Disney+’s Andor Season 2, a compelling prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, brings Cassian Andor’s rebel journey to life with breathtaking real-world settings. The Andor Season 2 filming locations, primarily in the United Kingdom and possibly Spain, include iconic sites like Pinewood Studios and Cruachan Dam. These places create the gritty, immersive worlds of the Galactic Empire and Rebel Alliance. At NetFilming, we dive into where this acclaimed series was filmed, offering fans and filmmakers insights into the locations that shaped its cinematic universe.
About Andor Season 2
Andor Season 2, created by Tony Gilroy, is a 12-episode science-fiction drama that deepens the story of Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), a thief-turned-rebel spy pivotal to the Rebel Alliance. Premiering on Disney+ on April 22, 2025, the season spans four years, culminating in the events of Rogue One. Released in four three-episode batches, it explores the intensifying war against the Galactic Empire through espionage, political intrigue, and personal sacrifice.
The cast includes Genevieve O’Reilly as Mon Mothma, Alan Tudyk as K-2SO, and Stellan Skarsgård as Luthen Rael, delivering powerful performances. Unlike other Star Wars series, Andor emphasizes grounded, human drama, tackling themes of resistance and authoritarianism. Its mature storytelling earned Season 1 critical acclaim, and Season 2 builds on this with richer alien presence and ties to the Death Star’s construction. Filming from November 2022 to February 2024, with reshoots in June 2024, navigated 2023 strikes, ensuring a polished final season that cements Andor as a Star Wars standout.
Primary Filming Locations for Andor Season 2
Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, England
Pinewood Studios, located at Pinewood Road, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, was the cornerstone of Andor Season 2’s production. This renowned studio hosted most interior and controlled exterior scenes, with expansive practical sets for Ferrix’s city streets, Mon Mothma’s Coruscant apartment, and Imperial facilities. Unlike other Star Wars series using LED walls, Andor relied on physical environments, leveraging Pinewood’s 30 studios and backlots for detailed world-building. The studio likely housed scenes of the Death Star’s construction, a key plot element. Since 1936, Pinewood has supported films like Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Harry Potter, making it a fitting choice for Andor’s ambitious vision.
Cruachan Dam, Argyll and Bute, Scotland
The Cruachan Dam, nestled in the scenic Argyll and Bute region of Scotland, played a significant role in Andor Season 2’s exterior scenes. This massive concrete structure, previously used in Season 1 as the Aldhani dam, likely reappeared to represent an industrial or rebel-controlled planet. Its stark, utilitarian design aligns perfectly with the show’s depiction of Imperial-dominated territories, offering a rugged backdrop that requires minimal digital alteration.
The dam’s remote location, surrounded by dramatic hills and reservoirs, enhances the sense of isolation and tension in rebel missions. Filming here faced challenges from Scotland’s unpredictable weather, with rain and wind complicating outdoor shoots. By choosing Cruachan Dam, the production team reinforced Andor’s grounded aesthetic, making it a standout location for scenes of conflict or strategic planning. Its real-world presence adds authenticity, immersing viewers in the Star Wars universe.
Middle Peak Quarry, Derbyshire, England
Middle Peak Quarry in Derbyshire served as a versatile filming location for Andor Season 2, likely depicting Ferrix’s scrapyards or other desolate planetary surfaces. Its rocky, industrial terrain, used in Season 1, was probably expanded to showcase Ferrix’s growing unrest, as seen in trailers with protests and rebellion. The quarry’s barren, rugged landscape mirrors the harsh realities of life under Imperial rule, making it ideal for scenes of resource extraction or rebel sabotage. Located in the Peak District, this site offers a stark, almost alien-like environment that enhances the show’s gritty tone.
Filming in Derbyshire required careful planning due to winter weather and limited daylight, but the quarry’s raw aesthetic justified the effort. Middle Peak Quarry’s inclusion underscores Andor’s commitment to using real locations to ground its science-fiction narrative, creating a tangible sense of place for viewers.
Black Park, Buckinghamshire, England
Black Park, a lush woodland adjacent to Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, provided a natural setting for Andor Season 2. Used in Season 1 for Aldhani’s highlands, its dense forest likely returned to depict rebel hideouts or wilderness scenes. The park’s greenery contrasts sharply with Andor’s urban and industrial settings, emphasizing the rebels’ connection to untamed environments.
