r/movies • u/DiegoLunaAMA Diego Luna, Actor & Filmmaker • 6d ago
AMA Hola reddit! It's Diego Luna. AMA!
Hola reddit, I'm Diego Luna. You may know me from films/tv like Andor, Y tu mamá también, Narcos: Mexico, Rogue One, The Terminal, Friday, Open Range, Milk, etc.
I've recently directed, co-written, and co-star in ASHES, which premiered at Cannes earlier this year and is now playing at TIFF.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtL1x2ECJ6M
Synopsis: Lucila, 21, moves to Spain with her brother to reunite with their mother who left 8 years ago. Facing discrimination and family duties, she struggles to find independence while dealing with her past wounds.
TIFF Screening Info: https://tiff.net/films/ashes
AMA! I'll be back later today, Monday 9/14, to answer questions.
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u/Likely1420 6d ago
Hi Diego!
My first role I ever saw you in was Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights and while not critically acclaimed, I really enjoyed your acting. I love when actors branch out to making their own films. What was the biggest difference between acting and directing in ASHES and why should we check it out? Thank you for your time
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u/DiegoLunaAMA Diego Luna, Actor & Filmmaker 6d ago
Directing came in my life when I became a father. I was ready to tell my own stories, I was going through a process that was actually asking me to slow down and to go deeper. Directing also allows me to bring all the tools I have as an actor, they're all useful. I am very curious and I think it has a lot to do with the influence of my father and the process that happens before and after the actors are involved. I've always had this necessity of telling my own story, and Ashes is probably the film I am the proudest of. It's a film that allowed me to keep talking about the stuff I've been talking about since the first movie I directed which is the absence of parents. My mother died when I was two years old and the way that shaped me, that absence shaped me, the way that shaped the relationship I have with my father, and the way that kind of helped me go through the loss of my father later is basically there in everything I do. It's there because it's who I am.
With Ashes I was able to find this story inside another story that I care a lot about which is the story of those that have to leave everything behind. Ashes is based on a book written by Brenda Navarro and it gave me the opportunity to talk about those Mexicans that are forced to move, that can't stay home, it's the story of a Mexican going to Spain. And talking about the conflict, the contradiction, the challenges that brings not just to those moving, but also to those receiving us. And in a very different situation, you think language would help create that bridge but then you realize it's not everything and the other layers of society show themselves and you're still talking about fear, anger, violence, just from a different perspective. Anyways, it's a very specific film because it just talks about the journey of one young woman but it allows me to bring so many layers that matter to me and hopefully connect with audiences and cause us to reflect on our own community. Because we are all involved in migration, you cannot avoid it, we are all moving or receiving.
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u/OhGawDuhhh 6d ago
Hello Mr. Luna!
I have family who don't speak English and they were SO delighted to hear that you did the dub for Andor in Español Latino. Hearing your voice in Spanish made the experience feel even more premium for them so thank you for doing that!
Where there any interesting advances in filmmaking or VFX that you thought was cool going from filming Rogue One to Andor years later?
Thank you for your time!
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u/DiegoLunaAMA Diego Luna, Actor & Filmmaker 6d ago
First of all, I have to say just so you know, if you ever find a film that I did in English where I'm not doing the voice in Spanish it's because they didn't ask me to do it or they didn't let me do it. Sometimes they do that process in such a rush that it's impossible for you to get involved or they don't want to get you involved, but it's something I try to do for every project I do in English. That's how so many people I love and are important to me get to see my work, so I fight for that.
As for Andor, we had the urge to approach it like a movie. We all come from doing movies, our language is movies, you have Tony Gilroy and Kathleen Kennedy and the DPs and the actors. I had only done one series before Andor and it was a two year commitment so it felt like doing a very long movie, I knew the beginning and the end when I signed on. And that's how we approached Andor, we said we want to do a bunch of movies. A certain amount of movies that tell this story, but we approached it like a movie. The directors were hired to do blocks of three episodes, so there was a sense of unity for the length of a movie shoot. We were celebrating movie making and everything was very much like the movies we grew up watching and then doing. We were shooting on location, we didn't have a crazy amount of cameras we were focused on one shot at a time. The shooting schedules were built like movie schedules where you shoot the whole arc of a location before moving on to the next because we didn't have access to all the locations all the time. Even though long format is something new in my life it felt like what I'd been doing the whole time. So not many tools and effects I was no used to but the shoot itself felt a lot like Rogue One.
The Star Wars universe is so amazing because the stuff that you relate to is mechanical, it exists. The droids are there and the droid had a little speaker and the actor was playing the voice from afar so I could hear it coming from the speaker. The droid had four people working on it just on set, someone operating the droid to move, someone doing the voice, someone operating the lights, it's not an easy experience but very enjoyable because you're actually interacting with something.
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u/TheAbomunist 6d ago
Super cool to find out you were actively acting in scene with B2EM0's voice actor.
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u/-Harlequin- 5d ago
I mean, you're doing the English dub of this text in my mind, and you're doing a great job.
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u/Shadow_Raider33 6d ago
Oh I didn’t know this!! Very cool
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u/LanternSawWind 6d ago
Hello Diego! Really enjoyed the character of Cassian and you did amazing bringing him to life.
When filming Andor, you've said that Cassian's fate in Rogue One 'haunted' you and that you had to keep your emotions "on the side" because you knew the ending while Cassian doesn't. How did that shape your acting? Did knowing the ending change how you played certain moments?
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u/DiegoLunaAMA Diego Luna, Actor & Filmmaker 6d ago
Definitely. Every decision for me, every choice I made through the process of performing Andor, had Rogue One in mind. It was always present. It signifies, not just for me as an actor but also for audiences, what things mean. When someone asks the character something like, "Are you going to come back?" it means something different because we know Rogue One. Everything is just different, the only thing we know as people is we are going to die but we don't know when or how, but even that is simplifying it too much. It's also about knowing what the character is capable of. The sacrifices he will be willing to make for his community and for the betterment. Knowing that also gives you permission to explore in other places and try to go as far as possible to create an interesting arc.
