Prior to his role as Cassian Andor in the Star Wars universe, Diego Luna had already displayed his action skills and empathy in science fiction. This was evident in the 2013 film Elysium directed by Neill Blomkamp, where he portrayed Julio, a charismatic sidekick to the main character Max, played by Matt Damon. In this role, Luna fought droids, dodged gunfire from spaceships, and aided oppressed migrants under an authoritarian regime, similar to his character in Rogue One and Andor.
The film was a sequel to Neill Blomkamp’s successful, Academy Award-nominated debut feature film “District 9,” marking the largest project in Luna’s career up until that point. Given its substantial budget of $115 million and high anticipation, it held great importance. Notably, this movie was filmed in his native Mexico, where he had spent his childhood in theater and had made his breakthrough appearance in Alfonso Cuarón’s film “Y tu mamá también” (2001). When reflecting on the production for our series “Role Call,” Luna recalls being influenced by Blomkamp’s innovative cinematography and acknowledges the shared political themes that can be found in “Elysium” as well as his later work in “Star Wars.
It’s evident that Neill was expressing something significant through the movie ‘Elysium’. There are numerous similarities between these productions, and I believe that’s likely why I’m involved. It’s not only about seeking out projects like this, but also because these projects offer opportunities for individuals like myself.
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2025-06-12 20:53