delhi%2C%20who%20started%20out%20with%20YouTube%20channel%2C%20%E2%80%9CBB%20Ki%20Vines%E2%80%9D%20in%202015%2C%20which%20propelled%20the%20social%20media%20star%20into%20the%20limelight%20and%20made%20him%20sought-after%20among%20brands.%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EKusha%20Kapila%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fkushakapila%2F%3Fhl%3Den%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EInstagram%3C%2Fa%3E%20followers%3A%203.1%20million%3Cbr%3EKusha%20Kapila%20is%20a%20fashion%20editor%20and%20actress%2C%20who%20has%20collaborated%20with%20brands%20including%20Google.%20She%20focuses%20on%20sharing%20light-hearted%20content%20and%20insights%20into%20her%20life%20as%20a%20rising%20celebrity.%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDiipa%20Khosla%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fdiipakhosla%2F%3Fhl%3Den%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EInstagram%3C%2Fa%3E%20followers%3A%201.8%20million%3Cbr%3EDiipa%20Khosla%20started%20out%20as%20a%20social%20media%20manager%20before%20branching%20out%20to%20become%20one%20of%20India's%20biggest%20fashion%20influencers%2C%20with%20collaborations%20including%20MAC%20Cosmetics.%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EKomal%20Pandey%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fkomalpandeyofficial%2F%3Fhl%3Den%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EInstagram%3C%2Fa%3E%20followers%3A%201.8%20million%3Cbr%3EKomal%20Pandey%20is%20a%20fashion%20influencer%20who%20has%20partnered%20with%20more%20than%20100%20brands%2C%20including%20Olay%20and%20smartphone%20brand%20Vivo%20India.%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENikhil%20Sharma%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fnikkkhil%2F%3Fhl%3Den%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EInstagram%3C%2Fa%3E%20followers%3A%201.4%20million%3Cbr%3ENikhil%20Sharma%20from%20Mumbai%20began%20his%20online%20career%20through%20vlogs%20about%20his%20motorcycle%20trips.%20He%20has%20become%20a%20lifestyle%20influencer%20and%20has%20created%20his%20own%20clothing%20line.%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%20Hireinfluence%2C%20various%3C%2Fem%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
JAPAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Sho Sasaki, Hiroki Sakai, Sei Muroya, Genta Miura, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Midfielders: Toshihiro Aoyama, Genki Haraguchi, Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Shoya Nakajima, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Ritsu Doan
Forwards: Yuya Osako, Takuma Asano, Koya Kitagawa
The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Power: 300hp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: Dh189,900
On sale: now
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
WISH
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Chris%20Buck%2C%20Fawn%20Veerasunthorn%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ariana%20DeBose%2C%20Chris%20Pine%2C%20Alan%20Tudyk%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
