If you’re on the fence about watching Rogue One: A Star Wars Story when it’s released in two weeks, maybe you should read Diego Luna’s brief but encouraging review:
Luna participated in a Q&A streamed live on Twitter last week to promote the film alongside most of the movie’s stacked cast. In contrast to the serious look on his character’s face in all the promotional materials, Luna was all smiles and jokes as he talked about his experience making the movie, making him the breakout star of the panel.
Luna shared his excitement about getting the call from director Gareth Edwards to work on the film. “When he called me and said ‘welcome to Star Wars‘ it was the happiest day, I don’t know if in my life but in the last ten years, let’s put it that way,” he said. “In terms of the joy that my job can bring me this is definitely the happiest day of my life.”
Unfortunately, Edwards told Luna that he couldn’t share the news with anyone, which bummed him out. “It’s like a dream then. It doesn’t happen until you tell your best friend, ‘You know what motherfucker I’m doing Star Wars!’”
Although we’d expect nothing less than for him to praise the movie, he continues to win fans over with his enthusiasm for the sci-fi franchise. Here’s how Twitter reacted to Luna’s answers at the Q&A:
Like many fans, and one little girl in particular, Luna revealed that his favorite character is Darth Vader. “There’s nothing cooler than Darth,” he said. “I would always choose to be Han Solo when I was playing with my cousins. The humor and just the way he approaches every situation is spectacular. But if I had to choose one, and I think he chose me, it’s Darth. It’s like he appears in my nightmares, he’s there always.” That might explain why he’s so good at imitating Darth Vader’s breathing.
https://twitter.com/dltayman/status/804758381919670273
Luna spoke strongly about the film’s message. “It sends a clear message of people very different from each other that apparently have nothing in common leave their differences on the side and work together as a team and achieve great things,” he said. “It’s a great message for the world we’re living in. Let’s celebrate our differences and understand that that makes us richer and stronger.”
Instead of thinking Edwards was contacting him about Rogue One, Luna thought maybe the director wanted to talk to him about an indie movie (“a tiny film in Mexico with no money”) just in case the bigger film didn’t happen. When it became clear the director actually wanted to speak about the Star Wars film, Diego feared Edwards just wanted to ask for his BFF Gael Garcia Bernal’s number.
It’s adorable to see Luna describe his surreal experience of getting one of his dream roles.
https://twitter.com/dltayman/status/804758381919670273
Just in case you needed a Cassian Andor playlist.
On set, Luna realized the intensity of the attention to detail paid by the costume designers when he asked for a button on his jacket.
He admitted to thinking that his costume was the coolest. His cast members did not take kindly to this claim.
Both new and long-time Diego fans took to Twitter to share their excitement about his involvement in the movie and the Q&A.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story hits theaters December 16, 2016.