While speaking on the red carpet to Business Insider last month, Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy was casually discussing the Disney Plus show's second season when he dropped some napalm for the Star Wars universe. At first, he was meant in jest, then he doubled down.
According to his supposition, Lucasfilm and Disney have a Star Wars horror project in development. The outlet asked him about whether he would like to be involved in a potential horror project in the Star Wars galaxy and he simply replied:
"They're doing that. I think they're doing that. I think that's in the works, yeah."
Is this a scary idea or will it be a definite Fright Show?
For decades, Star Wars enthusiasts and rabid fans alike have wanted to see just how dark the Dark Side could get. Darth Vader and Sheev Palpatine carried the scares for years. The making of Anakin created some visceral jumps, but it was a fantasy space Western. Nothing about Star Wars has ever been truly "horror" worthy, but that has been on the holiday wish list for millions of people.
Gilroy made one of the most underrated series or storylines in the history of Star Wars. Andor was set to be a prequel of sorts for 2016's Rogue One. It was critically acclaimed, earning lovely ratings, and who knew Cassian Andor could carry an entire series?
Three years later, there is no doubt he carried this second and final season. In a way, it was one of the best things to happen to the fabled franchise. There were no leanings on a Skywalker or even the Force. The series showed it could live past the Anakins, Lukes, Leias, and Chewies of the galaxy.
The success of Andor and the compelling acting of Diego Luna validates the opinions of Tony Gilroy. He knows how to tell a story and make Star Wars matter. Although he was vague about details and admitting he didn't even know if it was a TV or movie project, the idea of a Star Wars horror movie is so enticing.
Following the story, it could be assumed that someone from Lucasfilm and Disney called the respected filmmaker and told him to fix the disturbance in this force. He did. "I'm agnostic about what should be done," he said to BI. "I was riffing on the thing where I said, 'Oh, do a three-camera comedy,' so I was riffing. Sometimes riffing doesn't work with the 'Star Wars' community."
Fortunately, there's already a horror pro who has expressed interest joining the community.
Mike Flanagan would be a great director for a Star Wars horror
Mike Flanagan has made an indellible impression among horror fans with films like Doctor Sleep (long-awaited sequel to The Shining), Oculus, Before I Wake, and the Netflix catalog of The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, The Haunting of Bly Manor, and the thrilling Hush.
While making all those films to keep fans on the edge of their seats, the director shared in 2021 that he wanted to make a Star Wars horror movie—again, in 2021! That is when he tweeted something that shook fans down to their cosplay. "Got woken up by the earthquake this morning, sat there for a few minutes just thinking, 'I'd really love to make a horror movie in the STAR WARS universe..."
The tweet was deleted within hours, but four hours later, it has never been forgotten. And now, what if it is happening?! He would be so welcomed to helm a real Star Wars horror movie. After all, Flanagan is already getting to tiptoe into another universe
The horror legend penned the script for DC Studios' upcoming Clayface movie. Though he won't be directing, there is a lot of anticipation to see what the DC horror movie will look like.
In comics, Clayface is gruesome and given a lens of something terrifying, like Flanagan's mind, this could be a revelation. Gunn is giving him the keys to the kingdom. Imagine if Mickey Mouse did the same thing with Star Wars.
Darth Nihilus. Mother Talzin. Darth Malgus. 0-0-0. Even show what Maul could really do. Talk about a franchise resurrection from the dead. Flanagan has the power to do make it happen.