Diego Luna (born December 29, 1979) is a Mexican actor who portrayed Cassian Andor in the 2016 film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Luna reprised the role in Andor. His performance in Rogue One received a nomination for the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor and his performance in Andor received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Actor - Drama Series.

Outside of his Star Wars filmography, Luna is known for his roles in the films Y Tu Mamá También and If Beale Street Could Talk, and the television series Narcos: Mexico.

Biography[]

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story[]

Diego Luna is from Mexico. When he started watching films, Star Wars was one of the first references in his life.^[2] Diego Luna played the rebel Cassian Andor in the 2016 film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.^[3] Luna's casting in the film was first announced on August 15, 2015.^[4] Playing the character was an immense thrill for Luna.^[2] The actor spoke with his natural Mexican accent while playing Andor.^[5] Luna thought about the possibility of coming back and joked about it while on set. He figured that a prequel would be an obvious choice, but he never thought of it as a real chance and found it unproductive to think of the possibilities.^[6] When Luna jumped to the tower^[7] in the Scarif vault,^[3] he broke his rib but did not notice it. He did not tell anyone about his injury.^[7] After the film's release, Luna shared a story from a fan who took her Mexican father to see the film because of his accent, and he said that made him emotional.^[5] Luna was fascinated by his character and wanted to know how six-year-old Andor got wrapped up in a rebellion. Luna assumed that Rogue One would be his only appearance in Star Wars.^[8]

Andor television series[]

In mid-2019,^[9] executive producer^[10] Tony Gilroy called Luna and told him the full plan for an Andor-focused story. During the call, Luna spoke in code words so his driver would not understand the conversation. The actor was glad that the proposal included details that resonated personally with him,^[9] and he was convinced by Gilroy's ground-level approach.^[11] At the end of the call, Luna agreed to reprise his role in the Andor television series.^[9] After Gilroy developed the show's basic concept, he and Luna met in New York City, and they discussed what the show would be. Luna was very excited almost from the beginning, and Gilroy enjoyed how the actor was rational, imaginative, energized, and passionate.^[12] Luna then talked about returning for two or three years before shooting started.^[13] He was told that Andor will be a twelve-episode series that will be similar to a film. Luna was excited to explore the darker side of Andor's psyche, as well as to show the nuance and complexity of a younger incarnation.^[2]

To prepare for reprising his role, Luna imagined aspects of Andor's history that never made it into Rogue One, which he used as background to bring the character to life. He and Gilroy discussed this as the scripts came together, which helped personalize Andor for the actor. Luna thought about people who are forced to run due to outside pressures, but decide to stop and make a stand.^[14] Gilroy thought that Luna was a great collaborator and actor.^[2] Luna aimed to let audiences understand his character and explain how six-year-old Andor got wrapped up in a rebellion. He said that the trick is in telling a story that people can connect with and explaining how Andor got to where he was in Rogue One.^[8] Luna found it very important to understand that the show depicts a childish version of Andor who is unaware of the consequences of his actions. He liked that the show showed what oppression looks and feels like. He also liked how the show's characters are in the gray areas and have a chance for redemption. Luna found it very important for young Andor to be played by a Mexican actor to show that the two actors shared something.^[15]

Production began in late November of 2020.^[16] Scenes on Ferrix were filmed in an intricate set in Little Marlow, Buckinghamshire.^[2] When shooting started, Luna tought the first days on set felt very weird, and production was then delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.^[8] During the pandemic, Luna first met Fiona Shaw, the actress who played Maarva Andor.^[17] Luna felt that the costume was either too big or too small.^[13] As he spent more time on set, he started to enjoy the process more and fall in love with his character,^[8] and he enjoyed it by the third or fourth day.^[13] Luna felt like it was the right time to show the origins of a revolution.^[8] He liked how the show's diverse cast reflects the real world.^[18] He managed to embody a rash and more impulsive Andor with a younger mindset.^[2]

Per COVID production protocols, Luna and Shaw wore a mask during rehearsals. One of the first scenes they filmed together was an argument between their characters in their house.^[17] When Antonio Viña, the actor who played young Andor,^[10] flew to London for his last session, Luna made sure he was the right actor for the role, and they spent time together. The two actors were shooting at the same time, so Luna was able to welcome Viña to the show and make him feel part of the team. Luna thought that Viña was special because he does a lot with his eyes and has a "spark" in them.^[15] Luna, Viña, and Shaw worked together to shape Maarva's journey as an adoptive mother.^[17] Luna found the sets to be beautiful and liked how he could interact with real things.^[19] He thought that working with B2EMO was wonderful because he is practical, allowing him and other actors to film scenes with the droid and also improvise with him.^[20]

Scenes on Aldhani were filmed at the Cruachan Dam and the surrounding mountains in the Scottish Highlands.^[2] According to Faye Marsay, Vel Sartha's actress, the scenes were filmed during the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[21] For the scenes filmed in Pitlochry, Scotland, Luna and the other actors walked for hours up a mountain to set up one shot.^[19] According to Sanne Wohlenberg, the Narkina 5 prison scenes were filmed last before the wrap of Season One.^[22] Andy Serkis, the actor that played Kino Loy, said that all of the actors would walk on metal plates for with bare feet, which drained their energy.^[23] When Andor and other prisoners arrived at the Narkina 5 prison, the actors choreographed their convulsions to occur when the lights changed.^[24]

Luna was interviewed for Andor: A Disney+ Day Special Look, a documentary about the making of Andor.^[25] In September, 2022, Luna attended the Andor launch event in Hollywood, California.^[26] On December 9, Luna announced on Twitter that he was currently filming the second season of Andor.^[27] He will not play Andor after filming the two seasons.^[6] For his performance in Andor, Luna was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Actor - Drama Series.^[28]

Works[]

Filmography[]

Sources[]

Notes and references[]

External links[]

• Diego Luna (@diegoluna_) on Twitter
• Diego Luna on Wikipedia
• Diego Luna at the Internet Movie Database