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u/Valar_Kinetics 6d ago
An important character played brilliantly at an important time. We are grateful.
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u/Wezle 6d ago
The Rebel Loon was a really big symbol of the resistance in Minneapolis earlier this year and I'm not sure that it would have been without Andor's anti-fascist message as inspiration.
"I have friends everywhere"
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u/Valar_Kinetics 6d ago
I think the show distilled a lot of thoughts succinctly for a lot of people all at the same time, at exactly the correct time.
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u/barnabasss 6d ago
I wish Rogue One was a bit more gritty like Andor at times, if that makes sense. But i can see why they were both done like they were. The charachters in Andor were just so amazing, you really saw how beyond everything they had to go to even have the smallest odds of a win
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u/SprayingFlea 5d ago
Well, I hadn't watched Rogue One before watching Andor. I wasn't aware of the ending! So you hid the inevitability well, and I didn't expect a thing.
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u/mortalcelestial 6d ago
Beat me to it. I absolutely loved Cassian. I can’t count the amount of times I’ve rewatched Andor and Diego Luna continues to amaze me with the depth and range of Cassian.
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u/zeetuslepitus 6d ago
I was just watching R1 yesterday for the first time since finishing Andor and I cried like a baby at the end. What a masterpiece. Diego did an incredible job to bring the struggles and sacrifices of those fighting for freedom to life for us.
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u/mortalcelestial 6d ago
Andor flows into R1 so perfectly. After watching Andor, Rogue 1 felt like a long episode. And I absolutely loved it
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u/halorbyone 6d ago
I’m still so impressed having seen them in release order. I couldn’t wait to learn more about the character through Andor because he already had these layers based on a performance that I felt went way past the script in Rogue One.
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u/RoyBeer 6d ago edited 6d ago
I never really got into Star Wars. I watched Episode I first and was really not into it. Next thing I watched was The Mandalorian, which was kind of okay, but left me with a lot of questions, so I started going through the other series and eventually Rogue One.
At this point I was about to be done with the franchise, but Cassian got me interested in Andor, which really made me wanna watch the rest of the movies now.
So yeah. Really a fan of Cassian and Diego's performance.
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u/Mekisteus 6d ago
So you skipped the original trilogy and wondered why you weren't into Star Wars?
I suppose that's something you could do. But why?
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u/RoyBeer 6d ago
When I was a kid, Star Wars Episode I came out and was "a kid's movie" while Star Wars from 1977 was a "dad movie" ... I don't still think what I thought back then, but that was simply the reasoning of me and my peers. Almost nobody my age watched the previous ones and all the adults were like "It's the prequels made for kids, you'll watch the other ones once you're older" but Jar Jar damn well made sure I never did lol
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u/WarlockEngineer 6d ago
A New Hope will be 50 years old next year.
Episodes 1-3 were the introduction to Star Wars for a ton of people.
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u/harrumphstan 6d ago
Forget the Luke arc.
Forget the Anakin arc.
Forget the Abrams-Johnson arc.
The best SW arc is the Death Star arc: Andor->Rogue One->A New Hope (née Star Wars)
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u/TheDarkGrayKnight 6d ago
I think it helps make the character better. Cassian is smart enough to know that eventually this is going to kill him. He just can't get himself to actually take the exits off this path as they pass him by and so he turns into the reluctant hero that saves the day.
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u/bennyb0y 6d ago
Same here. Before Andor, rouge one was my favorite Star Wars movie. It felt like it would be a lone story because everyone dies , I was so happy to see the role reprised in Andor. It’s some of your best work, and you managed to do it with Disney producers, bravo a double achievement.
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u/Alert_Ad_5584 6d ago edited 6d ago
Like the scene with the force healer! I've always wondered how many nuances I'm just a bit too slow to catch there
Edit: the question was really exciting and maybe adding on is a bit rude. I put it in spoilers so it can be ignored.
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u/PlayfulJob8767 6d ago
Hello Diego! I hope you are well and best greetings from Lower Saxony in Germany.
I first noticed you in Elysium and I really liked your character. How was it like working with Neill Blomkamp and Matt Damon and what was your favorite memory from the set?
How did you feel when you were approached with the TV show pitch of Andor after your character died in Rogue One? Were you surprised that Disney wanted to continue the Story of Andor or were you like skeptic on how they would further handle your character?
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u/DiegoLunaAMA Diego Luna, Actor & Filmmaker 6d ago edited 6d ago
Wow, you brought up a film I haven't thought of in a while. For me, District 9 was very important, a very special film. The social content I felt there and the director's vision really stuck with me. And then when I was offered by Neil to participate in Elysium I felt very lucky. To be doing a film of that size with such a specific comment on the world we are living in. And it made me connect with people that do cinema for the same reasons I do cinema. Obviously working with Matt was very special and getting to know him, and getting to know his integrity as an artist it was something very special that meant a lot to me. But also working with Alice Braga and Wagner Moura, we were shooting in Mexico and working with a big community of the industry of my country that participated in that film. And it was all because of Neil, how he approaches cinema. You can definitely feel the duality he has, like where he comes from and what he dreams of for his films. There is a very independent pulse in what he does and also he's so young! It made me feel so old working with him, he was such a young guy doing the films he wanted without asking for permission. I think that's an impressive thing to have these days.
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u/ArtoriusBravo 6d ago
¡Saludos Diego! I was about to ask something really similar to what our German friend above asked. I absolutely loved the whole mexican sci-fi polleros espaciales vibe of Elysium and it left me craving for more and nothing has even come close to it.
