Exploring Political Depth in Pop Culture: Tony Gilroy on ‘Andor’

Presented here is a refined transcript from an episode of the podcast “Interesting Times.” For the full experience, listeners are encouraged to access the original audio via popular platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, and others.

Is It Possible for Pop Culture to Be Both Political and Engaging?

Ross Douthat opens the discussion by reflecting on the current state of American popular culture, noting its stagnation and repetitive storytelling. He emphasizes how dominant franchises like Marvel, despite their success, often lack fresh narratives—except for one standout example.

The Star Wars series ‘Andor’ has distinguished itself by delivering originality within an established universe, captivating both dedicated fans and critics. Its unique approach includes a clear political viewpoint, leaning toward the left, yet it avoids coming across as mere propaganda.

Today’s guest, Tony Gilroy, the showrunner of ‘Andor,’ discusses how he revitalized the Star Wars franchise by blending compelling storytelling with political themes centered on resistance against authoritarianism. The conversation also explores the relationship between art and politics and the possibility of Hollywood producing mature, thought-provoking narratives once again.

Ross Douthat: Welcome to the show, Tony Gilroy.

Tony Gilroy: Thank you, it’s a pleasure to be here.

Douthat: I want to begin by congratulating you on what many critics and viewers regard as one of the most successful Star Wars projects since the original films.