Things go from bad to worse for Cassian in today's episode of Andor, with the future Rebel finding himself in the bleakest prison possible on Narkina 5.
Oddly clinical, we learn that this is one of many floating factories the Empire has created, though the guards don't require weapons. Instead, there are devices beneath the floor that dole out an instant dose of pain to anyone who misbehaves or doesn't pull their weight creating whatever these components are.
The biggest shocker, however, comes when we meet the prisoner who has been tasked with overseeing just one small part of this "workforce." It's Andy Serkis, the actor who played Supreme Leader Snoke in the Star Wars sequel trilogy!
He's a character called Kino Loy, so is this a Snoke origin story? Not quite.
Talking to Vanity Fair, Serkis confirmed this is a new character unrelated to the fallen leader of the First Order. "It's a difficult one because I'm sure that's exactly what people will think," the actor says of inevitable speculation he might be the Snoke prototype or something along those lines. "And why would they think other? I was a bit confused as to whether to do it or not, but it was purely because I love Rogue One."
"I truly loved the grounding of that film in a world which felt both real and yet still felt epic. Also, I'm getting to play a character at the opposite end of the spectrum of a highly powerful Supreme Leader. [Kino Loy] is someone who is a real person in this world."
"What I imagined of Kino's backstory, before he was in prison, was that he was a union leader," Serkis continued. "He's used to working as a foreman. I wanted him to come from a place where he was put in prison for, perhaps, standing up for workers' rights, and then put into a position of authority because that's what he does. He is a natural leader."
"But he really just wants to serve his time. He's got a family. He wants to get out and get back, and assumes that that's going to happen after his incarceration."
While we're sure some fans will wonder if Kino falls into the Empire's hands and becomes a basis for the "Snoke" clone that was controlled by Emperor Palpatine, we'd say that's pretty unlikely!
Regardless, this is a cool, albeit somewhat confusing, cameo for Andor. With Cassian still in prison by the time the episode ends, we expect to see more of Serkis' Kino next Wednesday...