The Star Wars franchise has always pushed the boundaries of technology, but The Volume has been a total game-changer. First utilised on the set of The Mandalorian, it allows Lucasfilm to digitally create backgrounds while shooting is taking place. That means no more green screens for actors, and the video wall even moves as the camera does.
That makes it more than just a simple background, and The Book of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi similarly used it to create ultra-realistic surroundings for these characters in a Galaxy Far, Far Away (it was also utilised by Taika Waititi for Thor: Love and Thunder).
Thus far, The Volume - which is also known as StageCraft - has been part of every Star Wars TV series on Disney+, but that looks set to change with Andor.
"Yep, we’re old-school" Head Writer Tony Gilroy told Empire Online, confirming they build sets and shot on location for the Rogue One spinoff. "We didn’t use StageCraft at all."
Andor star Diego Luna adds, "As an actor, it’s beautiful. Everything is mechanical. You’re interacting with real stuff." Fiona Shaw, meanwhile, notes: "My character’s house is built from parts of old spaceships. I used to go out and just stare at it. Breathtaking."
Luna does acknowledge that this practical approach has some downsides, though. "In Pitlochry, Scotland, we had to walk for hours up a mountain to set up one shot. Huge effort. Really dangerous to get there. All you can see around you is sky, trees, rivers, lakes. Amazing! Like being on another planet."
Andor explores a new perspective from the Star Wars galaxy, focusing on Cassian Andor’s journey to discover the difference he can make. The series brings forward the tale of the burgeoning rebellion against the Empire and how people and planets became involved.
It’s an era filled with danger, deception and intrigue where Cassian will embark on the path that is destined to turn him into a rebel hero.
The first three episodes of the show premiere on Disney+ on September 21.