Diego Luna – an ordinary man on an extraordinary journey as Captain Cassian Andor! #RogueOneEvent

Just before leaving for the Rogue One Press Event in San Francisco I got to see Diego Luna interviewed on the Ellen show.  It was surreal to think that in 2 short days I’d have the opportunity to interview him too. 

Diego Luna is an accomplished Mexican actor, producer and director who stars as Captain Cassian Andor in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. 

Press Interview with Diego Luna

Q – Talk about your character as Captain Cassian Andor.

DL – Playing an intelligence officer for the rebellion.  Diego jokes that it is a ‘pretty damned good rebellion.’  Cassian is in charge of their most important mission and he works to make sure that things work together.

He doesn’t like war but he believes in the cause and would, would do anything for the cause.  He’s ready to sacrifice everything, he’s a true hero.  He’s the kind of heroes we could be, right?  He doesn’t have special powers; he’s no Jedi.  He’s just a man with conviction, that knows that working together as a team makes you stronger.  So that’s Cassian.”

Q – You’ve worked a lot with things that had to do with a rebellious nature, trying to find the good and help the good causes.  How did you feel preparing for all these different roles- did they help you prepare for this in real life? 

DL – Yeah I think there is a theme of freedom you know?  Living in Mexico and growing up there I’ve seen beautiful things.  I hear amazing stories, but there’s also a contrast there, you know?  

We (Mexico) have one of the richest men on the planet in a country that has so much poverty.  That contrast shaped my view and my point of view and with film, it’s a way to get all that out, and put it on the table. Make sure you share it with others and generate a debate, and some things starts from there.  When Gareth sat down with me and he started talking about the film, and about the theme, and about the rebellion, and about the moment in the history of Star Wars when this happens, I suddenly was listening a speech.

I would join just as a fan, just as part of the crew, or whatever, you know?  If Gareth would’ve said – I want you to be a Storm Trooper and just wear that outfit and be miserable for quite a long time until, ’til Felicity’s character kills you, I would’ve said yeah, let’s do it!!  I’m, I’m glad he didn’t say that, but it I would’ve said yes because I think this film has a lovely message behind it.  It’s about people getting involved and taking control of their reality, you know?

And of shaping the reality.  And we need that in this world that is going crazy now.  We need also to live different as a society and understand the diversity, culture and racial diversity – it just makes us stronger and richer, you know, and that there’s a great thing there for us to find.  Let’s live different as a society and, and just do it. 

Q – How do you feel about being part of a film where your kids, your son, your daughter will be watching you and know that my dad is the hero or part of the crew of the heroes in this film?

Diego speaks fondly of his children.  He speaks to how, his work separates him from his family and usually they cannot watch the film (with the roles he has played) once it is complete.  However, with Rogue One it was different.  Diego speaks to how he and his son watched The Force Awakens;

When we were watching The Force Awakens, we were there holding hands, and enjoying the moment.  It wasn’t me, like, let’s watch this cartoon, and let’s talk about what they’re saying.  I wasn’t the dad there.  It was two pals watching a film, and that was very sweet.  

Star Wars played a huge part of Diego’s youth, he watched A New Hope at 6 or 7 years old.  He wanted to be a part of the world his cousins were living in, playing games and living in the world of Star Wars.  Now he has this bond with his son and instead of crying his son says 

Yeah, yeah, go, go!!  you’ve gotta be on time, Dad, and make sure you do it right, please.  Do what Gareth says.  Don’t mess up!!

As everyone has seen in the trailers and teasers for this film, Diego Luna plays a very physical part as his role of Captain Cassian Andor.  When asked what training he had to do he speaks to how he went to the gym.  A place he didn’t like to go to before.  He was put onto a whole program.  They even took care of how much he was sleeping. 

It was necessary because I’ve never worked seven months in a film so intense and everyday we were doing something crazy- running, jumping, climbing, – it was hardcore scenes.

Gareth really likes things to happen.  He doesn’t like pretending.  He goes, like, we’re gonna do this, so you’re gonna be running, and there’s gonna be explosions, and these guys are gonna be shooting from this angle, this from this other angle, and you have to make it work- how else would you do it?  And he gave us military training.  I had two weeks of a military training where I learned how to patrol, and I did training with ex-militaries, and I was hearing all their stories.

I spent a lot of time with them that was very helpful.  But he actually thought a soldier was gonna come back from these two weeks.  And I was like NO.  That takes years, and he goes, no, no, you’re the captain.  Solve this.  And I had to talk to Felicity and start to organize a plan, and then execute, and he would be following us – kind of this covering and improvising on the way, and reacting to what we were doing.

Be sure to read my recap of the Rogue One Press Event over HERE and Interview with Felicity Jones HERE.

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Visit the official ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY website!!

ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY arrives in theaters everywhere on December 16th in 3D, Real D 3D and IMAX 3D!!!