Andor Creator Explains Why the Jedi and the Force Are Absent in the Show

Andor is turning out to be one of the most critically praised Star Wars materials out there, but some fans can’t help but ask—Where are the Jedi? Or at least, why haven’t people been talking about them?

As it turns out, the people in the series just don’t know about them. This was confirmed by showrunner Tony Gilroy in an interview with Collider, Gilroy confirms:

“That’s one of the first things I asked. And you know what? Most people don’t know. I don’t think anybody on Ferrix knows anything about it. I don’t think so.”

I guess it does make sense that a lot of planets outside of the Republic would have no idea what the Jedi are. Even by the time of A New Hope, a seasoned character like Han Solo doesn’t believe that they existed. It only doesn’t help in the lore that the Empire had tried their best to stamp out any evidence that the Jedi were ever real.

Then again, we could probably be sure that characters who are active in the capital of Coruscant are well aware that Jedi are a thing, but I guess mentioning them doesn’t really do any help for the story of Mon Mothma or Luthen. “I think the vast majority of all of the creatures and beings and sentient things that are in the galaxy, I think the knowledge of the Jedi and the lightsaber is a pretty small number,” says Gilroy.

For now, you can watch out for the Andor finale on Disney+ this Wednesday.