Star Wars Almost Had Its Own Mission: Impossible TV Series

It is widely acknowledged that Andor—the gritty prequel chronicling the rise of Cassian Andor and the nascent Rebel Alliance—is a masterpiece of modern television. Frequently lauded as the pinnacle of Disney’s Star Wars output, the series has garnered profound appreciation from both hardcore fans and skeptical critics.

However, the recently released companion volume, The Art of Andor, pulls back the curtain to reveal that the series’ genesis was radically different from the bleak, character-driven political thriller showrunner Tony Gilroy ultimately delivered.

At its core, the original pitch was designed to solve a central narrative enigma: how did a man as detached and cynical as the Cassian seen in Rogue One evolve into a selfless martyr willing to sacrifice everything to deliver the Death Star plans in A New Hope?

In the spring of 2018, writer-director Jared Bush—renowned for his work on Encanto and Moana—was tasked with outlining the project. Initially titled Star Wars: Alliance and later evolving into Star Wars: Andor Five (internally codenamed “Whitesnake”), his vision was a stark departure from what aired.

“It was framed as a straight-up spy drama, evocative of the original Mission: Impossible television series,” explained lead graphic designer Dominic Sikking. “The premise focused on Cassian and a specialized insurgent cell engaging in Cold War-style espionage to sabotage the Empire.”

When comparing Bush’s treatment to the final product, the Mission: Impossible influence is palpable. Bush envisioned a high-stakes, operation-heavy narrative. While espionage remains a feature of the second season, the first season deliberately opted for a slower, more foundational approach, prioritizing the slow-burn formation of the Axis Network over kinetic spy missions.

Under Bush’s original blueprint, Cassian was already a seasoned intelligence asset for the Rebellion. The inciting incident involved the discovery of an Imperial double agent within the ranks, leading to Cassian being framed for treason. To clear his name, he would have had to embark on a desperate mission to the Imperial world of Okara. Beyond the inclusion of K-2SO and a designated love interest, Avnee, the cast list remained largely a blank slate.

Ultimately, this version was shelved after Tony Gilroy submitted his own pitch to then-Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. Gilroy notes that his proposal was meant as a helpful suggestion rather than a job application, yet it effectively rendered the “Whitesnake” concept a relic of development history.

While I hold Andor’s premiere season in the highest regard as a masterclass in tension and atmospheric storytelling, there is a compelling “what-if” factor to the original pitch. A series built entirely around high-concept, 1960s-style spycraft would have been an intriguing direction. While we likely won’t see this specific iteration come to fruition, one cannot help but wish for a future project that mines these original creative seeds.

Sabine Wren would be proud.

Source: Polygon