If you’ve seen Rogue One, you might recognize this prisoner in Andor.
There’s something special about noticing familiar faces pop up in the Star Wars universe, and Andor delivers a subtle yet exciting connection to Rogue One.
Among the prisoners struggling on Narkina 5, one stands out as someone we’ve seen before—long before his days as part of the Rebellion.
Table of Contents
Melshi in Rogue One
We first meet Melshi the Rebel in Rogue One. As a sergeant in the Rebel Alliance, Melshi is distinguished by his leadership, bravery, and unwavering loyalty to Cassian Andor.
When Andor calls for volunteers to head to Scarif, an Imperial stronghold, Melshi and the rest of Andor’s friends don’t hesitate. Their bond had been forged earlier, during their time in the brutal Narkina 5 prison.
There, they supported each other through unimaginable hardships, forming a deep camaraderie. Because of this shared past, they don’t question Andor’s plan; instead, they stand by him, resolute and ready to face the perilous mission together.
Melshi played a critical role in the battle, leading a team on the ground to create diversions and disrupt Imperial forces.
His efforts were essential in ensuring Jyn Erso and Cassian had enough time to transmit the plans to the Rebel fleet.
As the team faced relentless waves of Stormtroopers, Melshi’s courage and tactical skills shone through, but the mission came at a devastating cost.
Like the rest of the Rogue One squad, Melshi gave his life in the battle, becoming one of the many unsung heroes who sacrificed everything for the Rebellion.
His death, alongside his comrades, underscored the ultimate price of fighting for freedom in the galaxy and made his story all the more impactful.
Melshi and His Role in Andor Season 1
In Andor Season 1, Melshi’s return brings an unexpected yet welcome depth to his character.
We first meet him as a fellow prisoner alongside Cassian in the grueling labor camp on Narkina 5. Far from the Rebel leader we see in Rogue One, Melshi is just another oppressed individual trying to survive the Empire’s brutality.
The series explores how Melshi and Cassian form a bond of trust and solidarity in the face of unimaginable hardship.
Their daring escape from the prison is a pivotal moment—not just for Cassian’s arc but for Melshi as well. It’s here that we see the roots of the unshakable partnership that will later play a crucial role in the Rebel Alliance’s most critical mission.
Melshi’s presence in Andor isn’t just fan service; it’s a thoughtful expansion of his character.
It shows us the trials that shaped him and the courage that drove him to take a stand against the Empire, ultimately sacrificing everything for the cause. His story in Andor adds layers to his role in Rogue One, making his journey all the more impactful.
How Melshi’s Character Was Brought Back in Andor
Melshi’s reappearance in Andor wasn’t just a treat for fans—it was also a deeply personal journey for actor Duncan Pow.
The character, introduced in Rogue One, was brought back to life thanks to Tony Gilroy, who became the showrunner for Andor.
“I found out that I would be returning as Melshi in February, I think around February, 2020. And, um, my agent called and they suggested I give Tony Gilroy a call just to find out what was going on. And so, yeah, I called Tony up and he told me his plans for Melshi and, uh, everything that you were watching right now. Yeah, I was like a little kid in the sweet shop,” Pow shared.
The journey began in 2020, when Pow was contacted about reprising his role. By that time, Gilroy had already begun developing Andor as a live-action Disney+ series, focusing on Cassian Andor’s backstory.
Although Pow maintained contact with Gilroy after Rogue One, it wasn’t until Andor was in active development that he learned about the plans to bring Melshi back.
Pow’s preparation for the role went beyond simply showing up on set. He had conversations with Gilroy to flesh out Melshi’s character, incorporating elements of Pow’s own personality, including his Buddhist ideals.
Pow noted, “The idea was put across that Melshi would be an independent thinker and implemented aspects of Pow’s own personality into it, including his Buddhist ideals of being free in the mind.”
The Narkina 5 scenes, where Melshi and Cassian’s bond grows deeper, were filmed under strict COVID-19 protocols.
Filming these sequences at Pinewood Studios and other locations in the UK, Pow described the experience as intense yet rewarding.
“I was blessed as well to be working with not just Diego and Andy, but Josef and Tom and Brian and Clemens and Christopher, the people that were on Table Five with me. They were all brilliant. They were all super focused.“