‘Andor’ star Diego Luna on the relevance of the series: “It’s about ordinary people doing extraordinary things”

Diego Luna plays the Star Wars rebel Cassian Andor for nearly a decade as he landed the role in the 2016 film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Now, Cassian’s spin-off series for Disney+, Andor, has made his way to a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series in the 2023 Emmy race. And while Luna missed out on a potential trophy for his performance, he’s an executive producer on the project. Speaking the day after the nominations were announced, Luna discussed the relevance of the show, which follows Cassian on his path to political involvement against the Empire. Luna also foreshadowed what it will mean to say goodbye to the character once again with the second and final season on the horizon.

What was your reaction to Andor‘s nomination for Outstanding Drama ?

I was very excited and proud and happy for the whole team. It’s a beautiful thing. I celebrated all the nominations and I am very happy for those people. But being there for the best drama series obviously means a lot because it’s about the team. The meaning of collaboration is determined by the way we work. This is a team that I am really proud to be a part of. I see everyone working together in a way you don’t often see. And I know it sounds like a cliche, but it’s not at all. Everyone is very proud to be a part of this show. Everyone is using all the tools to bring the best for a reason far bigger than the craft we do. The story, the meaning of the story, is what keeps us going.

As the SAG strike looms, Andor feels very relevant. It’s a show about labor movements and rebellion, and I was wondering how you feel about the relevance of the story right now.

It’s huge. As you say, it’s a show that is relevant. It’s a show that would have been relevant 10, 20 and 30 years ago. And sadly, it may still be relevant a few decades from now. But if you want to see it from the hopeful and positive side, it’s a show about the strength we have as a community. It’s a show about the power we have when we think in numbers, when we believe we’re part of something bigger, when we find what connects us to others. And it’s a nice reminder of that. It’s about ordinary people doing extraordinary things when they understand that it’s about working together. And yes, of course it is relevant.

What does it mean to you that you have been nominated as producer of the project?

It means a lot, because I’ve been working on this project for almost five years. It’s been a long journey. I mean, I’m totally committed to this show and I like being a part of the whole process. It’s something I miss being just an actor: the whole journey, there’s from when things are just ideas, scratches on paper, when opinions matter. To me that’s very important – to be a part of it from the beginning, not knowing where we were going, just with the intention of doing something special and unique. And today they celebrate that.

You also join a very small list of Latino producers nominated for series awards.

It’s about time that changed. It’s about time that wasn’t news. It’s sad that the news is that only a few, in many different categories, Latinos have been nominated, and it’s really about a world that I don’t want to be a part of. That’s a thing of the past as far as I’m concerned. These days I wouldn’t get involved in a project if there wasn’t diversity, because that enriches everything – the journey of the people doing it, and certainly the final story. I don’t want to work if I’m not on a team where I’ll be surprised. And that happens when you look for those differences to be part of what we do. It’s very important that that changes, because a large part of the audience is Latino. And being Latino is not one thing. I grew up watching Star Wars, and I couldn’t see inside Star Wars someone who looked like me, who looked like me. And that is changing. That has to change from the inside in order to change from the outside. And it happens. When you see the team working on this show, you think, “OK, you’re doing the right thing.”

What does it mean to you to spend time with this character with season two coming up?

I’m getting very nostalgic as I’m heading towards the inevitable moment of saying goodbye to the character again. I did it once and it hurt. And I’m about to do it again, and I’m sure it’s going to be painful. But I can tell you one thing. I felt I had the opportunity to do everything I was missing in the Villain One experience. In Villain One, it went very fast. It was the size of a movie, so the end comes without you noticing. And I had to say goodbye. I had to believe that was it. That’s how everything ended.

Then I had a chance to go back, but otherwise go back. Not to do the same thing, but to do a project that could help me explore much more deeply who this character is and play him in very different situations and scenarios and moments, to make a longer, deeper transition can have. And I am very glad that I went through this. I’m very happy and I’m ready to say goodbye and start thinking about something else. I mean, it’s been a long journey. I learned a lot.

And to get back to your first question, the production made this very special. Because the way I was involved, the things I learned… I like producing, I like directing, I like witnessing other people’s process. The journey of Andor has been very helpful in getting some inspiration and thinking of other things I like to have time for.

What do you think of the SAG strike?

I really hope that things get better, that things get resolved soon, and that we have a healthy environment for everyone, not just actors, but everyone who works in this industry. I am concerned about what is to come, but of course I support the strike and support the union. It’s quite remarkable what we’ve seen with the writers and what’s happening with SAG today.

We live in a world that is polarized, where there seems to be no consensus. People disagree. That’s the scenario we see on social media. It gives me hope to see people unite and understand the power of numbers again and fight as one. That’s a really important reminder today of what we as citizens of the world need to do, find solutions and work together to bring them because they’re needed. I really hope this brings out the best in everyone and we can all get back to work soon, in a much fairer and fairer scenario for everyone.

Interview edited for length and clarity.

This story first appeared in a standalone August issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.

This interview was conducted before the launch of the SAG-AFTRA strike on July 14.