No, Princess Leia is Not Undercover as Kleya in Andor

Star Wars fans love seeing legendary characters make a cameo in spinoff projects. After seeing a young Princess Leia in Obi-Wan Kenobi, fans now believe that she is also making an appearance in Andor, albeit undercover.

So, here’s the million-dollar question—is Princess Leia working for the Rebels under the alias of Kleya Marki?

Luthen’s assistant Kleya is not secretly Princess Leia, as neither their age nor personalities match up. However, it is possible that Kleya is Cassian’s long-lost sister who he set off to find at the beginning of Andor S1.

Let me present my case about why Kleya cannot be the beloved princess and give you some theories about who she is, and if/when Leia will appear on Andor.

1. Here’s Why Kleya is Not Princess Leia

I get it, Elizabeth Dulau’s Kleya bears an uncanny resemblance to Carrie Fisher’s Leia in the Star Wars trilogy. Even some of her outfits and hairdos match the vibe. Getting caught in hopes of yet another cameo could convince us that she is indeed Leia.

But here are a few reasons why she’s not:

• Kleya’s age doesn’t match up with Leia’s. At this point, Leia is supposed to be 14, and Kleya looks too old to fit that age range.
• According to Star Wars canon, Leia joined the Rebel cause after she was 15.
• Luthen wouldn’t risk having a prominent, famous figure like Princess Leia working as his undercover assistant. Not only is she quite recognizable, but it also makes her an easy target.
• In Andor Ep 8, Kleya blatantly orders to kill Cassian. This does not match Leia’s personality at all. Kleya comes across as unemotional and ruthless when need be.

There you go! I’m sure that the upcoming episodes will give us more evidence that the two characters are not linked by anything other than their moxie and iconic hairdos.

2. Will Princess Leia appear on Andor?

There is a small possibility that Princess Leia may appear on Andor. But that may only take place in Season 2, rather than Season 1.

As explained, during S1’s timeline, Leia is only 14 years old and isn’t yet fully aware of the Rebel Alliance. As we get closer to the events of Rogue One, the possibility of seeing her becomes even more real.

3. Who is Kleya Marki?

It’s clear that Kleya is no ordinary character. We were previously introduced to new, original Rebel characters who were killed off quite soon, but I think Kleya may not share this fate.

An ongoing theory is that Kleya is actually Cassian’s long-lost sister, who he is on the lookout for. That would be quite tragic as she did order a hit on him, believing he’s a stranger that the Rebels cannot trust.

Some fans even think that Luthen is aware that the two are siblings, which is how he knew a lot about Cassian before even meeting him.

I have a feeling that Cassian and Kleya are going to butt heads a lot more before finally realizing they’re family. Even then, it’s left to see if Kleya will blame Cassian for abandoning her and if they will ever be able to find a resolution.

4. About Andor

Andor is an American television series created by Tony Gilroy for the streaming service Disney+. It is a prequel to the Star Wars film Rogue One (2016), following the character Cassian Andor five years before the events of the film.

Set five years before Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Andor will see Cassian in his formative years as he becomes the charismatic Rebel and espionage master.

Diego Luna, Alan Tudyk, Stellan Skarsgaard, Adria Arjona, Fiona Shaw, and others star in the show. The series premiered on Disney+ on September 21, 2022, with the first three episodes.