Diego Luna’s new prequel series is far, far away from anything else in the “Star Wars” galaxy.
“Andor” depicts the beginning of the Rebellion featured throughout the “Star Wars” movies, but focuses less on franchise staples like the Force or the Skywalkers and more on how the fight against the Evil Empire started.
“It’s going to be special for audiences because it’s different,” Luna told the Daily News. “It’s the most grounded ‘Star Wars’ you’ll get. This show is about people, regular people, and that I like a lot.”
Premiering its first three episodes Wednesday on Disney+, “Andor” is set before the 2016 movie “Rogue One” that introduced Luna’s Cassian Andor as a cunning rebel spy who risks his life to steal the Empire’s plans for a Death Star superweapon.
The new series, which splits 24 episodes into two seasons, shows that Cassian was a much different person earlier in his life.
“It’s quite interesting to approach a story backward. We know the ending, therefore we’re going to challenge every idea you have about Cassian and his background,” Luna said.
“There’s a few references in ‘Rogue One’ about his past. He talks about being part of a fight since he was 6 years old. He talks about a very dark past where he has done terrible stuff for the Rebellion, but you don’t get to know exactly what he’s talking about. Now, we’re going to go through that.”
“Rogue One,” which grossed more than $1 billion worldwide, was the first stand-alone “Star Wars” movie that wasn’t part of a larger trilogy.
Luna, 42, never expected to play Cassian again, but was eager to reprise the role after loving how “Rogue One” turned out.
“When I saw it, I was really pleased with the result,” Luna said. “I was just proud and ready to move on, and go back to my life and do other stuff, and then a year later, I got a phone call saying, ‘Would you be willing to explore the possibility of going back to the character and telling the backstory of Cassian?’
“I was really happy to be able to explore the journey of Cassian. ... How does he get to believe in a cause that much, that he’s willing to sacrifice everything?”
“Andor” is the fourth live-action “Star Wars” series, following “The Mandalorian,” “The Book of Boba Fett” and “Obi-Wan Kenobi.”
“Rogue One” earned praise for its diverse cast, which also features Felicity Jones, Donnie Yen and Riz Ahmed. The Mexican-born Luna is excited to keep providing representation with the new series.
“We are supposed to tell stories where audiences can find themselves and reflect themselves and feel represented. We have to be a mirror of something already happening, very interesting, out there,” Luna said.
“The world we live in is what it is because of diversity, because of that richness that the mix of accents and cultures is giving us. I’m just glad to be part of it.”
Created by “Rogue One” co-writer Tony Gilroy, “Andor” will release a new episode every Wednesday and also stars Stellan Skarsgard and Adria Arjona.
“It’s quite unfair to call it ‘Andor’ because it’s not just about him,” Luna said. “It’s about a community and it’s about many other characters. This is the beginning of a revolution and the awakening of a revolutionary.”
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