Andy Serkis returns to the StarWars universe. The actor breaks down his new Andor character, Kino Loy, in this exclusive Q&A:
Exactly. He doesn't want to ruffle any feathers. He doesn't want to draw attention.Obviously the electrification and the reward system. If you do well, you get flavoring with your food. If you don't do well, you get shocked. They are like rats. They are literally rats in a scientific experiment. So everyone is working just to survive and get through. He's got basically a year left in prison and then he's going to be set free. So he doesn't want anything to upset that.
That's absolutely right. He's been brainwashed into believing that—even though he probably knows deep down that he's been imprisoned unfairly. He sort of cut that part of himself off. He just wants to do time and get out. They act almost like robots. Andor is questioning that. Obviously, he wants to escape, he wants to get out as quickly as possible, so these two are opposing forcesNo, no, no.
These stories are huge metaphors for the world that we live in. They are building these parts for a machine. They're teeny-weenie cogs. They're making parts for something, and they don't even know what it is. But it can only be something that is going to enhance and build up the power of the Empire. They're just drones. You could liken it to lots of situations around the world where people are in servitude or forced labor in order to produce something or other.
It's breaking down human will so that you accept what's given to you. That's why Cassian Andor is such an extraordinary heroic character. It's not like he's a swashbuckling hero. He's someone who understands that you have to stand up for what is right. The individual can make the difference and [this prison] is an environment that makes you think the individual has no chance of changing.