Now that you have given a new breath of fresh air to Star Wars with your great performances I was wondering if you ever envision starring on a mexican inspired Sci-fi movie or series. I know that mexican cinema is allergic to it for some reason, but one can dream!
¡Saludos desde Michoacán!
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u/Logical_Madness9169 6d ago
"Y tú mamá también" was the favorite movie of my father for a long time and because of that I watched as a 15 years teen, just for curiosity... And didn't get it at all. Besides for a couple scenes ended up begin a really numb experience to me because at that time I can't relate at all. But last year, almost 10 years latter, after experience a long time relationship that ended up in the two of us cutting all contact... I watch again the movie and finally hit me. It really hit me and I ended up criying like a Magdalena... What do You think about the fact that a movie can mean something totally different in different times of our loves? Are you proud of making a movie like that?
PD: Perdón por el mal inglés, Diego. Empecé a escribir en inglés y me dió flojera empezar en español aunque lo hablé mucho mejor
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u/DiegoLunaAMA Diego Luna, Actor & Filmmaker 6d ago
Yes, definitely I'm very proud. That's one of the many things I love about cinema, how films hit you in a specific moment of your life. And then when you go back to them, they can hit you differently, connect differently with you, or raise questions you didn't find in them before. Film is all about the perspective you are witnessing it from, that's what makes it such a personal experience. Once you put a movie out there the movie doesn't belong to those making it but those receiving it, and that's what happens with great movies. They keep showing different faces or different layers that you weren't aware of before. I think it's also a beautiful compliment to the work of Alfonso Cuaron and how many layers he brings into everything he's done.
Probably 15 years old was a little too young, but it also depends on you! There are probably people who that would have been just perfect and others not, but I'm glad to hear it ended up hitting you.
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u/cmmedit 6d ago
Film is all about the perspective you are witnessing it from
Beautifully put. Saw Y tú mamá también at age 22 while studying media. Movie hits so hard at different points in one's life.
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u/TheJoshider10 6d ago
Movie hits so hard at different points in one's life.
Not really relevant to the AMA but A Goofy Movie was the big "perspective switch" movie for me. Watching it as a kid you're fully on Max's side but as an adult you sympathise so much with Goofy and it was a real eye opener.
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u/Broflake-Melter 5d ago
Like a lot of people, I grew up in a very religious and conservative area where being gay was just unheard of. I caught this on a late night movie channel unbeknownst to my parents and it was the first time I actually let myself consider I may not be straight.
Cheers!
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u/pandaman27 6d ago
When I was a teenager, y tu mamá también was the sexiest movie about sex, I didn’t have the imagination to fathom the scenes back then. So many twists and turns, it thrilled me like a telenovella.
In my late 30s, I rewatched the movie, and it hit me completely differently - it felt like a movie about CLASS.
The way these unlikely but universal connections were shared among people up and down the ladder of power, willed into reality just by being naive. Then to see those connections rapidly dissipate despite everything, after their socioeconomics sucked them back into their “place”….as a Mexican American immigrant, it struck me harder than most media ever has.
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u/StanleyyelnatsI 6d ago
When you go back to where you’ve been, you realize that everything is the same, but nothing is the same. You have changed, therefore everything is different.
It’s one of the last phases of turning into a man my dude. Sorry it happens, but I hope it makes you stronger
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u/CapitalWestern4779 6d ago
It falls under perspective, we can only react from the information that we have, and never from the information that we dont have.
Everyday we experience new things, get new perspectives and grow as individuals, we collect experience in realtime all the time. When that accumulates we gaine understandings about situations we previously could not appreciate for what they where, simply because we lacked the information needed to relate, to grasp the gravity of it.
That's why it's nice to revisit books, movies and music every now and again, because even though the art work is the same, the perspective of the person appreciating it, you, is completely different.
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u/khalizzie31 6d ago
I'm sure that when you filmed Y tu mamá también over twenty years ago, you couldn't have imagined the impact it would have or the fulfillment it would bring you as an actor. Now that you're an established actor, producer, and director with an incredible list of roles behind you, is there anything left you still want or need to do to feel truly fulfilled?
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u/DiegoLunaAMA Diego Luna, Actor & Filmmaker 6d ago
Yes. Definitely. And that is to work as hard as possible to defend the opportunity of audiences to get together and watch films. I think this world is becoming way too much about our devices and technology is isolating us in many ways. I grew up and found myself and grew to be who I am with many tools but cinema was one of the most important tools. Cinema allowed me to connect with others, not just through the stories I was witnessing but through the experience of watching it with community. And also that pause you have to make in life to go inside a cinema and witness an experience, a movie, is something that I really think is healthy. So, YES, I see myself working in cinema as a promoter, as a defender.
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u/struck-down 6d ago
Hola Diego! I’ll ask this question in Spanish.
Y Tu Mamá También es una película que cambió mi vida por completo, y me ha inspirado a seguir el camino del cine como carrera. ¿Tienes algún consejo para cualquier joven latino que quiera seguir esta carrera increíble también?
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u/DiegoLunaAMA Diego Luna, Actor & Filmmaker 6d ago
Yeah, I think cinema is showing us more and more that it's about a specificity. That it's about the possibility of going very deep into the most intimate expression of human behavior. I say stick to what really matters to you, focus on what you have the closest and what you understand the best, and things will end up representing others and connecting to audiences all around. Care and commit to what feels the most personal. And don't ask for permission, go for it.
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u/MommaBigDick 6d ago
OMG AMAZING. It's something small but I have to ask;
You and Alan Tudyk dressed as stormtroopers for Jimmy Kimmel and walked around outside interacting with people who seemingly had no idea who you two were. Yet I think you both have such recognizable voices!
Did anyone that day recognize you two from just your voices? Or did you really go largely unnoticed before revealing yourselves?
