Star Wars: Andor's Andy Serkis Gives Hopeful Look At Kino Loy's Future

Andy Serkis became an almost instant fan-favorite when he appeared as the gruff prison factory foreman Kino Loy in Tony Gilroy's Star Wars: Andor. But given his uncertain final appearance, viewers have wondered about his future in the series. Luckily, Serkis has some optimistic words for those still keen on Kino.

The fate of Kino Loy was left open, as he was last seen hesitant to jump into the water along with his fellow escaping prisoners due to his inability to swim. His heartbreaking delivery of "I can't swim" turned the triumphant moment into one of bittersweet tears for fans of the new Star Wars character, prompting many to assume (or at least hope) that he somehow survived. While the show continued to follow Diego Luna's titular character Cassian Andor from that point, many viewers' hearts remained broken in half, with one piece stranded on board that floating prison along with Serkis' tragic figure.

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But it looks like those hopes may be on to something, as Serkis recently spoke with Entertainment Weekly about the character's potential future in the Star Wars franchise. "Well, there weren't really many discussions about the afterlife of Kino," he said of Kino's future before finally revealing something fans have been desperately wondering about. "All that we do know is that he survives. I mean, we don't see him die. We see him left for a further life of the character. But before that, there were no discussions at all about [what] might happen afterward. I was just excited enough about the arc that I had to play, which was a really beautifully crafted illustration of a man who has a belief system that gets broken that then has nothing to believe in, that then gets kind of reignited by someone who inspires him to find himself again, and then self-sacrifices."

So there's that, at least. Kino is alive, according to Serkis. But what that means for the Star Wars character is anyone's guess. Still, he had a good time with the role. Serkis even helped develop his character, making the experience all the more fulfilling for him. "So it was a really extraordinary journey to go on within a prison setting, and a very sterile prison setting — quite a heartfelt journey considering the environment that they're in," he continued. "But that's the brilliance about Tony Gilroy's writing. He provides these environments for characters to thrive and survive in. And you learn about their internal journey, their psychology, their complexities and flaws in response to the world that they're in."

Interestingly, Serkis was hesitant to join Andor due to possible theories about Snoke, the villain he'd previously played in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. After Snoke was shockingly revealed not to be the big bad many assumed he was, audiences were divided on the character and began to speculate on whether there was still more to him. It's a good thing Serkis ultimately decided to accept the role of Kino because he's been one of the most universally praised aspects of recent Star Wars productions.

It almost might be better if Kino doesn't come back because Star Wars tends to have a problem with certain characters arguably overstaying their welcome. Leaving audiences wanting more can be preferable to leaving them with regret. Besides, Serkis has expressed interest in directing a Star Wars movie, so there are always plenty of ways for him to stay involved. Andor season 2 already finished filming before the SAG-AFTRA strike began, so there's still plenty to look forward to, even without Kino.

Star Wars: Andor season 1 is available to stream on Disney Plus.

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Source: Entertainment Weekly