New Star Wars Prequel Is Officially Bringing Back Andor’s Luthen & Kleya

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Andor characters Luthen Rael and Kleya Marki are officially returning to Star Wars in a new prequel.

The popular Star Wars series Andor first presents Luthen, portrayed by Stellan Skarsgård, as a key leader in the fight against the Galactic Empire. While introduced as Luthen’s close ally in season one, season two reveals Elizabeth Dulau’s character, Kleya, as the true mastermind behind his actions. Though Luthen dies by the series’ end, his work continues through Kleya, and both characters’ sacrifices ultimately help establish the Rebel Alliance and lead to the destruction of the first Death Star.

According to io9, Luthen and Kleya are back in the Star Wars universe! They’ll appear in Rebecca Roanhorse’s upcoming novel, Star Wars: Reign of the Empire: Edge of the Abyss, which takes place a year before the events of Andor season one. This new book is a sequel to Alexander Freed’s Reign of the Empire: The Mask of Fear, and continues the story of Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, and Saw Gerrera as they navigate the early days of the Empire and the beginnings of the rebellion.

The cover of the new novel features Luthen, Mon, Bail, Saw, a young Leia Organa, and former Separatist leader Anto Kreegyr. Kleya, Mon’s husband Perrin Fertha, and Nisus Osar – who creates anti-Ghorman propaganda in Andor season 2 – will also appear in the book, though they aren’t on the cover. You can see the cover art and read the official book description below.

Credit: Penguin Random House

This exciting follow-up to The Mask of Fear takes place a year before the events of Andor, and explores how the Empire uses deception as a powerful tool.

It’s been over ten years since the Empire took over, and honestly, life has just… settled into a pattern under their rule. It’s strange, but the Republic feels like a distant dream now, almost like a story from the past that fewer and fewer people actually recall.

In the Senate, Mon Mothma and Bail Organa are losing power as the Emperor’s will completely controls the Empire. Bail begins to concentrate his efforts on secretly aiding the growing resistance, believing that real change must come from outside the government. At the same time, Mon Mothma is shocked to learn just how far the Empire will go to manipulate people’s beliefs and devotion. Their newest target is the younger generation growing up under the Emperor’s rule – including Mon and Bail’s own daughters.

Throughout the galaxy, various rebel groups are isolated, labeled as criminals, and forced to compete with each other. On the planet Ghorman, a hopeful group of students is trying to create positive change, but they don’t know an Imperial spy is working to destroy them from within. Leaders like Saw Gerrera and Anto Kreegyr are constantly arguing and making deals just to survive the overwhelming power of the Empire. Trust is scarce, and betrayal happens quickly. A resistance that’s divided and unorganized is easy for the Empire to defeat. True heroes are rare, and lasting alliances are even rarer.

If one of Gerrera’s followers is captured by the Empire, it’s a race against time for everyone hoping for a brighter future—senators, those living on the fringes of society, spies, and rebels. The captured person holds information that could allow the Empire to crush all opposition, stopping any rebellion before it gains momentum and solidifying the Empire’s control over the entire galaxy.

Because The Mask of Fear happens shortly after the Republic falls and the Empire rises in the Star Wars universe, Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, and Saw Gerrera are just starting to understand the new political landscape and how to fight against the Empire. Edge of the Abyss will show a more coordinated rebellion, thanks to the introduction of Luthen and Kleya, though the official Rebel Alliance and their base on Yavin IV are still years away from becoming a reality.

As a huge Andor fan, I’m so excited about what’s coming in Edge of the Abyss! From what I’ve gathered, it’s going to fill in so many gaps. We’ll finally see how Luthen and Mon first connected and started working together, and get a deeper look at his history with Saw. It’ll also explain why Bail didn’t really trust Luthen, and show all the important, unseen work Kleya was doing. The fact that Kreegyr will be in it makes Saw’s sacrifice in season one even more heartbreaking, knowing their connection. And it’s fascinating that they’re going to explore how different young people react to the Empire – Leia resisting their lies, while Mon and Perrin’s daughter, Leida, is more easily influenced. Plus, the story of the Ghorman students is going to be really tragic, as they unknowingly walk towards disaster.

Readers and critics loved The Mask of Fear, calling it a great story that complements the Andor series. The next book, Edge of the Abyss, will be even more connected to the Disney+ show, featuring the return of characters like Luthen and Kleya. Finally, Fran Wilde will complete the Reign of the Empire trilogy with a book planned for release in 2027.

The new Star Wars book, Reign of the Empire: Edge of the Abyss, comes out on September 15, 2026, and is available for preorder now.

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2026-03-11 02:29