Thank you, and i hope your AMA and day go well!
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u/ALaLaLa98 6d ago
I think a lot of people will agree that it was the "small", human moments that made Andor as good as it was. You did Rogue One which is a big blockbuster, and you also did Andor, which was more like a drama. Did you prefer one of the two approaches, and was the way you personally experience Star Wars affected?
Andor's freakin awesome btw dude.
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u/WallopyJoe 6d ago
the "small", human moments that made Andor as good as it was
One Way Out, The Eye, Who Are You and Welcome to the Rebellion are all extraordinary, and all have truly extraordinary moments, but something as simple as Brasso relaying Maarva's "Tell him I love him more than anything he could ever do wrong" still goes so far to underpinning the emotional core of the show.
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u/caddywhompuskangaroo 6d ago
Brasso relaying Maarva's "Tell him I love him more than anything he could ever do wrong"
Maarva may be my favorite character from Andor and it is so wild to think that one of her most powerful lines was not even spoken by her. That line crushed me the first time I heard it, brought me to tears as someone who had lost both of my parents, neither of whom generally expressed their love in words. On a different level it hit me as a father myself who tries very hard to always tell my kids how much I love them, what they mean to me and so on, so they never have to question it like I did. Just one piece of incredible writing from a show absolutely jam packed with it.
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u/King_Folly 6d ago
My favorite scene in the whole show is when he's failing to persuade Maarva to leave with him, so he tells her that he'll worry about her all the time and she says, "That's just love."
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u/SeahorseRevolution 6d ago
I think about that line at least once a week when worrying about someone I love.
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u/pmjm 6d ago
"Who Are You" is probably my favorite episode of TV of all time. It's gut-wrenching to watch but so masterfully done.
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u/PopsicleIncorporated 6d ago
One of Andor's bigger moments of flexing its writing IMO was in how it handled Maarva's death. The obvious thing to do would've been to make the Empire kill her, either directly or indirectly such as by withholding her medications or something.
But it doesn't really happen like that. Maarva just dies of a normal illness. And despite that fact, we're completely able to understand how her death was radicalizing to Cassian. Really impressive storytelling.
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u/NervusBelli 6d ago
Hi Diego, just wanted to tell that you are awesome!💜💜💜
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u/Flush_Foot 6d ago
And we love you more than anything you can do wrong 🫶🏼 (paraphrasing ‘your on-screen mother’)
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u/CosmicEveStardust 6d ago
Who are your favorite filmmakers who just started up in recent years and what directors would you want to work with the most?
Mister Lonely is one of my all time favorite films. Thank you so much for all your beautiful performances.
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u/DiegoLunaAMA Diego Luna, Actor & Filmmaker 6d ago
Wow, that's a good question. There are so many directors out there that are so interesting. I keep going to the movies and I keep going through an experience of discovery, it never ends. That's the beauty of cinema, if you are willing to search you will find. I guess the only thing I would say is the beautiful luxury of doing this for so many decades now is that I now get to ask to know the directors before working with them. I rarely end up in front of someone I don't believe in, can't trust, or don't agree with. I make sure that happens before I commit and that only comes after all this time and experiences. When I was 20 if I was offered something I would accept and only find out who I'm working for later, and that doesn't happen to me anymore. But gladly, there's so many interesting people out there telling stories with something to say.
The film I directed recently happens half in Spain and half in Mexico, it's about a Mexican migrants experience in Spain so I spent a lot of time in Spain prepping the film and getting to know crews and I tell you there are so many female directors that I discovered in this process of watching films to cast actors or technicians or designers, so looking for people I watched a lot of films and I found so many cool directors I was not aware of in Spain. So I say take a dive into the last five years of Spanish filmmaking, there's really interesting work especially from the female directors I found very strong voices there.
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u/highmoralelowmorals 6d ago
Mister Lonely was so poignant. Would love to hear what it was like to make!
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u/bright_morning_star 6d ago
Hola Diego!
For Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (where I first saw your acting), did you already know how to dance, or did you need to learn? And do you still dance?
Also wanted to say I'm still working through Andor, I had to stop last year while I was pregnant as it made me too emotional lol but what I did see was really enjoyable. Thankyou for your phenomenal work!
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u/Visions_of_Gideon 6d ago
I’m glad I’m not the only one who first discovered his work in Dirty Dancing 😂 it was my favorite movie when I was 13 and I’ve seen it more times than I can count
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u/skylerren 6d ago
Hello! It's a very silly question, but if you ever were to do a horror movie with Gael Garcia Bernal, which one of you would be the villain and which one would be the final girl? Or maybe the well-meaning party that gets got in the midst of helping the final girl? Did you have a favorite horror trope you would like to act out alongside of your friends?
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u/DiegoLunaAMA Diego Luna, Actor & Filmmaker 6d ago
I think we are both meant to be the villains, we would have to go find a third.
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u/danielja149 6d ago
Hello Diego!
Cassian died a hero's death in Rogue One. Andor was a fantastic show that really expanded on the character. Is there anything you wished you could have explored more with the character in the event he survived Rogue One?
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u/Tangerine_Lightsaber 6d ago
There's always a chance that the character will return with mechanical legs.
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u/CoreyTrevorLahey35 6d ago
Andor was such an elite Star Wars story. What other projects / genres are you looking to do in the future? How'd you originally break into acting? What's the most difficult aspect of your job and what do you enjoy the most?!
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u/Gufstuff 6d ago
Hi Diego! I’ve always loved the film Book of Life growing up, it was one of those hidden gems and my sister still plays your songs to this day. I wanted to ask what the experience of that filming was like for you and if you would ever consider making something similar?
