Kino Loy

In 5 BBY, with two hundred forty-nine days left before his scheduled release, Loy was formally introduced to "Keef Girgo," a new prisoner assigned to work in Five-Two-D. Loy proceeded to explain the operational structure of the tables and levels before assigning Keef to his designated spot at Table Five, where he would work alongside Jemboc, Xaul, Taga, Ulaf, Ham, and Ruescott Melshi.

Subsequently, Loy directed Jemboc to familiarize Keef with the layout of their cells. The prisoners then expressed interest in learning more about the Public Order Resentencing Directive, an Imperial law implemented in response to rebel activity on the planet of Aldhani, which effectively doubled the prisoners' sentences. However, Melshi argued to Keef that sentence length was irrelevant, as the Empire would likely keep them imprisoned indefinitely. Angered by Melshi's pessimism, Loy silenced him, ultimately pinning him against a wall. Afterward, Loy and the other prisoners returned to their respective cells.

Thirty-one shifts later, Loy and his cell block were awakened during the night by Veemoss, a prisoner who exited his cell and committed suicide. Loy instructed the other prisoners to return to sleep.

After Ulaf's health declined due to his advanced age and the demanding workload, he suffered a severe stroke. While Loy and Andor awaited the arrival of Rhasiv, one of the prison's medical officers, it was revealed that Loy had affectionately nicknamed the older man "Uli." Upon Rhasiv's arrival and subsequent euthanasia of Ulaf, he informed Loy that no prisoners had been released since the P.O.R.D. was enacted. This revelation solidified Kino's feelings of helplessness, ultimately leading him to assist Andor in escaping the prison.

At the commencement of the following shift, Loy informed the other prisoners that the rumors regarding Level 2 were indeed true and that no one would be released, making escape the only viable option. While the prisoners feigned work, Andor utilized a wrench to sever a water pipe, mirroring a previous attempt. This action triggered a flood. As the guards dispatched a new officer to the floor, Andor used the wrench to disable the elevator, and Loy instructed the other prisoners to initiate an attack. With the guards overwhelmed, the prisoners, including Loy, armed themselves with tools from their tables and engaged in combat. The guards attempted to utilize the metallic floors as a weapon, but the water caused them to short-circuit. Loy and the other prisoners eliminated the guards and departed from Unit Five-Two-D.

As the rebellion spread throughout the prison, Loy and Andor managed to reach the command center, where they forced the crew to shut down the prison's hydro-generators. Loy then used the intercom to address his fellow prisoners, urging them to escape, even if it meant sacrificing their lives in the process. He emphasized the importance of mutual support and assistance. Loy's message resonated throughout the facility, prompting all the inmates to converge at the top of the prison complex, while the remaining guards sought refuge in fear. The prisoners then leaped into the sea, hoping to reach the distant shores. Loy hesitated, revealing to Andor his inability to swim. As Loy retreated from the edge in resignation, Cassian was accidentally pushed into the water by another inmate.

In his role as floor manager, Kino Loy often displayed a cold and direct demeanor towards the inmates, prioritizing efficiency and order within his unit. He exhibited impatience when addressing incidents caused by inmates under his supervision, frequently resorting to physical violence. To maintain his strict and orderly persona, Loy suppressed his emotions and desires, aiming to avoid complications until his eventual release.

Upon learning that no prisoners were actually being released from the complex, Loy finally allowed himself to entertain the possibility of escape. During his intercom address to the other inmates, Loy not only encouraged them to strive for their own freedom but also to assist their fellow prisoners along the way.

Loy was incapable of swimming.

Kino Loy first appeared in "Narkina 5," the eighth installment of the first season of Tony Gilroy's live-action Disney+ series Andor, which premiered on October 26, 2022. He was brought to life by Andy Serkis, who had previously portrayed Supreme Leader Snoke in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Bradley Farmer served as the stunt double for the character in the later episode "One Way Out," which was released on November 9 of that year.

