Sam Witwer recently revealed that Star Wars needs creative risks, citing Andor as proof that experimentation strengthens the franchise. In a franchise as vast and long-running as Star Wars, every new entry arrives under intense scrutiny from fans who expect both familiarity and innovation. That tension between tradition and experimentation has shaped some of the saga’s most debated chapters. But as the galaxy continues to expand across films and television, voices within the franchise are increasingly pointing toward one key ingredient for its future: creative risk-taking.

That conversation naturally leads to one of the most acclaimed recent additions to the Star Wars universe, Andor, a series that challenged expectations of what a Star Wars story could look and feel like.

Actor Sam Witwer has been vocal about the importance of creative experimentation in keeping Star Wars fresh and meaningful. Speaking at Pause for Thought, GameRant’s premiere video podcast, he emphasized that not every bold decision will land with audiences, but that’s exactly the point of artistic evolution.

“At the end of the day, it's all about risk-taking, and I think as audience members [and] as a fan myself, I accept that if you’re taking swings, it means that [you’re] not gonna connect with everything ... but you have to [take risks]," he said. 

Sam Witwer’s perspective highlights a growing sentiment among creators and fans alike: stagnation is a greater threat to Star Wars than occasional misfires. Without experimentation, the franchise risks losing the very spark that made it culturally iconic in the first place.

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That idea becomes even clearer when looking at how Andor broke away from traditional Star Wars storytelling while still feeling deeply rooted in its universe.

Long before Andor redefined tonal expectations, earlier Star Wars projects were already sparking debate about creative direction. Speaking on the Class Clown podcast ( via Variety), Peter Serafinowicz, who voiced Darth Maul in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, reflected on his mixed feelings about his experience in the franchise.

"The design of it… I wasn't that into it," Serafinowicz said of Maul's Dathomir look on Pause for Thought. "When I saw the film, it was the biggest disappointment of my life at that point. It really was."

He also recalled an awkward exchange with George Lucas during the production period, underscoring how creative decisions, even from the highest levels, can be divisive in real time. Yet history has shown how these once-controversial choices often evolve into defining elements of the saga. Darth Maul, despite early criticism, became one of the most iconic villains in Star Wars history, later re-emerging across The Clone Wars and other projects.

That same trajectory of risk leading to reinvention is what Witwer points to when praising Andor, a series that may have initially surprised audiences but ultimately expanded the emotional and narrative boundaries of the galaxy far, far away. From divisive design choices to genre-shifting storytelling, Star Wars has always grown through experimentation. As Sam Witwer suggests, the franchise’s future depends on its willingness to take similar leaps, even if not every swing connects. In that sense, Andor may not just be a standout series, but a blueprint for what comes next.

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Do you agree with Sam Witwer that creative risks like Andor are essential for the future of Star Wars? Let us know in the comments!