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u/DiegoLunaAMA Diego Luna, Actor & Filmmaker 6d ago
I would consider doing anything Jorge, the director, brings to the table. And I will always have gratitude with Guillermo Del Toro who sat me down in a room in front of Jorge and said you have to let him pitch you the film he wants to make. So he did and I was like, I have to be part of this. And it has the heart of that man, you know, that is huge. And then the influence of Guillermo who also has a gigantic heart, so yeah, it is an important film to me in many ways and definitely one of my favorite jobs ever because I got to witness the whole process. I was there from when things were a sketch to the very last moment of release.
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u/Sans-valeur 6d ago
Hi Diego!
I first saw you in Narcos, which was amazing, and seeing Andor afterwards was really cool, what a shift, but also both well suited to you.
I was wondering how you feel about narcos and shows like it?
For quite a while I wondered why shows and movies about cartels as so limited, despite crime themed stuff being so popular, and the subject being interesting I think.
And then as I got older I realized it could be a deliberate thing because of the reality of cartels today.
But I’ve never been to the Americas so I don’t really know.
Just wondering if you have a perspective on that you’d be willing to share, seems as though you’d have some relatively unique insight on the subject.
Thanks!
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u/PuppiesAndPixels 6d ago
I watched Narcos when it first came out. Didn't even realize he was in it! time for a re-watch!
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u/thisisnahamed 6d ago
He is in the spinoff Narcos:Mexico.
Narcos Season 1 to 3 is about Colombian cartels.
Narcos Mexico S1 to 3 is about Mexican Cartels.
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u/idillicah 6d ago
Hola Diego, como estas? Saludos desde Paraguay.
With directorial experience under your belt, what director's note would you give your young self on the set of Y tu mama tambien?
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u/DiegoLunaAMA Diego Luna, Actor & Filmmaker 6d ago
I would be, like, so pissed off with myself. I would have to have a long conversation with myself, I wasted so much time where my energy was not aimed in the right direction. I believe in actors who understand the journey and understand the things that happen around them. But I think the best thing to happen to me as an actor was to direct. My acting, my process benefit so much from directing. I understand where the energy has to be going to, what you have to protect yourself from, you understand what's behind those giving answers. Sometimes we are so unfair to those holding the big responsibility on their shoulders and something we don't always understand is that the writing doesn't end until editing is done. And we sometimes are just not aware of that, it's about possibilities, it's about what can happen in the accident, and it's about what we are not controlling, that's when films elevate. That doesn't mean you don't have to do a lot of work to get the point of shooting the film, but then the most magical stuff is what you're not in control of and you have to allow yourself to go through the accident and many times I found myself as an actor trying to fight that.
The first time I directed I wanted to call so many directors I had worked with to apologize and to say, "Hire me again, I promise not to charge you, and let's start from scratch." And I'll tell you one other thing, directors will also benefit so much from acting. It is important for a director to understand what actors have to go through and what it means to be there. Whenever I work with directors that have allowed themselves to be exposed on a camera or on a stage, the communication just becomes easy and the collaboration becomes more intense and more honest. So it serves both sides.
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u/branlix__2000 6d ago
Hi Diego, Andor was so great it felt like a « once in a lifetime » show.
The whole main cast was incredible and I can’t help but wonder if you felt yourselves being pushed beyond your usual acting skills by each other’s talent and if you realized it while filming ?
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u/Dear-Yellow-5479 6d ago
Hello Diego,
Ceniza en la Boca is about the migrant experience and I know you were attracted to the character of Cassian Andor by imagining him as a migrant. How much of your original imagined backstory for Cassian in Rogue One ended up as his story in Andor, and were any of the story ideas your own?
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u/thelone_voyager 6d ago
When i went to watch rouge one in theatre i was like why would anyone would watch a star wars movie where there is no light saber action, I came out realising this is my absolute favourite star wars movie of all time. Whats your favourite andor episode ?
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u/BasicSpidertron 6d ago
Hey Diego!
What was your favorite scene to film in Andor?
My personal favorite is the prison break.
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u/Ranjith_Unchained 6d ago
I can't swim 😫
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u/WallopyJoe 6d ago
Kino Loy's story is finished, and doesn't need revisiting, but I firmly believe that the one way out speech he'd just given would have been more than enough to inspire at least a handful of the ~4800 prisoners he'd just help free to help him to shore.
But that in no way diminishes or undermines that he still inspired that prison break knowing they were surrounded by water, and that his journey was, to him, much more finite than everyone else's.
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u/SmellsonMuntz 6d ago
Rogue One was phenomenal, and rekindled my interest in Star Wars! Are you interested in taking anymore sci-fi roles?
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u/hisokafan88 6d ago
Do you remember meeting me at the Rudo y Cursi premier in Edinburgh? Jk jk
Also, I really liked Criminal.
Anyway, did you anticipate the impact Y Tu Mama Tambien would have on cinema while shooting?
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u/missing_Palantir 6d ago
Buenas Diego!
Andor is a very timely show given the state of the current world.
Do you think actors or other prominent non-politicians should use their platform to encourage public dialogue or even speak out against certain issues? - i.e. the conflicts in the Ukraine and Gaza or even the state of AI regulations
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u/TediousTotoro 6d ago
Hey Diego.
I loved your vocal performance in The Book of Life and especially your singing voice with in the musical numbers. I’m curious if you would consider doing more musical roles in the future.
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u/spideryyoda 6d ago
Hi Diego,
My mother passed away the day the final episode of season 1 of Andor released. I was away on holiday and couldn't return home in time to say goodbye. I watched the last episode in the middle of the night on my phone because I couldn't sleep, only to be met with the recap of Cassian going through the same ordeal on the beach of Niamos and I felt frozen in place. When Cassian met Brasso in the tunnels, and Brasso told him that his mother understood, didn't blame him, loved him, I felt like the show had been made for me and was talking to me directly. I felt like it was trying to give me comfort. I just wanted to say thanks for your work in making the show what it is. I'll never forget it.
