Diego Luna: 'Rogue One' Series Will "Explore Many Layers" of Cassian Andor
And why the Star Wars actor felt sad after seeing his movie in theaters.
by Eric FranciscoFew actors can say they played a part in a fictional universe they loved as children. Diego Luna can. The 39-year-old Mexican actor starred as rebel spy Cassian Andor in 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. But after completing filming and watching it in the theater, Luna felt “sad” and “disappointed,” but not because the film disappointed him.
He was sad simply because it was over.
“When I finished shooting that film, and when I saw it, I was really sad. I have to say, I was disappointed,” Luna tells Inverse. “I wasn’t going to have the chance to explore more of that character and live anymore in that world. It’s a universe I grew up with. It’s a very important in my life and love for cinema, because it’s been present since I was young.”
While promoting his starring role as Krell in Season 2 of Gullermo del Toro’s 3Below, streaming now on Netflix, Luna took a detour from the del Toro’s Arcadia universe and into his imminent return to a galaxy far, far away. Luna is set to reprise his role as Cassian Andor in his own live-action series for Disney’s streaming service, Disney+. The new Star Wars live-action show does not yet have a premiere date.
“This is beautiful news to me,” Luna says. “It means a lot to have more time to tell the story of a character, to explore many things I wanted to and didn’t know I was able to because we all know the ending of Rogue One.”
Luna, of course, couldn’t reveal more details about the untitled series, but teases the series will naturally have “more hours” to explore aspects to Cassian Andor that couldn’t be contained in the two-hour Rogue One.
“[It’s] a great chance to explore many layers of the character I couldn’t because, it’s this new format where you have more hours. I love it. I’m excited about what’s to come.”
Until then, fans have another season of 3Below. The second series in the “Tales of Arcadia,” an original science-fiction/epic fantasy universe imagined by Guillermo del Toro, the show follows three aliens who crash on Earth who hide among “hoo-mans” while defending the planet from evil forces. Alongside Luna, the series also stars Nick Offerman, Tatiana Maslany, and Hayley Atwell.
The narrative of 3Below continues the story of the previous Tales of Arcadia series, Trollhunters. Both shows will collide in the third and final Arcadia series, Wizards, premiering later this year.
Luna says he’s finished recording for Wizards and will embark on production of his Star Wars series in the near future. Adds Luna, “I was born when the first film was made. This universe was always there for me.”
Season 2 of 3Below: Tales of Arcadia is streaming now on Netflix.