A GALAXY NOT FAR AWAY

Disney ‘Star Wars’ Writer Pens Op-Ed Against Kimmel ‘Siege’

Dan Gilroy drew comparisons to Putin’s control of the media in Russia.

A writer on the Star Wars Emmy winning show Andor slammed President Trump’s effort to cancel Jimmy Kimmel Live! in a Friday op-ed for Deadline. Dan Gilroy, who writes for the Disney+ drama, called the FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s successful bid to get Jimmy Kimmel’s show pulled off the air a “siege.” He said he sees “parallels” between the “fascist takeover” that is depicted in the sci-fi show and “Trump’s tools of governance.” Gilroy writes, “Disney now stands at a crossroads: terminate Kimmel’s contract and become pavement for the road to a brave new Trumpian world; or stand for the First Amendment and take the onslaught.” Gilroy, who wrote and directed the 2014 film Nightcrawler, made comparisons to President Vladimir Putin’s control of the media in Russia. “The first thing Putin did after taking power was silence shows that criticized him. Artists are censored first because they fear us most,” he wrote. Gilroy concluded his cautionary op-ed with a call to action. “Educate yourself. Organize. Speak truth to authority,” he wrote.