‘Andor’ Earns 14 Emmy Nominations, But Major Acting Snubs Stir Outcry

In a year where genre television dominated the Emmy conversation, Andor stood tall with an impressive 14 nominations at the 77th Annual Emmy Awards. The critically acclaimed Star Wars series, created by Tony Gilroy, landed nods across a wide range of categories—including the coveted Outstanding Drama Series—making it the third most-nominated Star Wars show ever, behind the first two seasons of The Mandalorian.

The 2025 Emmy nominations were a celebration of science fiction, fantasy, and superhero fare. Severance led with 27 nominations, followed by The Penguin with 24, and The Last of Us with 16. Andor secured sixth place overall, outpacing several other high-profile shows. Genre heavyweights like The Acolyte, House of the Dragon, Black Mirror, The Boys, Agatha All Along, and even Dune: Prophecy all scored nominations, underscoring a trend toward recognition of speculative storytelling.

Among Andor's accolades were nods for its production design, cinematography, visual effects, costumes, music composition, and editing. Particularly notable were nominations for Outstanding Directing, Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series, and Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for “We Are the Ghor,” written by Tony Gilroy and Nicholas Britell. The guest acting categories offered the show’s only representation for its cast: Forest Whitaker received a nomination for his portrayal of Saw Gerrera, and Alan Tudyk earned one for voice-over performance as K-2SO.

However, the glaring absence of lead actors Diego Luna and Genevieve O’Reilly from the acting categories drew sharp responses from fans and creators alike. In an interview with Deadline, Gilroy expressed disappointment, calling their performances “epic, long-term character studies” that deserve recognition beyond awards seasons. He emphasized that their work over 24 episodes would be “celebrated and discussed for years to come.”

Had Luna received a nomination, he would have made Emmy history as part of the first instance of two Latino actors being nominated for Best Actor in a Drama Series in the same year—alongside Pedro Pascal for The Last of Us. That missed milestone deepened the sting of Luna’s snub and sparked broader discussions about representation and recognition in awards culture.

Despite the acting omissions, Gilroy remained proud of the show’s overall success and the industry acknowledgment for his crew, particularly production designer Luke Hull and costume designer Michael Wilkinson, who were previously overlooked for Andor's first season.

Looking ahead, Gilroy revealed that his focus has shifted—at least for now—from Star Wars to an original film project titled Behemoth!, a movie about the world of film scoring starring Oscar Isaac. While he’s not ruling out more Star Wars stories in the future, he admitted it’s “not on the menu right now.”

For Andor, the Emmy recognition is a testament to its ambitious storytelling and cinematic approach to television. Though not every key player received the spotlight, the show’s legacy appears secure—both within the Star Wars galaxy and the halls of television history.