‘Behemoth!’ Wouldn’t Have Been Possible Without ‘Andor’ Success, Says Tony Gilroy
Tony Gilroy says the success of the Star Wars series *Andor* helped persuade Disney to back *Behemoth!*, his first feature film in 14 years. The London Film Festival drama stars Pedro Pascal and is an unconventional project Gilroy says reflects his desire to keep taking creative risks.
Pascal plays Alex Serian, a gifted cellist who returns to Los Angeles after 20 years away to care for his ill mother and revisit the aftermath of an earlier relationship. Eva Victor, Olivia Wilde, Will Arnett, Hank Azaria and Alexa Swinton also star. Pascal learned to play the cello for the role after Oscar Isaac, originally cast as the lead, withdrew.
- *Andor*’s success helped Gilroy secure backing for *Behemoth!*
- Pedro Pascal learned cello for the lead role.
- Oscar Isaac was originally set to star.
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Tony Gilroy is a writer and director known for work on the Bourne films and the Star Wars series Andor. Andor follows Cassian Andor, a future Rebel Alliance fighter, in the years before the events of the first Star Wars film; its success gave Gilroy a prominent role in a major franchise.
Behemoth! is a drama about Alex Serian, a cellist who returns to Los Angeles after two decades away to care for his ill mother and confront parts of his past. Pedro Pascal plays Alex, alongside Eva Victor, Olivia Wilde, Will Arnett, Hank Azaria and Alexa Swinton. The film’s backing illustrates how success on a large franchise can help a filmmaker pursue a more personal project.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The success of Andor gives Disney a reasonable basis for backing Behemoth!: it suggests audiences may respond to Gilroy’s work and can reduce the financial risk of supporting an unconventional drama. Giving an established filmmaker room to take creative risks may also help a studio develop distinctive films and attract strong talent.
The case against
A hit series does not guarantee that a more personal, unconventional feature will find an audience, so using Andor’s success to justify the investment may still expose Disney to substantial commercial risk. A cautious advocate might argue that studios should assess Behemoth! on its own prospects and consider whether backing familiar names diverts resources from other projects.