Star Wars’ Andor series transforms Cleveleys cafe into set for Rogue One prequel

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A beachfront cafe in Cleveleys, Lancashire has been transformed for filming of the Star Wars series Andor.

Cafe Cove on the promenade in Cleveleys has been altered for the filming of the upcoming prequel show to the film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

A road closure notice was issued from Lancashire County Council for the North Promenade at Thornton-Cleveleys near the project.

Pinewood Studios declined to confirm to LancsLive that the series was filming in Cleveleys, but a source close to the production revealed that the location was being used for Andor.

The show will focus on Rogue One character Cassian Andor, once again played by Diego Luna, who is a spy for the Rebel Alliance against the Galactic Empire.



A cafe on the Cleveleys promenade has been transformed for the Star Wars series Andor
A cafe on the Cleveleys promenade has been transformed for the Star Wars series Andor

Andor, which is expected on Disney Plus next year, will also star Stellan Skarsgard, Adria Arjona, Fiona Shaw, Denise Gough, Kyle Soller, and Genevieve O’Reilly reprising her role as Rebel Alliance leader Mon Mothma.

Despite previously being confirmed for the show, it was later announced that actor Alan Tudyk will not appear in the initial run of episodes as Andor’s droid ally K-2SO.



Fans of the Star Wars franchise can only speculate what otherworldly location Cleveleys is doubling for
Fans of the Star Wars franchise can only speculate what otherworldly location Cleveleys is doubling for



The promenade has been closed off for the project, which is said to be for the Disney Plus series
The promenade has been closed off for the project, which is said to be for the Disney Plus series

The series is set five years before the events of Rogue One and will consist of 12 episodes.

Filming began in the UK last year for the series, which was originally due to begin filming in 2019 and was then delayed to June 2020 but was delayed once again due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Drone operator and YouTube user Scruffy Diamond showed off drone shots from the location and revealed details about what he observed.



Some futuristic-looking devices are on-show at the beachfront for the project
Some futuristic-looking devices are on-show at the beachfront for the project



Some alien-looking symbols appear on the photographed structure
Some alien-looking symbols appear on the photographed structure

They captioned the footage: “Today has started to get interesting. More trucks have been arriving and dropping off new set pieces including some really cool giant palm trees which I presume are going to be placed either around the Cove Cafe or placed along the prom when shooting other scenes, or maybe both.

“My best guess at this point as to what the Cove Cafe set is going to be is, some kind of market or a village maybe? I wonder why they haven’t brought the other circular set pieces over the road yet, maybe they are not all needed in the Cove Cafe scene or maybe they will come over tomorrow.”



What could this metal shape be standing in for?
What could this metal shape be standing in for?



A coastguard car was also seen as the road nearby the promenade was closed off
A coastguard car was also seen as the road nearby the promenade was closed off

Before filming began last year, star Stellan Skarsgard told The Mirror that the series would have a similar tone to Rogue One, noting: “I’m looking forward to it, it’s very well written.”

Andor will be the next major live-action Star Wars series for Disney Plus, following the success of The Mandalorian, which recently concluded its second season.

As well as The Mandalorian returning for a third run, there are also spin-offs on the way in the form of The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, and Rangers of the New Republic.



The series centres on Cassian Andor, played by Diego Luna, as seen here in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
The series centres on Cassian Andor, played by Diego Luna, as seen here in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

There is also due to be an Obi-Wan Kenobi series starring Ewan McGregor in the title role, along with a series focused on Lando Calrissian and another series set in the time of the High Republic entitled The Acolyte.

The Mirror has reached out to Disney Plus and Lucasfilm for comment on this story.

*Andor will be released on Disney Plus in 2022.

Originally from https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/star-wars-andor-series-transforms-24020474

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