David Cheung: Portraying West-2 in Andor

The limited Disney+ series, Andor brought the titular character back with a prequel story to the 2016 movie Rogue One—along with new, compelling characters, galactic locations, and factions. Arguably the most fascinating of these new factions were the Pre-Mor Authority Security Forces, who after learning the murder of two employees set on a manhunt to capture the prime suspect, Andor on the planet Ferrix. This led to one of the most action-packed sequences of the show, with Chapters 1, 2, and 3 marking the introduction and dismantling of the Pre-Mor security service by the Empire’s hands after failing to capture Andor. Sharing his experience filming those first three, intense chapters is stunt actor David Cheung who portrayed West-2—a member of Pre-Mor’s West Team led by Deputy Inspector Syril Karn and Sergeant Linus Mosk—from booking the role to stepping into the world of Andor.

Cheung began his stunt performing career back in 2011, his first ever job alongside Keanu Reeves in the 47 Ronin movie. “That was the movie where I met so many great performers that really inspired me to pursue a career as a stuntman. I got qualified and then became part of a prestigious group called the British Stunt Register,” Cheung said. Since then, he has worked on several Hollywood blockbusters, including but not limited to movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Barbie, and of course Andor. “Director Toby Haynes was looking for actors who could do their own stunts for the Pre-Mor corpos, so [Stunt Coordinator] Marc Mailley searched for stunt actors to fill those roles, and I ended up portraying West-2 alongside Kyle Soller and Alex Ferns in the first chapters of Andor,” Cheung said.

David Cheung recalls putting on the instantly-iconic Pre-Mor blue and orange uniform for the first time like it was yesterday, and confessed the adrenaline rush continued to build up as the actor stepped into the Mobile Tac-Pod, the Pre-Mor troop transport and landing craft: “We were in a real spaceship. Production built one that actually rocked, making it feel like you were flying. Inside, the details of everything from all the buttons to the latches was insane … lights would go on and off and steam came out as the landing ramp lowered, where we exited into an even more immersing place, which was the Ferrix set in Little Marlow, England.” The actor added, “It was one of the most life changing experiences I’ve ever had. They literally built a village there; it was so surreal I felt like I was actually in Star Wars … I was fully immersed in this world that felt so true, from the walls to the doors. All of this helped us become truthful in every second when the camera was rolling.”

As the stakes rose and the action intensified in Chapter 3: Reckoning, Cheung’s character West-2 was in the thick of it, where after West Team detained Maarva and B2EMO at their household as part of the search for Cassian Andor, things escalated quickly. The fugitive set a decoy landspeeder while he escaped with Luthen Rael on a speeder bike—resulting in an explosion that marked the ultimate demise for West-2. “We filmed in minus temperatures, so it was quite challenging to pull off that stunt. I was put on a wire and got ratcheted about four meters along with some of my fellow corpos. It was cold, but we had a good laugh … we were just like kids again, just running around, shooting blasters while trying to look badass. I am so very proud of our stunt team for pulling it off in one take,” Cheung shared.

What was your favorite moment from the Pre-Mor action in Andor Season One? Let us know on our social media channels, and don’t forget to follow David Cheung on Instagram to follow his extraordinary journey as a talented actor and martial artist!

DISCLAIMER: This interview was originally published by Fabio Fiori on TatooineTimes.com.

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