From Y Tu Mamá También to Rogue One: Diego Lunas Surprising Journey in the Star Wars Universe

In a recent episode of Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, Diego Luna shared a surprising story about how his performance in the 2001 film Y Tu Mamá También helped him land the role of Cassian Andor in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Luna was initially unsure what the meeting with Rogue One director Gareth Edwards would entail. "I was sitting there going, like, 'What does he want from me?'" Luna said. "Does he want the number of an actor or does he want me to help him with Gael [García Bernal]?" However, Edwards had neither of those things in mind. Instead, he wanted Luna to audition for Rogue One due to the actor's performance in the cult coming-of-age classic.

The director explained to Luna, "I want to do a film in this universe that tonally feels very realistic, close to what you guys did in Y Tu Mamá También." Luna was surprised and excited by the idea of marrying indie dramas with blockbuster action films on Rogue One, while still being able to "be myself."

Luna's role as Cassian Andor recently came to an end as the Rogue One prequel series Andor wrapped up this spring. While many fans may be sad that this chapter of the Star Wars universe is concluding, Luna said that he's relieved that the series ended with a clear storyline. "There's one thing I don't like [about TV], which is things start without knowing where they're going to end," Luna said. "It's nice to start something knowing where it ends."

Luna has previously shared how Edwards felt inspired by Y Tu Mamá También when making Rogue One. "He wanted to make a very particular Star Wars movie, with a different style of acting and hyperrealistic tone bordering on naturalism," Luna told Vanity Fair. "He wanted to create something that was close to being almost like a documentary in its tone."

Luna's journey from Y Tu Mamá También to Rogue One is a testament to the power of a strong performance and the ability of a director to see beyond the boundaries of genre. It's also a reminder that sometimes the most unexpected collaborations can lead to the most memorable and impactful projects.