Star Wars: Andor's Diego Luna says he had to create character's backstory

"Backstory that no one cared about."

By Stephanie Chase

30 Dec 2022

Disney+

Star Wars: Andor star Diego Luna has shared how he had to create his own backstory for his character when he debuted in 2016's Rogue One.

Luna plays Cassian Andor in the Disney+ Star Wars spinoff series, which delves into his character's past in the five years before the events of Rogue One.

Speaking to Collider, Luna shared how different it was preparing to play Cassian now as compared to when he first took on the role and needed to create a backstory that "no one cared about".

Disney

"I think in terms of the context of the character, I was pretty much there," Luna said. "I think [Tony Gilroy's] story is something that connects easily with what I had in mind.

"But it's more about the characters he meets in the journey where I was impressed by what Tony wanted to tell. The characters he meets – Luthen (Stellan Skarsgård), Kino (Andy Serkis), the relation with Maarva (Fiona Shaw) – that is something so central in the understanding of Cassian.

"For me, it wasn't like that when I was getting ready for Rogue One. I had to create my own backstory. Backstory that no one cared about. It was just mine in terms of, I didn't have to get there with any other actor," he continued. "My character was coming from somewhere else, you know? He has this accent that no one shares, and he clearly has left everything behind.

"Therefore, it was just the work you do as an actor, that you have to understand why you're making the choices you're making and create yourself some background story."

Luna went on to explain how much he enjoyed seeing the role models that Gilroy had as he learned more about the rebellion.

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"With Tony, it was so interesting to find out all these role models that Cassian has and the amount of sacrifice around the rebellion," Luna continued.

"It's quite interesting to see so many characters willing to leave everything behind for a reason they believe in. It's a beautiful story that reminds us what we are capable of, basically.

"And it's through these characters that I was like, oh my god, this is so rich and so pertinent and so real, even though we're in this galaxy far, far away. These characters feel really close to the world you and I live in."

Andor is streaming on Disney+.