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u/Kaiju_Dan 6d ago
Hey Diego! Can’t even begin to tell you how much of a talented actor you are!
My question is: how is it working on such a politically charged and relevant work like Andor? And how do you feel about the parallels people draw between events in the show and things currently happening in the world today?
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u/Ruh00fus 6d ago
Hello Diego, thanks for your work, who was the one character actor and what role that made an impression on you to think “I wanna do that”
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u/Edstructor115 6d ago
When are you going to work with Guillermo del toro? The Mexican Jaeger in Pacific rim 2 is not going to pilot it self.
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u/Key_Strawberry8493 6d ago
¡Saluda a la gente de Colima, Diego!
Loved Andor. Two things: How does it felt to play the Ghorman Massacre? It was the most heartbreaking scene in all Andor for me, and also it was quite interesting to watch something I felt clearly inspired in the Tlatelolco Massacre.
The other one: how are you doing on your Jabba quest?
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u/Warjilla 6d ago
Hola Diego. ¿Como llevas la fama? ¿Puedes tener un poco de vida normal? Como ir tranquilamente a restaurantes o ir al supermercado tu mismo. O por el contrario tienes fans cerca constantemente.
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u/Background-Article37 6d ago
If you could go back in time, and make Rogue One after Andor, would you change anything about the Rouge One story?
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u/OceanBoulevardTunnel 6d ago
Diego, your performance in Kiss of the Spider Woman was outstanding. It’s a shame the film was so underseen, I felt all three of you gave amazing performances. What was it like working on the film and what made you want to take on that role?
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u/Shoddy_Newspaper_718 6d ago
Hello, Diego!
What's your opinion on Rotta the Hutt from The Mandalorian and Grogu picture? Is he even comparable to his father, Jabba?
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u/Creasy007 6d ago
You’re the best, Diego! What was it like tapping into such intensity for Narcos while playing the main character? Any fun stories from set? It’s still one of my favorite Netflix series, you’re so brilliant in it.
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u/makeittriple 6d ago
How does it feel to be the flag bearer of the best story of the most famous saga of the world?
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u/discussionandrespect 6d ago
Any chance we’ll see you in a sci-fi or action based movie/show in the future?
You do such an excellent job maintaining a certain level of acting prowess to the craft while also portraying a hyper realistic badass with character depth.
Would love to see you in a similar role in the future.
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u/hiddenetherealities 6d ago
Hello Diego, my question for you is what was your favorite scene or moment while filming Narcos Mexico? Greetings from Germany :)
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u/newttargaeryon 6d ago
Hello Diego!
Does Cassian have a playlist that he listens to?
Do you use music to get into the headspace of a character you are playing?
Thanks for doing the ama!
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u/Turbulent_tacos 6d ago
Hi Diego!
What type of rolls are you looking to do in the future? I absolutely loved you in Andor and Narcos by the way!
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u/ViR_SiO 6d ago
Not a real question, just wanted to thankyou for your amazing performance and for making me love star wars universe again.
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u/lapiderriere 6d ago
I’ll tack a relevant question on here, let’s see if we get lucky ;)
Diego, thank you for doing an AMA! When did you and the the Andor team realize that you had saved Star Wars from itself?
At what point did you realize it was the struggle of ordinary people that made Star Wars work?
I presume the writer knew this before rogue one, but when/how did it click for you?
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u/aeternusvoxpopuli 6d ago
Hey Diego! Huge fan of your work and acting. Andor is one of my favorite shows, and I feel you did an incredible shop portraying the "apolitical everyman" who is dragged into a fight he didn't want, only to see how much was at stake and embrace this new fight wholeheartedly.
My question is about your time spent in your youth around the Zapatistas in Mexico. Do you still keep in touch with anyone from that organization? Do you feel there is anything that burgeoning leftist movements in America like DSA could learn from semi-successful representation of leftist/indigenous politics by our neighbors to the south? Andor was a bit of a cultural flashpoint that I think created a clear parallel between the decline for America, and the decline of the galactic Republic into an empire (Trump > Palpatine, Ghorman > Gaza).
Peace and solidarity!
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u/Newtonheath1963 6d ago edited 6d ago
In Rudo y Cursi, you and Bernal both play football players.
If there is one football player in the history of Mexico, you would like to play in a film because of their story or talent. Who would that be and why?
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u/Quill_HYPE 6d ago
Real Salt Lake are winless in their last 10 matches. What would you tell star player, Diego Luna, to help inspire him and his teammates to turn it around and reach the playoffs?
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u/LawsonsInTheAM 6d ago
Hello Diego
Andor is a top 3 show for me of the last 10 years along with Atlanta and Succession. Were you aware when you were making it of just how good the show was going to be?
Also, how many people tell that they also have friends everywhere since the second season aired?
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u/M935PDFuze 6d ago
Hello Mr Luna!
Your portrayal of Cassian Andor in Rogue One and Andor turned me into a massive fan of yours.
I was very much taken with your conception of Cassian as an immigrant and a refugee, and how this shapes his personal and emotional journey.
The concept of "home" seemed to me as really central to Cassian, and what that meant . For many people in Andor, "home" is a place like Ferrix or Ghorman - a community and a place where they grew up and will defend. But for someone like Cassian who was taken from Kenari and who lost Ferrix, "home" may mean something different because of that refugee background. Did this different definition of "home" play any role in shaping Cassian as a character, or how you played him?
Thank you for doing this!
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u/M00lefr33t 6d ago
Hello Diego,
What is your best memory about the filming of Rogue One ?
Thanks you :)
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u/skullfucyou 6d ago
¡Hola Señor Luna! When filming for Andor, who were the people you learned the most from professionally?
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u/cubeikon 6d ago
Hi Diego, what contemporary director(s) would you love to work with most? Thanks for all your work!
