Andor Actor Says an Entire City Was Built for the Set

CGI is changing as more and more shows, and films implement the use of The Volume. The state-of-the-art soundstage allows for computer-generated environments to be produced on screens on a video wall to further engulf the actors in their scene and create believable imagery for audiences. The technology comes from Industrial Light and Magic, and shows such as The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Obi-Wan Kenobi have all adapted to using it for their respective series. The Volume has become a staple of Disney+, and now it’s being used by more studios on significant productions, including The Batman and Thor: Love and Thunder. Most fans would’ve assumed the upcoming Star Wars series, Andor, would do the same. However, that’s not the case.

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Andor will be filmed with primarily practical sets, giving the series an authentic and distinct look from every other Star Wars project that’s arrived on the streaming platform since The Mandalorian debuted in 2019. During an interview with Collider, Andor actor Adria Arjona (Morbius, True Detective), who plays Bix Caleen, discussed the practical sets created for the show and how she was “mind blown” after seeing the city that was built for them.

“They built an entire city for us, like an entire city. I got lost in it. I remember the first day that I walked on set, and I was in costume already, which was a coincidence. It just happened that was the day that they gave me the tour. I was at a costume fitting and I went over there, and I was mind blown. It was an entire outdoor city that exists. Ferrix exists. It’s not in a studio. It’s not parts of a set that we filmed in studio. It is very much a city. I keep saying three to five city blocks. I could be wrong. And I also could be maybe under, I’m not sure, I’m not good with distances.”

A Practical Set Might Be the Best Option for Andor

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Although a city was built for the set of Andor, there will still be plenty of CGI used in the upcoming Disney+ series. Of course, it’s the galaxy far, far away, so there are sure to be massive spaceships and Imperial Star Destroyers flying around, which can’t be built in real life. However, if the city is created and given a ton of detail, Andor may feel more alive than we’ve seen in any other Star Wars series thus far.

Related: Andor is Influenced By the Bourne Series, Says Creator Tony Gilroy

In addition, it’s become noticeably difficult to film convincing action scenes in a small warehouse surrounded by digital screens. There simply isn’t enough room to make a great chase sequence or fight scene in such a compact space. According to Arjona, a full-fledged city, three to five blocks worth, should allow for a more realistic feel when running around the area compared to The Volume.

Fans can see the final product of the newest Disney+ series, Andor, when it arrives on the streaming giant next month, Sept. 21.

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