“You Can’t Talk Revolution If There’s No Love Involved”: ‘THR Frontrunners’ Q&A With ‘Andor’ Star Diego Luna

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Indeed, Andor is a Star Wars series that carries political undertones, following a gradual uprising and organization of a rebel force aiming to challenge a fascist oppressor. While it features laser gun fights and TIE fighters in flight, attendees at the recent THR Frontrunners panel focusing on the celebrated Lucasfilm show discovered that it’s more than just action – it’s a story about love as well.

Diego Luna, who portrays the character Cassian Andor – a burgeoning rebel, made this statement at the San Vincente Bungalows in West Hollywood during May: “You can’t discuss revolution without love being part of it; there’s an idealistic and romantic element to the concept of revolution.

Revolution arises from that profound feeling of love, connection, and community – a sense of family. This is what fuels your determination to stand up,” he explained further. “Indeed, there are hardships such as loss, unfairness, and suffering. We witnessed much of this in the first season.

Each character in the series seems connected emotionally to someone else, which plays a crucial role in the second season. The depth of the writing lies in our ability to comprehend their actions, not just observe them. In a limited number of scenes, we grasp why they strive for something improved.

The crowded gathering showcased the airing of the third episode from season two, titled “Harvest,” marking the peak of the initial storyline. Notably, Andor follows an unusual pattern, with its 12 episodes split into four sets of three episodes each. This design moves the audience one year nearer to the crucial and decisive event depicted in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, a film that serves as a prequel to this series, which was released in 2016.

The grand conclusion of a complex and politically tense wedding ceremony for the daughter of Senator Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) was “Harvest,” which also included an exhilarating rescue mission involving Andor’s faithful team, including his romantic partner Bix, portrayed by Adria Arjona.

The series, Andor, not only expands upon the Star Wars narrative but also showcases exceptional creative aspects that make it stand out. Michael Wilkinson’s meticulous costume designs and Luke Hull’s intricate set designs, for instance, contribute to a sense of authenticity in the depicted cultures. Moreover, the acting portrays characters with depth and complexity, as real as those seen in contemporary dramas.

The show was brainstormed by Tony Gilroy, who’s known for his work on “Rogue One” and skillfully handled the complexities of a massive production that always had multiple balls in the air. Although Gilroy is undeniably the creative force behind the show, Luna stressed that it’s a genuine team effort. This collaboration begins during the writing phase, where Gilroy invites the set designer to contribute ideas as well.

Luna explained that in his work, Tony often collaborates with Luke Hull, who plays the role of the set designer. Using a movie theater as an illustration, she described how when Tony is planning to write about a cinema and an event taking place within it, he meets up with Luke Hull to discuss details such as seating arrangements, crowd size, and decorative elements. Together, they design the setting before Tony begins his writing. This way, the action in his stories can be vividly detailed and closely tied to the specific locations he describes.

The collaboration moves forward, engaging all the participants. “We delve into the content, discuss, question, and propose ideas. This process enhances the script.” Directors are granted freedom and provided with the necessary resources to perform their duties effectively.

As a devoted fan, I must say that keeping tabs on the diverse array of characters scattered across various stages in their character arcs, not to mention different corners of the galaxy, was no small feat. But with season one serving as our solid foundation, the show’s production team managed to amplify the stories, broaden the settings, deepen the characters—all due to their finely tuned and experienced machinery.

According to Luna, the early stages of making two more blocks are underway, the editing process for what was previously filmed is ongoing, the filming of the current block is in progress, and we’re working with the same team across everything.

One of the entertaining aspects of the night was listening to Luna narrate his initial casting experience as Andor for the film Rogue One. He reminisced about receiving an unexpected phone call requesting a meeting with the movie’s director, Gareth Edwards, their secretive encounter in an empty restaurant, and then a whirlwind of about a year and half where they both worked to persuade the studio that Luna was the perfect fit for the role.

He explained that he had kept it a secret from his family. On one occasion, instead of using the main entrance, he snuck in through the back door of a London hotel for an audition. He found the entire experience quite unusual.

This edition of THR Frontrunners was sponsored by Disney+.

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2025-05-20 20:28