*Diego Luna is living out a childhood dream by playing Cassian Andor in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” and he explained to EUR/Electronic Urban Report how the decision to cast a Mexican actor in a leading role is reflective of Hollywood responding to the “passion of the fans” who want to see more racial and cultural diversity.
“I’ve received a lot of love. This film comes with a lot of love and a beautiful energy behind this film, which is the passion of the fans. I think people are pretty excited to see how Star Wars is being modernized,” he says. “It starts to talk about the world we live in — a world where diversity, culturally and racial diversity — it’s everywhere. We can ask the audience to be represented in film because today the market is not one country. Today, the market is the world. So there has to be a chance for you to see characters that look like you, and it’s beautiful times.
Luna believes the casting diversity in “Rogue One” signifies that there is, “going to be opportunities that were not there before, and I think it’s because the audience is sending a message. The audience is starting to shape the cinema that they wanna see, and to be part of the shaping of cinema today. That voice is being heard, and I love that.”
Read the rest of our Q&A with Mr. Luna below.
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What did you find most exciting about exploring this new world in this franchise?
Diego: Well, that it connects me with my childhood, with the film that definitely left a mark on me. Being part of this world now… it’s magical. It’s unique because it can’t compare to anything I’ve done before and it’s very special. I’m so excited. I wasn’t acting. This smile and this energy that I have every day is because I feel very proud and honored and lucky to be part of this world.
During filming, you’re obviously in the moment as an actor, but was there a moment when you turned into a fanboy and kinda relished in the realization that you’re a part of making Star Wars history?
Diego: I didn’t have one, I had many. Piloting, for example, that was insane…ridiculously fun and exciting. The cockpit is like a flight simulator, where you’re moving and you’re having in front of you a huge screen that is projecting what you should be looking at. So if a rock comes at you, you see the rock, you see the planet you’re heading to…the experience is so real. I didn’t want that to end. I hated to hear, “Okay, we got it. Moving on” I hated that. I was like, “No, please! Give me another chance. I want to come back tomorrow and do the same.”
When I saw the first Storm Trooper chasing me and I turned and shoot at him, and he falls… it was like, “Oh my God, I’ve been playing this game my whole life, and it has never been this perfect. And it’s real!” Gareth managed to bring this world to life. Our job was very easy because we were interacting with real stuff — with the stuff that we’ve seen in film. It wasn’t like, “Okay, you’re going to interact with this thing that one day is going to become the creature.” No, the creatures were there and the creatures are amazing. You’re interacting with a creature that talks and reacts to what you’re saying, and it’s just incredible. For a fan, that’s a dream come true.
In terms of the diverse cast in the film, why do you think diversity makes sci-fi adventures more compelling?
Diego: I grew up watching cinema in my country that wasn’t telling stories about us, and we had to find a way to connect, and our references, our role models had nothing to do with us. And I’m so glad that it’s changing. I’m so glad that young kids today can see stores that talk about them. It’s important. It’s necessary, and also, audiences are saying it’s necessary because if not, we’re not going to go watch it. And that is when you understand the power of the audience, the power of the consumer. We consumers have to send a message everyday of what we want, and what we don’t. We become part of the chain by buying a ticket. We are celebrating a voice, we’re celebrating a story and when we decide not to buy those tickets, when we decide not to send a message — we’re also sending a message. So I wanna say the audience is responsible for this change, and that is good news.
Do you think there’s a social message woven into the fabric of your character’s story?
Diego: I do think there is one, and it is this character that shows us we have to leave our differences aside and learn to work together. If we do that, we’ll find that we have the strength we don’t have alone. That if we leave our differences aside, we can do great things. We can bring change, and if we find those things that connect us, instead of looking at what separates us, we could be part of change. This character is willing to sacrifice everything for freedom, and it’s by learning to work with these very different people that apparently have nothing in common. It’s about learning to work together that they find their strength, and I think that is a lovely message.
You also have the “Flatliners” reboot coming up. What can you tell us about the project and your role?
Diego: We finished shooting in Toronto about two months ago, and they’re editing now. I haven’t seen anything. The film obviously comes out next year.
Is it a reboot or more of a re-imagining of the original?
Diego: I would say it’s a re-imagining, and different characters. I got to work with the amazing Ellen Page and James Norton, and it was a cool journey. It was interesting — very different from this. I went straight from this one to that one, and it’s a film that I also remember watching in my teen years.
**When this author notes how he may be on track to remake all his childhood favorites, Mr. Luna laughs and nods in agreement, and with that, our lovely conversation comes to an end.
“Rogue One” is now playing in theaters nationwide.
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