According to writer Beau Willimon, the character of Loy was conceived from the ground up in the writers' room for Andor Season 1, with his story evolving around the concept of someone initially embracing the system. The writers envisioned the character as the embodiment of the prison from the prisoners' perspective. Loy's character arc was then developed to illustrate the transformation of an "automaton" of the system into a rebel, serving as a catalyst for Cassian Andor's journey. While Serkis was not specifically in mind during the initial writing process, Willimon and his team aimed to create a character that could be portrayed by a prominent guest actor, capable of headlining three episodes as the face of the Narkina-5 prison. The final character, in its written form, garnered significant interest from individuals like Willimon and producer Sanne Wohlenberg, who began brainstorming potential casting choices. Willimon admitted uncertainty as to whether Loy's "I can't swim" line originated in the writers' room or emerged later during the outline and script development stages. He speculated that the line arose from their emotional approach to storytelling. The writers considered the most devastating outcome for Loy's journey, which ultimately became his inability to escape after leading the prisoners to the water.

Serkis recounted that Gilroy, whom he admired and respected as a storyteller, approached him about playing Loy, but Gilroy was uncertain if he would accept the role. Serkis was subsequently cast as Loy. His previous role as Snoke did not influence his casting. Excited about returning to Star Wars, Serkis appreciated the complexity and fulfillment of the character's story. He was also aware of the potential for renewed speculation surrounding his previous character, Snoke, and the possibility of fans drawing connections between the two individuals. This was Serkis' only reservation about returning to Star Wars. He was captivated by the opportunity to portray someone diametrically opposed to Snoke, showcasing the human perspective of someone grappling with the Empire's oppression. One of Serkis' motivations for accepting the role was the chance to act alongside Diego Luna, who played Cassian Andor. After addressing what he termed "the Snoke-theory quagmire," Serkis readily committed to the role.

Serkis expressed his deep affection for his character. After receiving Gilroy's pitch and reading the scripts for the three-episode arc, Serkis developed his own backstory for Loy, contemplating how the character became a prisoner and eventually a manager. He imagined Loy as a family man, a factory worker, a shop steward, and a foreman who championed worker's rights. This perceived rebelliousness led to his imprisonment. Loy lost touch with his compassion in prison, becoming a hardened version of his former self, focused solely on survival and returning to his family. Serkis envisioned the backstory as illustrating how the Empire eroded Loy's integrity. The actor believed that Loy had been brainwashed by the prison system, yet he remained aware of the injustice of his imprisonment. Serkis viewed Andor as a catalyst for reigniting Loy's desire to help others. Serkis found the gradual unification of Loy and Andor, and Loy's rediscovery of his voice, to be compelling. He believed that Loy's initial toughness was intentionally designed to gradually break down as the character rediscovered himself.

Serkis was unconcerned about sounding like Snoke. During one of the rehearsals, the actor experimented with his father's subtle Middle Eastern accent, which he found grounded and effective. However, it was ultimately decided that the accent would complicate matters and was not a suitable fit. Director Toby Haynes and the crew preferred that each actor use their own accent to enhance realism, so the accent was abandoned in favor of Serkis' natural accent. Serkis also sought to find the appropriate tonal quality for Loy's class level. According to Wohlenberg, the scenes in the Narkina-5 prison were the last to be filmed for Andor Season One. Serkis referenced the films The Shawshank Redemption and Cool Hand Luke on set, but the actors were prohibited from bringing any personal items.

Serkis and the actors would walk barefoot on metal plates, which proved physically draining. Serkis noted that the costume design, prison attire, and the set had a psychological impact, stripping away his sense of identity. He found the set design to be exceptional, creating the feeling of being in a bizarre experiment. For many scenes, Serkis and other barefoot actors played characters who would spend hours waiting in long tubes within the prison. Serkis likened the experience to entering a large test tube due to the unpleasant odor within the tubes. Serkis and the actors were forced to stand due to the lack of private space, which contributed to his feeling of incarceration. Serkis enjoyed his time filming, as well as his collaborations with Haynes and Diego Luna. Serkis appreciated performing the line "never more than twelve," which he considered a beautifully written transitional moment for Loy. The actor surmised that Loy struggled to deliver the rousing speech in the episode "One Way Out" because he knew he could not escape the prison by swimming. Serkis believed that Loy had a compelling arc, and he relished the opportunity to embark on a journey with his character.