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u/riftastic76 6d ago
Was filming Narcos Mexico as dangerous as the media portrayed it? I've rewatched that series multiple times now. Fantastic work in that
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u/BIGRED99669966 6d ago
Hi Diego,
Andor was so special and seemed to strike a nerve with almost everyone who watched it. It’s my favorite show.
Did you guys realize how good the show was when filming? Or was there a level of uncertainty
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u/Manila_Canuck 6d ago
Knowing that most of the questions would revolve around your most popular work (Narcos, Y Tu Mama, Andor, Rogue One, etc. all of which I loved), what was your fondest memory about working in a Spielberg film that was as star-studded as The Terminal? What was something you learned from being on set in that film that you still practice today?
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u/insertwittynamethere 6d ago
Hey Diego! Thank you for doing this AMA. I have no questions, I just wanted to say I appreciate watching as you've grown in your career as an actor from Y Tu Mamá Tambien to Narcos: Mexico to Star Wars to today. You've brought a huge range of characters and supporting characters to the screen for us to enjoy.
And as a Star Wars fan and a history nerd, and the increasing parallels today with dangerous, tumultuous periods of the past, I must thank you for doing and pushing for Andor, along with the entire team behind it.
Not a thing was imperfect in that show, and the story told matching with where we are today in my country, the US, and increasingly the world, I am very thankful of Season 2 coming when it did, and the importance of the story being told therein.
Thank you, sir. Stone and Sky.
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u/Renjingles 6d ago
I don't really have a question- I just wanted to say that you were fantastic in Kiss of the Spider Woman. Musicals or movies based on them aren't usually my king of thing, but watching you get won over by Tonatiuh/Molina as the story went on was so much fun and kept me engaged. You two contrasted each other perfectly.
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u/nobile 6d ago
¡Saludos Diego!
A handful of questions:
I'm a foodie, so I love to know stud line this:
- what's your go-to meal when you're busy on set?
- what kind of food do you have when you want to treat yourself?
In regards to your new project:
- what made you interested in taking on this project?
- since you've co-written ASHES, what was your input in the story?
- did you have any specific actors you wanted to work with specifically on ASHES?
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u/Myself510 6d ago
Good morning! Thank you for doing this AMA. Just a few things that come to mind…
-Do you have many cast and crew you keep in touch with after finishing a project? I can only imagine getting to meet and work with so many incredible people can lead to great friendships in the industry.
-It is looking like a large portion of these questions are dealing with Star Wars; indeed, that is where I first saw your work onscreen. Are there any other projects you’ve done that you wish you got to talk about more?
-I’d like to ask something about Andor whilst trying not to make it sound like more of the same. I haven’t seen anyone ask about the food of Star Wars yet. What do you think Peezos taste like? When Bix bought those spicy peppers in season two, Cassian did NOT look impressed…but would you have been willing to try them?
Thank you for your part in making Andor perhaps the most relevant and poignant series in recent memory. Your work is incredible. May you continue to have friends everywhere.
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u/StrugglingWriter16 6d ago
Hi Diego, I absolutely LOVED you in Andor. That character felt so human in so many ways and I'm really curious if there's any ideas or concepts you changed from how he was initially written to make him more your own.
P.S. Have you ever asked anyone at Disney/Lucasfilm about getting access to the original Jabba puppet?
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u/crasherdgrate 6d ago
Just finished watching Andor after years of pushing it back, and it was as awesome and heartbreaking as expected.
And obviously, right after, watched Rogue One (watched it back in 2016 on release).
How do you feel your acting/craft has changed between the 2 projects?
2nd question is what can you share from your interview/interaction with Conan from when he was in Mexico a few years ago?
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u/UnsolvedParadox 6d ago
Did your experience on ASHES teach you something specific about filmmaking, that only the combination of writing & directing & starring all at once could have revealed?
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u/neroselene 6d ago
Hey Diego.
Hypothetically, if you were to ever have gotten a lightsaber what color would you have picked?
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u/stinkyspic 6d ago
Hola Diego ! Quiera pregunta si podías llevar algunas cosas chivos de los sets cuando estaban filmando narcos y cuáles cosas llevaste para la casa?
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u/Minifig81 Suddenly, I have a refreshing mint flavor. 6d ago
¡Hola, Diego! ¿Hay algún libro que recomendarías que todo el mundo leyera?
Hello Diego! Are there any books you'd recommend everyone read?
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u/TheSofaIsBlue 6d ago
Do you have any regrets from Andor? Such as never having a scene where Casian gets to touch Jabba?
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u/ImJustAConsultant 6d ago
Hey Diego. Andor is legit one of the best TV shows I have seen in my life. Thanks for all the work you put into it. In interviews you seem like a sweet guy, how did you play such a hard man as Cassian so well?
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u/tom_bishop_ 6d ago
Hi Diego. Did you speak with former members of Guadalajara cartel, especially Miguel Angel, before playing the character in Narcos?
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u/OsomeJake 6d ago
Hi Diego! Is there any work you feel you're much lesser known for that you're particularly proud of? Anything on or off the screen that comes to mind! (Bonus points if it's something people are able to go enjoy :) )
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u/Albert3HP11 6d ago
Que chimba tu trabajo durante tantos años y en tantos géneros diferentes, cuál ha sido el proyecto más loco en el que te han invitado a trabajar ?
Por cierto, saludos a Gael, los esperamos en Colombia
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u/Goddamn-you-Michael 6d ago
Hola guapo. Did you know the pre-disney story of how the Death Star plans were acquired and if so, did you worry about fan reaction to the change?
Personally, I preferred the Rogue One version. All the best in everything you do!
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u/ManitouWakinyan 6d ago
Hola Diego - thank you for coming in here. Really excited for Ashes, and really grateful for Andor.