Spanning 530 acres, Black Park’s trails and thick foliage offer a versatile backdrop for action sequences or clandestine meetings. Its proximity to Pinewood made it a practical choice, allowing quick transitions between studio and outdoor shoots. Despite challenges like muddy terrain during winter filming, the park’s natural beauty added depth to the show’s visuals. Black Park’s role highlights Andor’s ability to blend real-world locations with sci-fi storytelling, creating immersive scenes that feel both alien and familiar to audiences.
Coryton Refinery, Essex, England
The decommissioned Coryton Refinery in Essex was a key filming location for Andor Season 2, likely representing Imperial facilities or dystopian landscapes. Its vast, metallic structures, used in Season 1 for Narkina 5’s prison, were likely reused for similar oppressive settings, such as Imperial shipyards or labor camps. Located on the Thames Estuary, the refinery’s industrial scale suits scenes of Imperial dominance or rebel infiltration, adding a gritty realism to high-stakes missions.
The site’s sprawling pipelines and towers create an imposing atmosphere, perfect for Andor’s themes of resistance against authoritarianism. Filming here required navigating safety protocols due to the refinery’s industrial nature, but its unique aesthetic made it worth the effort. Coryton Refinery’s inclusion reinforces the show’s commitment to practical locations, grounding the Galactic Empire’s presence in a tangible, real-world environment that resonates with viewers.
Cleveleys Beach, Lancashire, England
Cleveleys Beach in Lancashire offered a striking coastal setting for Andor Season 2, likely used for alien shorelines or fugitive hideouts. Featured in Season 1 for Niamos’ beach scenes, its windswept coast may have returned to depict new planetary settings or moments of reflection for Cassian. The beach’s open landscape, with its sandy shores and crashing waves, contrasts with the show’s industrial locales, adding visual variety to the narrative.
Located near Blackpool, Cleveleys Beach is a popular yet rugged spot, ideal for capturing the isolation of a rebel on the run. Filming here faced challenges from tidal changes and windy conditions, requiring precise scheduling. Its inclusion highlights Andor’s use of diverse UK landscapes to create a rich, immersive galaxy, making Cleveleys Beach a memorable backdrop for fans exploring the series’ locations.
Valencia, Spain
Reports suggest that Valencia, Spain, was a filming location for Andor Season 2, adding a Mediterranean flair to the Star Wars universe. The City of Arts and Sciences, a futuristic cultural complex at the end of Luis GarcÃa Berlanga Street, likely served as a key site. Its sleek, avant-garde architecture, including the Museu de les Ciències PrÃncipe Felipe, suits scenes of advanced Imperial facilities or alien cities.
The complex’s reflective pools and curved structures create a visually striking backdrop, enhancing the show’s sci-fi aesthetic. The production team may have also filmed in Valencia’s Quatre Carreres neighborhood, capturing urban scenes, or at Castillo de Játiva in Xà tiva, whose medieval walls could depict a historical or contested planet. Filming in Spain offered warmer weather and unique landscapes, complementing the UK’s rugged sites. Valencia’s inclusion diversifies Andor’s settings, making it a standout location for pivotal sequences.
Other Potential Filming Locations
Beyond the confirmed UK sites, speculation points to additional locations. Although details are scarce, Wales, with its mountains and castles, could have served as rugged or historical settings. Bristol’s Bank of England building on Wine Street hosted reshoots in June 2024, possibly for Imperial scenes. Greater London’s Lloyd’s Building and Canary Wharf were also considered for urban sequences. These diverse sites reflect Andor’s need for varied backdrops to depict its expansive galaxy.
Production Challenges and Approach
Filming Andor Season 2, from November 2022 to February 2024, faced delays from the 2023 strikes, with reshoots in June 2024. The UK’s weather—rain in Scotland, short winter days in Derbyshire—complicated outdoor shoots, requiring modular sets and tight schedules. Tony Gilroy’s focus on practical sets over CGI, seen in Ferrix’s detailed streets, set Andor apart. Season 2’s increased alien presence, crafted at Pinewood’s creature workshops, addressed Season 1 critiques, enhancing authenticity.
For more on Andor and other productions, visit NetFilming.com for behind-the-scenes insights and filming location guides. Discover the places that bring your favorite stories to life.
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