Toby Haynes

The director Toby Haynes was responsible for directing several episodes of Andor Season 1, specifically the premiere, second installment, third installment, eighth installment, ninth installment, and tenth installment.

Biography

Throughout his life, Toby Haynes has been an avid follower of Star Wars. In September of 2020, Haynes stepped in for executive producer Tony Gilroy to direct the initial set of episodes for the Andor series. Gilroy stated that each director had a preparation window of three to four months, followed by 55 days for filming. This afforded Haynes more preparation compared to most of his previous endeavors. While Gilroy initially had reservations about Haynes' fandom, Haynes prioritized his role as a dramatist. Gilroy emphasized the need for seamless integration of monsters and droids into the world, avoiding any special introductions. Haynes was taken aback upon learning that his episodes commenced with a brothel and the demise of two cops, a detail he shared with Gilroy, who explained it was intentional to make a statement. When Haynes inquired about lens choices, Gilroy simply conveyed that he trusted Haynes' judgment.

Haynes initially aimed to capture the essence of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, particularly its grounded feel. He appreciated the show's realism and exploration of moral ambiguities. He found Gilroy's exploration of the motivations and ideologies of a rebel fascinating. On his second day, Haynes visited the construction site of Ferrix in Marlow, England, and was struck by the scale of the set. This realization underscored the significant responsibility he held, which he embraced with excitement.

Haynes found the implementation of handheld camera shots to be a welcome change, enabling him to connect with the style and immerse himself in the characters' perspectives. He relished the experience of entering a new set and allowing it to influence his shot composition. Haynes and the team emphasized the importance of actors using their natural accents without softening them, to enhance realism. Gilroy noted that all scenes on Ferrix were filmed first. Haynes and the actors dedicated approximately one month to block shooting scenes on Ferrix for his six episodes. He particularly enjoyed working on the scene that introduces B2EMO on the Ferrix street. The coldest period of the shoot occurred after Christmas. Haynes appreciated working with Diego Luna, who portrayed Cassian Andor, describing him as an insightful, nuanced, and detail-oriented actor.

When depicting the romantic connection between Vel Sartha and Cinta Kaz, Haynes focused on conveying the intended impact of the writing. He ensured that he personally felt the romance, striking a balance between subtlety and boldness. Haynes aimed for the audience to empathize with Dedra Meero and Syril Karn, believing that the most compelling villains are those who believe they are acting justly. He believed that portraying this in a nuanced manner would prompt viewers to contemplate the essence of being a good person. Haynes considered it crucial to challenge the conventional morality of the alliance. He enjoyed collaborating with actor Kyle Soller, appreciating the complexity he brought to his portrayal of Karn. Haynes acknowledged being drawn to the actor, despite the character's inherent lack of appeal.

Haynes regarded Stellan Skarsgård as a brilliant and inventive actor, and his portrayal of Luthen Rael surprised the director. The day before his rehearsal for the episode "Narkina 5," Forest Whitaker, who played Saw Gerrera, contacted Haynes with inquiries about backstory and Kyber crystals. Haynes valued witnessing the initial read-through of the scene between Whitaker and Stellan Skarsgård, Luthen Rael's actor, during the rehearsal. When filming the scene, Haynes aimed to conclude it with a direct, head-on shot of Whitaker following his rant about the alliance's separatist factions. Haynes had Whitaker deliver his speech multiple times to capture the close-up, encouraging him to "go crazy with it" in a scene that the director deemed magical and one of his finest close-ups. Haynes considered working with Whitaker opposite Skarsgård a career highlight.

According to producer Sanne Wohlenberg, the scenes within the Narkina 5 prison were the final ones filmed for Season 1. Haynes described the prison sets as remarkable, noting that it was among the largest indoor sets he had ever encountered. While working on the prison episodes, Haynes walked onto the set barefoot to experience the environment, which evoked a sense of vulnerability. Haynes enjoyed working with Andy Serkis, who played Kino Loy. When Serkis experimented with an Iraqi accent during a rehearsal, Haynes and the team decided to use Serkis' natural accent instead.

In September of 2022, Haynes was present at the Andor launch event held in Hollywood, California. Gilroy expressed his desire for Haynes to return for Season 2, but Haynes was preoccupied with his work on the Black Mirror show. Due to his inability to commit in time, he was unable to participate in the second season.

Filmography

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Notes and references

Appearances