Diego Luna always assumed his debut in the world of "Star Wars" was a one-and-done deal.
But his comeback began Wednesday in "Andor," the first of two planned seasons with a three-episode premiere on Disney Plus. The series, which tells the backstory of Luna's character, shows just how far "Star Wars" has come since he appeared in 2016's "Rogue One." It's now an ever-expanding streaming universe, and one that is part of a surge of Hispanic representation in geek culture on-screen.
The acclaimed Mexican actor, known for roles in the 2001 film "Y tu Mama Tambien" and the Netflix series "Narcos," played the charismatic rebel spy Cassian Andor in the prequel to the original "Star Wars." "Andor" will serve as a prequel as well, taking place before the events of "Rogue One."
While filming "Rogue One," Luna controlled his nerves despite entering a world he'd admired since his childhood by telling himself it would be a singular experience. That was because he knew he was a dead man.
He was there to bring to life one of the most meaningful deaths ever to happen in a "Star Wars" story, as his character was part of a team on a suicide mission that helps save the galaxy from an evil empire. During news conferences for "Rogue One," Luna recalls, he was asked frequently just how long he'd stick around in the "Star Wars" neighborhood. All he could do was smile and try not to ruin the ending of the movie for everyone.
"It helped me a lot to come into this universe of 'Star Wars' feeling kind of like I was in control," Luna said. "It was close to what I have been doing my whole life. I was going to be a part of one film. It had a beginning and an end. My experience was going to be one."
"Rogue One" was a billion-dollar hit at the worldwide box office. In the at-times polarizing "Star Wars" film renaissance after Disney bought Lucasfilm for $4 billion in 2012, the film was a shining beacon of quality storytelling. With its darker tones and bigger stakes, "Rogue One" was a "Star Wars" movie so good it didn't need lightsabers but gave fans one anyway with one of Darth Vader's greatest cinematic moments at the end of the film. But with so many major characters dying, the only way to capitalize on "Star Wars" fans' goodwill toward the film was to look to the past.
Luna's return to "Star Wars" in "Andor" started to take form when Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy wanted to give Luna's character his own series. She reached out to Tony Gilroy, who had been instrumental in "Rogue One's" success after coming in to assist director Gareth Edwards with the film's controversial reshoots, and asked him if he was interested in being a part of it. But in Disney's non-streaming world pre-2019, the ideas Gilroy came up with seemed too costly and ambitious for television. He still left numerous notes and memos with Lucasfilm detailing how he thought it could succeed.
But then Baby Yoda happened in 2019.
Disney Plus happened. "The Mandalorian" happened. Its creator, Jon Favreau, and executive producer, Dave Filoni, happened. And the world, and how you could tell a "Star Wars" story in it, changed. Suddenly Gilroy's impossible-to-achieve notes were looking quite doable.
Luna shared in the enthusiasm.
"When I got the phone call about exploring the opportunity of doing this prequel, to explore the past of this character, I thought it made complete sense, to be honest," Luna said. "For me 'Rogue One' is a beautiful film that shows you what these characters are capable of, but you don't get to know much about Cassian. Where he comes from? What triggers that confidence and commitment for the cause in him?"
In "Andor," the story of Cassian Andor's rookie rebel days are supplemented with flashbacks to the character's youth on his home planet of Kenari. The Kenari people don't speak Basic (the "Star Wars" term for English) and their culture is severely affected by the arrival of the empire, forcing Andor unwillingly down the path to legendary "Star Wars" status.
Luna now finds himself a part of a Hispanic "Star Wars" revolution. He recently shared the cover of Vanity Fair with "Obi-Wan Kenobi" star Ewan McGregor, "The Mandalorian's" Pedro Pascal and Rosario Dawson, who will soon star in an "Ahsoka" streaming series as the former Padawan of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. Three-fourths of the cover was Hispanic: Luna (Mexican), Dawson (Cuban/Puerto Rican) and Pascal (Chilean). Luna also announced recently at Disney's D23 event that he would be doing the Spanish dubbing voice-over for his character on "Andor."
"Gladly, Lucasfilm and Disney found this important that our voices are there for the Spanish-speaking community," Luna said. "We're not done. I'm still working on it. Even though it is a lot of work it was important for me. Many [Hispanic] kids see it [in Spanish] and I don't want to have someone else's voice there."