The newly revealed Lego Star Wars lineup for 2026 leans heavily into The Mandalorian and Grogu, which isn’t surprising given the film’s profile. Still, that focus highlights a conspicuous omission: Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor and his world are largely absent from the recent wave of licensed sets. In a year when Andor earned substantial critical praise, it’s baffling that Lego hasn’t leaned into the show the way it has for other modern Star Wars properties.
From the outset, George Lucas understood how closely Star Wars and toys are intertwined. Child-friendly entries like The Clone Wars and Rebels—plus the enduring appeal of starships and iconic helmets such as Boba Fett’s and Darth Vader’s—have shaped most Lego Star Wars releases. Yet Andor, despite its mature storytelling and devoted fanbase, hasn’t received the same merchandising attention that series like The Mandalorian or Obi-Wan Kenobi have enjoyed.
There are obvious opportunities for sets drawn directly from Andor’s first two seasons. Imagine a model of the haulercraft used in the Aldhani heist, or a detailed build of Luthen Rael and Kleya Marki’s Galactic Antiquities and Objects of Interest—complete with hidden Easter eggs for longtime fans. Even smaller scenes would translate well: a Ghorman café diorama featuring Vel, Cinta, Syril and Cassian would be a perfect, nostalgia-driven kit.
Image: LegoGiven Andor’s strong reviews and awards recognition, Disney’s reluctance to expand the show’s merchandising footprint feels less like an oversight and more like a strategic choice. Its accolades suggest there’s demand, but licensing decisions clearly balance more than just critical esteem.
It’s understandable that Lego and Disney prioritize properties with broad appeal to children; those audiences reliably drive toy sales. Still, the franchise will mark its 50th anniversary in 2027, and a sizeable portion of the Star Wars community consists of adults who grew up with the saga. Andor proved there’s appetite for mature, character-driven storytelling—an audience that also happens to have buying power. Targeting them with premium, nostalgia-forward Lego sets could be profitable as well as satisfying for fans.
There’s another practical consideration: while critics and dedicated viewers applauded Andor, its viewership numbers never matched some of the franchise’s more mainstream TV entries. Season 2 saw a ratings bump—partly because Disney+ experimented with releasing three episodes at once each week—but it still didn’t reach blockbuster streaming figures. That may explain Disney’s measured approach to merchandising the show. Even so, if I were steering a franchise with billions at stake, I’d be tempted to capitalize on Andor’s goodwill—yes, even if that meant finally releasing a Ferrix uprising set for collectors.
Source: Polygon
