Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) was introduced to audiences as a battle-hardened rebel in Gareth Edwards’ 2016 Star Wars film, Rogue One. Cassian, Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), and several others would go on to sacrifice themselves to deliver the Death Star plans to everyone’s favorite rebel princess, Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), in A New Hope.
Years later, audiences would be treated to a series created by Tony Gilroy, director of spy hits like The Bourne Identity, to show how Cassian became that man. Andor was met with universal acclaim; it also gave audiences a different perspective on the sacrifices Cassian had to endure to become the man we see in Rogue One — including the loss of friends, allies, and loved ones, such as his partner, Bix Caleen (Adria Arjona).
However, in the early days of Andor’s production — and long before Gilroy was on the scene — the original concept of Andor and Cassian’s partner-in-crime/love interest was, in fact, very different.
As revealed in The Art of Andor, the official behind-the-scenes companion book for the 2022-2025 Star Wars series, the original plan for Andor was based on outlines by writer-director Jared Bush. Bush is best known for his work on animated films such as Zootopia, Encanto, and Moana.
Described as a spy drama, Bush’s vision for the show would follow Cassian and a group of rebels as they infiltrate the Empire, which, according to the brief, would use “Cold War-style spycraft.” K-2SO, Cassian’s partner in Rogue One, would have played a bigger role than he does in Andor.
However, alongside the reveal of new planets and ideas that never came to fruition, Bush’s original Andor bible highlights a character who would play a vital role in Cassian’s life and mission: a young, alien woman named Avnee.
According to Bush’s series bible for Andor, in an entry dated August 3, 2018, Cassian’s main relationship, apart from K-2SO, is with “a non-allegiant mercenary named Avnee who lives on Okara, obtaining and selling intel to the highest bidder. Cassian and Avnee have a history that was probably romantic.”
Blue-eyed, blue-skinned, and with silvery-blonde hair, it’s unknown if Avnee was supposed to be Chiss like Grand Admiral Thrawn or another species altogether. What remains clear, however, is that she would serve as an informant for Cassian and his crew, while also having no real loyalty to anyone — as expected of an information broker.
Outside of Bush’s description of her, we don’t know much else about Avnee. Yet, from what we’re able to put together, it’s clear that some aspects of the alien have come to light in Gilroy’s version of Andor, such as Avnee having a history with Cassian. In the first season of Andor, Cassian and Bix’s relationship is strained and fraught, but full of history as past lovers. Yet, unlike Avnee, Bix has strong convictions and has always been staunchly supportive of the Rebellion.
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While Bush’s version of Andor will never come to pass, it’s an interesting look at how different Cassian’s relationship with Avnee might have been compared with his relationship with Bix. Would it perhaps have been more interesting to see Cassian, someone who strongly believes in the Rebellion, fall for someone whose ideals don’t match his own? We’ll never know, but it opens up a realm of possibilities for other spin-off Star Wars material to explore if we ever return to the world of Andor.
