Andor is one of the most anticipated Disney+ series -- and the show also looks better than its predecessors on the streaming giant. Besides the story and how it will approach the Star Wars universe from a completely different angle, the show is the first of its brand to use practical sets and locations and not the ultra HD LED stage called The Volume, which makes it immediately stand out visually.

Andor is breaking new ground for Star Wars and Disney+ like The Mandalorian did when it first hit the streamer. That series launched an unprecedented new form of production which saved the studio an immense amount of money on sets and locations. The Volume creates a digital wraparound set, replacing the much-used green screen. This allows for a more immersive setting, which is much better for actors to work with because they’re actually interacting with an image instead of visualizing it through the green screen. “You may have some props to stand on,” Giancarlo Esposito told Collider, “but there’s nothing else there, except what’s projected.”

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The Volume became the norm for subsequent Star Wars series. It was used in the second season of The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett and the problematic Obi-Wan Kenobi. But Andor went back to physical sets and real locations, and it looks even better -- because even if The Volume achieves the most stunning results, actors and storytelling continue to rely on a palpable side of production that ultimately delivers heartfelt and reliable outcomes. For actors particularly, being able to physically feel the set pieces does make a difference, even if that means costly production values.

The production built massive sets at Pinewood Studios and moved around the world to shoot on location, without once using The Volume. “Everything is mechanical. You’re interacting with real stuff,” Andor star Diego Luna said to Empire. “As an actor, it’s beautiful.” But it wasn’t without its drawbacks as it sometimes meant moving the entire cast and crew to the most difficult places. “In Pitlochry, Scotland, we had to walk for hours up a mountain to set up one shot,” Luna continued. “Really dangerous to get there. All you can see around you is sky, trees, rivers, lakes. Amazing! Like being on another planet.” Which is exactly the feeling a Star Wars series is supposed to have.

It's the best decision to capture the somberer side of Star Wars. Andor takes place at a bleak point in the timeline when the galaxy is one of the darkest places to be. While Cassian may be unrecognizable from Rogue One, it makes sense to bring the similar feeling of the movie, which was also filmed on location and with constructed set pieces. Gareth Edwards' direction of Rogue One was completely different from most Star Wars films and it helped conceptualize that grittier side that the series is now set to portray.

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Many would argue that Andor could've saved on budget by using The Volume, but if it makes for a better look and overall outcome, then spending on location and sets was the right choice. The series has such a serious and menacing feeling that’s already paying off, both to fans who have seen the trailer and to the actors. “My character’s house is built from parts of old spaceships,” Fiona Shaw told Empire. “I used to go out and just stare at it. Breathtaking.”

“Yep, we’re old-school,” Gilroy joked to Empire. But that is the best parallel to make when creating the first "real" Star Wars series. George Lucas was a pioneer in practical effects and his approach to the very first Star Wars movie helped make the film iconic. There’s no doubt that Andor can achieve that same effect because its production is more natural and less restricted by digital environments. It's honoring the Star Wars legacy by going back to basics.

Andor premieres Sept. 21, 2022 on Disney+.