Disney+ Makes 'Andor' Season 1 Episodes Available for Free

American fantasy series have long leaned into U.K. actors and those from around the Commonwealth to portray various forms of non-Earth-based characters, from Xena: Warrior Princess to the original Star Wars trilogy. The most recent spate stems from Game of Thrones, which seemed to populate the entirety of Westeros from the BBC's A-list. The recent Star Wars revival occurred just as Game of Thrones took off in 2012, so it wasn't surprising that the new films were mostly cast with British actors, even if the material was no better (or worse) than the original trilogy. Nor was it a surprise that the Lucasfilm franchise extended to Disney's streaming service with spinoff TV series. 

But then there was Andor, the first Star Wars series that actually had something to say about our modern political landscape and the banality of evil being the uncaring acts of middle management.

The series is a prequel to a prequel, the events that lead directly to the 2016 film Rogue One, which ended literally with the opening minutes of 1977's A New Hope. Created by Tony Gilroy (who wrote Rogue One) and Diego Luna (who starred as Cassian Andor in the 2016 film), the series is about Luna's thief-turned-rebel spy, occurring over the five-year period before Rogue One, tracing how those trapped in an authoritarian system become radicalized and how rebellions are formed.

Critically acclaimed as the best thing Lucasfilm has ever produced and the first show on Disney+ that was worthy of the prestige TV label, Andor is to Disney+ as Severance is to Apple TV+: the first show that has the potential to become a breakout hit if the oarent company markets it the way one might have an HBO TV series back in the day: taking it from behind the paywall in the weeks proceeding the Season 2 debut, and putting all the resources to make viewers aware of the series to the point that they are driven to check it out.

In Apple TV+'s case, the streaming service followed the old HBO playbook of a "Free Weekend," followed by taking Severance Season 1 and putting it on the free platform Roku, hoping to get people hooked. The choice of Roku was due to Apple TV+ not having any FAST platform or other streaming services in its arsenal. Disney, however, has Hulu (which many Americans still subscribe to without adding Disney+ due to the Hulu+Live feature). 

However, the House of Mouse isn't just putting Andor Season 1 on Hulu for non-Disney+ viewers to stream. It's also put the series' first three episodes on YouTube, the most watched streaming service in the world.

Here's the synopsis for Season 1 and Season 2 of the series:

Andor 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 destined to turn him into a rebel hero.

The second season occurs as the horizon of war draws near and Cassian becomes a key player in the Rebel Alliance. Everyone will be tested and, as the stakes rise, the betrayals, sacrifices and conflicting agendas will become profound.

Mexican-born actor Diego Luna stars as Cassian Andor, surrounded by a bevy of British talent, including (but not limited to!) Anton Lesser (Endeavour), Genevieve O’Reilly (The Fall), Andy Serkis (Lord of the Rings), Denise Gough (Too Close), Fiona Shaw (Baptiste), Joplin Sibtain (Death in Paradise), James McArdle (Playing Nice), Rupert Vansittart (Foyle's War), Gary Beadle (Granchester), Faye Marsay (Adolescence), Alex Ferns (The Irregulars), Varada Sethu (Doctor Who), Kathryn Hunter (The Tragedy of Macbeth), Elizabeth Dulau (Wicked), Alastair Mackenzie (Professor T), Alex Lawther (Howards End), Sule Rimi (The Day of the Jackal), Gershwyn Eustache Jnr (Get Millie Black), Stanley Townsend (The Regime), Ben Miles (The Capture), Duncan Pow (Traces), and Richard Dillane (The Diplomat).

The series also stars Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård and American actors Forest Whitaker and might-as-well-be-British Kyle Soller. You can see from the list why Andor is British enough to fall into our purview, and with the first three episodes streaming free, I heartily recommend checking them out.

Andor Season 1 is streaming with all 12 episodes on Disney+ and the stand-alone version of Hulu. The first three episodes of Season 1 are available on YouTube. Season 2 will also run 12 installments, divided into four "chapters" of three episodes a piece, with the first three debuting on Disney+ on April 22, 2025, and running through the end of May.