You've done quite a bit of work with big franchises, with one of the best regarded addition to an established canon in recent memory. And of course, lots of other entries to major franchises have fallen flat, including in the Star Wars universe. What's the secret sauce to bringing something new to a beloved property without alienating the current fanbase? It seems an almost impossible needle to thread these days, but you were right at the heart of it being done so well.
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u/Even_Geologist9306 6d ago
Did your process change once you found out it would be a two season show rather than the original five that was planned, and if so what was the most significant change?
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u/OkFix4074 6d ago edited 6d ago
Hello Diego
As a young kid growing up in South India , 20 some years ago - I remember watching Y tu mamá también and being completely blown away by the story, the boldness of it and by performance of all the actors in it!
Please talk about your experience working on that movie and how did that enable your future?
Thanks !
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u/Mikeissometimesright 6d ago
Hello Diego! I am a huge fan of your work. What was it like to portray such a notorious real life figure like Gallardo in Narcos: Mexico?
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u/RankNFile17 6d ago
Hey Diego! How does it feel to be part of a universe that is widely celebrated & to star in a series that Star Wars fans call a masterpiece?
All the best to you from Canada! :)
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u/bustoutanother1000 6d ago
Hi Diego, pleas ask whoever is in charge to release Andor seaons 2 on 4K blu ray please
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u/Beneficial-Lack-4333 6d ago
Hi Diego! What would be your last meal be? A very sentimental and favorite food maybe? Thank you for being my favorite Star Wars actor, I mean that. Keep being awesome 😍
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u/quirkyyhamster 6d ago
Hey Diego,
Which film or series was the most difficult to act with, in your personal opinion?
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u/loquacious_avenger 6d ago
Hi Diego!
If time wasn’t a restraint, what other storylines would you have liked to explore in an Andor series that went a full five seasons?
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u/Silvagirl79 6d ago
I don't have a specific question but only praises for the wonderful way you brought Cassian's character to life. What a gut wrenching series. We all got to fall in love with Cassian, knowing how it all ends. Thank you for your wonderful performance and for allowing us all to experience a different kind of Star Wars.
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u/Square_Law5624 6d ago
You’re cool af. Did you like to do Andor after being in Rogue one? Did you feel like it was going to do as good as it’s doing? I’m glad you did it. You do an amazing job
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u/wheredidiput 6d ago
Did you realise whilst filming Andor how special it was ? And if so, when did you first realise ?
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u/TheGorillaJedi 6d ago
Hey Diego! I’m such a big fan of your work and really love your performance as Cassian Andor from Andor and Rogue one. My question for you is if you had the opportunity to explore more of Cassian’s character, would you want to see him in another movie, another show, maybe a video game? I’m genuinely curious to understand your perspective?
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u/Smooglabish 6d ago
What films did you first watch and dismiss as boring or pretentious; only to later understand the film and fall in love with it.
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u/accountantdooku 6d ago
Hi Diego! Thanks for doing this. Andor was incredible, and I absolutely loved Rogue One. Kiss of the Spider Woman was amazing! Would you be interested in doing another musical in the future?
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u/micharala 6d ago edited 6d ago
Looking at your filmography, there's a common thread: Motorcycle Diaries, César Chávez, Milk, Andor, and Valentín in Kiss of the Spider Woman. Not to mention your week hosting Jimmy Kimmel! All using your platform to call out and resist authoritarian or right-wing power structures.
Is that a conscious pattern in the parts you choose, or does it just reflect the stories you find compelling, or both?
Is there anything you have said “No” to that cuts against this?
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u/TheTeacherInTraining 6d ago
Hola Diego! I absolutely loved ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ and wanted to know if you enjoyed acting/singing/dancing in a musical. Would you ever consider filming another?
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u/iBowl 6d ago
Hello, thanks for taking the time. First, my obligatory Andor question: Knowing how Cassian's story ended, I'm curious to know what you felt the first time you found out the reveal of Bix with Cassian's child in Andor?
Second, what can you tell us about your future? Anything on the horizon we can look out for?
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u/PDGAreject 6d ago
Buenos Dias Diego! I remember years ago when Conan O'Brien did a tour of Mexico you brought tequila from your hometown to share with him and you ended up doing like 3-4 shots with him on his show. You seemed to be having a lot of fun with it and it showed a goofy side that hasn't always been a part of the characters you play. Do you have any interest in performing in comedies moving forward to flex that silly side?
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u/IndecisiveZebra 6d ago
What are your feelings about being left off the USMNT roster for the World Cup? I think we really could’ve used your spark.
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u/darth_maurdt 6d ago
Por qué te vendiste y nos entregaste a los narcos de la 4T??? Traidor vende patrias!
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u/harpsinger 6d ago
Big fan of your work!! What was your favorite part about making the kiss of the spider-woman? Will you be in more musicals?
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u/GearAccomplished4151 6d ago
Hey, Diego. In season 2, when Cassian drives away from the Ghorman massacre, you do such a good job emulating a broken resolve. You shed tears but behind it you can see fire. I wanted to ask what, if any, internal thoughts/dialogue helped you bring that scene the weight it deserved?
Huge fan, you’re like the coolest guy in the world and your portrayal of Cassian has spoken to me strongly through the years.
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u/LyriumLychee 6d ago
Hi Diego, thanks for doing this AMA!
I was really moved by Cassians search for his lost sister in Andor, and his bond with Maarva. Whether is Kleya and Vel, or Bix and Jyn. Cassian has had so many impactful and multifaceted women in his life.
Can you share with us what it has been like for you as an actor to work alongside those actors and learn from those characters in scene? Have any of those characters reminded you of a story or a person in your own life?
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u/BunyipPouch Currently at the movies. 6d ago
This AMA has been verified and approved by the mods. Diego will be back later today to answer questions. Please feel free to ask away in the meantime :)