Development is picking up on the next Star Wars television series that will focus on Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’s rebel operative Cassian Andor. Per Deadline, Disney and Lucasfilm have tapped The Americans executive producer Stephen Schiff as showrunner for the upcoming series.
Schiff will also be one of the series’ executive producers while Jared Bush (Moana) created the project and has written the pilot and series bible. The show will see Rogue One actor Diego Luna reprising his role as rebel spy Cassian Andor in the formative years of the Rebellion. Lucasfilm is in the process of hiring writers for a 2019 production start.
“Going back to the Star Wars universe is very special for me,” said Luna at the time of the series’ announcement. “I have so many memories of the great work we did together and the relationships I made throughout the journey. We have a fantastic adventure ahead of us, and this new exciting format will give us the chance to explore this character more deeply.”
The series is described as “a rousing spy thriller [which will] explore tales filled with espionage and daring missions to restore hope to a galaxy in the grip of a ruthless Empire.” As with The Mandalorian, it is being produced for Disney’s upcoming streaming service Disney+.
While the future of Star Wars films post-Episode IX is unknown, over on the TV front it is alive and well. Not only is Star Wars Resistance currently airing on Disney XD, but Star Wars: The Clone Wars is getting a seventh season revival and The Mandalorian will mark the first live-action Star Wars series to screen. The Mandalorian comes from Jon Favreau and stars Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones), Gina Carano (Deadpool) and the recently cast Nick Nolte (Warrior).