Lucasfilm has masterfully expanded the Star Wars universe through series like Star Wars: Andor and Star Wars Rebels, showcasing the diverse heroes and worlds pivotal to the rebellion against the Empire. While fans are familiar with iconic locations like Yavin-IV, Hoth, and Endor from the movies, lesser-known planets like Lothal and Ferrix have also been brought into the spotlight. Now, with the first three episodes of Andor Season 2, another world, Ghorman, has entered the Star Wars zeitgeist.

More: The Andor Cast Reacts to 5 Major Moments From the Season 2 Premiere

What is Ghorman, and why is it crucial to the Galactic Civil War? The situation on Ghorman escalates into a defining moment for the Rebel Alliance. Here’s what you should know about this significant yet lesser-known planet in the Star Wars universe.

Ghorman in Star Wars: Andor

Star Wars: Andor first mentioned Ghorman in the Season 1 episode "Narkina 5," where Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker) and Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård) discuss the Ghorman Front, a failed anti-Imperial group. Saw uses it as a cautionary tale on how to resist the Empire effectively.

In Season 2, Ghorman takes center stage. The premiere episode features Director Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) addressing ISB agents about a sensitive issue on the planet. He presents a documentary highlighting Ghorman's thriving textile industry, famous for silk derived from a unique spider species, which is the planet's primary galactic export.

However, Krennic reveals the Empire's true interest lies in Ghorman's vast calcite reserves. He claims these are needed for research into renewable energy, but given his history from Rogue One, it's likely a cover for the Death Star's construction. Calcite, like Kyber crystal, is crucial for Project: Stardust, and its scarcity has delayed the battlestation's completion.

The challenge is that extracting calcite in the required amounts would devastate Ghorman, leaving it uninhabitable. This raises ethical concerns about the native Ghor population. Emperor Palpatine cannot afford to destroy a world and its people openly, which is why the Death Star is so vital to his plans.

Krennic's strategy is to manipulate public opinion against Ghorman, justifying the Empire's takeover and displacement of its people. Despite Ghorman's history of anti-Imperial sentiment, Krennic's propaganda team believes social manipulation will suffice. However, Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) knows better. The Empire must install its own radicals to portray Ghorman as a dangerous, lawless place, enabling them to seize control under the pretext of restoring order.

This sets the stage for a major storyline in Season 2. Characters like Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) are likely to be drawn into the conflict as Ghorman becomes a renewed battleground in the Galactic Civil War, leading to both tragedy and a pivotal moment for the Rebel Alliance.

What Is the Ghorman Massacre?

Andor Season 2 is poised to depict the Ghorman Massacre, a critical event that catalyzes the formation of the Rebel Alliance. Though only alluded to in Disney-era media, the Ghorman Massacre is a significant historical event in the Star Wars Legends universe.

In the Legends timeline, set in 18 BBY, Grand Moff Tarkin (Peter Cushing) brutally suppressed a peaceful protest on Ghorman against illegal Imperial taxation by landing his ship on the protesters, resulting in numerous casualties. This act of cruelty sparked widespread outrage and galvanized Senators like Mon Mothma and Bail Organa (Jimmy Smits/Benjamin Bratt) to support the burgeoning rebel movement, directly contributing to the Rebel Alliance's formation.

In the current Disney-era narrative, the Ghorman Massacre's specifics are being reimagined, but its essence remains the same: an incident where the Empire's overreach sparks a significant backlash, strengthening the resolve of the rebels.

Warning: the remainder of this article contains possible spoilers for upcoming episodes of Andor Season 2!