**‘Andor’ Almost Featured an F-Bomb, But Lucasfilm Nixed It**
*Andor*, the acclaimed *Star Wars* series, is scheduled to return for its second and concluding season on April 22 on Disney+. Renowned for its adult-oriented narrative, the series has broken new ground—not only in its themes but also in its language.
A newly released [season 1 recap video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/VOfBli5P7fs) emphasizes this, showcasing several mentions of the Empire’s “bastards.” The show made its mark with the [initial use of “shit” in the *Star Wars* universe](https://www.cbr.com/swear-word-first-andor-star-wars/). Yet, one moment in the season finale nearly pushed the envelope even further.
In one of *Andor*’s most poignant scenes, Maarva (Fiona Shaw), the adoptive mother of Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), delivers an impassioned posthumous address via hologram, imploring the residents of Ferrix to “Fight the Empire.” However, according to showrunner Tony Gilroy, the initial script contained a more intense line: *”Fuck the Empire.”*
Gilroy mentioned to *Mashable* that he and his team advocated for keeping the line, convinced it perfectly suited the moment. “That one word… It was always like, ‘Hey, we’re going to include it, it somewhat fits, and here’s our reasoning for it,'” he recounted.
To support his argument, Gilroy even drafted what he referred to as a “legal brief” explaining why the curse was warranted. Nevertheless, Lucasfilm ultimately opted not to include it. Unlike *Star Trek*, which has welcomed stronger language in recent years, *Star Wars* has never featured an f-bomb. Permitting it now could lead to inquiries—like why it had never surfaced in locations such as the Mos Eisley cantina, a notorious “hive of scum and villainy.”
Despite the resistance, Gilroy emphasizes that the interaction with Lucasfilm was respectful rather than adversarial. “It wasn’t a confrontation,” he stated. “It was a conversation, as it should be.” Reflecting on it now, he agrees with their choice.
“The entire experience with Kathy [Kennedy, Lucasfilm president] and Lucasfilm and Disney, right from *Rogue One*… I mean, nobody has ever interfered with us at all,” Gilroy expressed. “The risk they took with us, the way they’ve supported our initiative, it’s remarkable. It’s what every filmmaker aspires to. They’ve been incredible. So yes, they were correct.”
Regarding *Andor* season 2, it remains uncertain how much strong language will be included in the final version. However, one thing is definite—Cassian Andor’s path toward rebellion, and ultimately his destiny in *Rogue One*, will proceed without a single f-bomb.