Diego Luna has brought the character of Cassian Andor to life in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and two seasons of Andor. Now that the second and final season of Andor is streaming on Disney+, Luna is talking about the legacy of Andor and Rogue One. Recently, he spoke with StarWars.com about what it all meant to him.
“It’s probably one of the biggest surprises in my life, what saying yes to Rogue One brought to me,” Luna said. “I had no expectations. And every time I talk about the character or the project, I still feel I’m talking about something that is very personal.”
In the second season of Andor, Star Wars fans finally get to see how the Rebellion they have known and loved for nearly five decades was created. This all happens in the final two character arcs of the second season. It also culminates with the stories of Cassian Andor and Mon Mothma finally intersecting as they come face to face for the first time.
“For the building of the Rebellion, this mission is crucial,” Luna shared. “Things change in that moment. You understand why Cassian is given the mission of Rogue One; it’s because she knows he’s capable. In that escape, she witnessed what Cassian can do and how reliable he can be.”
This escape brought two very different people with two very different approaches to fighting the Empire together. With it, Mothma was also able to see the real-world sacrifices that had to be made to fight the Empire. Luna shared that he appreciated the collaboration with Genevieve O’Reilly, who portrays Mon Mothma in the series and film, in more than one way.
“I’ve been working with Genevieve in this show for so long without having the opportunity to interact,” he says. “I admire her. She’s a great friend and we had the opportunity to play this really cool scene of getting out of there. And for me, to be in the Senate, to be part of that story that it’s always been far from where Cassian has been, it was fun.”
Luna continued to share more about Mon Mothma and O’Reilly’s portrayal of her saying, “I think everyone knows what Mon Mothma means to the story, but now we understand the character,” Luna said. “Genevieve is so subtle, so smart about every decision she makes. She doesn’t waste an opportunity as an actor. She’s always bringing something new, something different, something special. She never stops… but she also gives herself the chance to enjoy the process.”
Cassian Andor’s mission to rescue Mon Mothma isn’t the only one he has that has galactic importance. Another comes after a relaxing moment with Cassian, K-2SO, and Ruescott Melshi. This moment seems to have little to no consequence, but ends up setting the stage for so much more.
“They’re just playing [a game] and getting drunk on a day that apparently isn’t going to bring anything,” says Luna. “And, suddenly, the most important mission happens. That episode means so much because you know what’s about to happen. That’s the beauty of the storytelling in the show, that things have that weight because we know Rogue One.”
As the season comes to a close, some major questions are answered that lead right into the events seen in Andor. One of these is how the fledgling Rebellion knows about Galen Erso? The reliability of the intelligence about the Death Star is also addressed. This comes down to Kleya Marki, played by Elizabeth Dulau. This character not only brought in some incredible intelligence but also helped Cassian on his path to becoming a hero of the Rebellion.
“Bringing [Kleya] and having that piece of information in Yavin is crucial,” he says. “I think she reminds you what’s behind the big success of a rebellion, the life of people like her. Those broken lives mean so much. I think [Elizabeth] portrayed that fantastically, that complexity, what it means to deliver something without knowing if it’s falling into the right hands.”
Andor adds to the Star Wars story in a way that brings more knowledge to fans who have been following the plight of the Rebellion for decades. While the characters may not know what is to come after the events of the season, the fans do. This series changes the way fans view both Cassian Andor as a character and the bigger Star Wars story he is a part of.
“I don’t think you’ll think about Cassian [the same way] ever again,” he says, “not just because of what he’s capable of in the film, but because of what he’s capable of leaving behind. What he’s not going to have. I think it’s powerful and it’s very strong. It’s a beautiful way of reminding you what’s behind change: people that probably wanted to have a family, people that probably just wanted to be happy next to those they love. And I think it reminds us how lucky we are if we’re capable of having that in our lives.”
In the last few scenes of Andor, Cassian Andor heads off on his mission that will ultimately be seen in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Luna suggests revisiting this story after watching Andor.
“If you like Rogue One, you’re going to realize there’s so much you didn’t know,” he says. “And so many things are going to be seen from a different perspective after watching Andor…It’s about understanding the complexity, the amount of love, loss, commitment, and passion behind change.”
