Diego Luna’s Journey as Cassian Andor: From Rogue One to Andor Season Two

On this day back in 2015, news broke that Diego Luna had been cast as Cassian Andor in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. It’s wild to think that exactly ten years later, his final portrayal of the rebel spy is set to premiere in Andor Season Two on Disney+. A decade is a long time in the Star Wars universe, and Luna’s journey as Cassian has been nothing short of transformative—not just for the character, but for Star Wars storytelling as a whole.

The Announcement Heard Across the Galaxy

When Lucasfilm announced Diego Luna’s casting in 2015, reactions were mixed. Luna was known for his dramatic roles in films like Y Tu Mamá También and Milk, but a gritty space opera set in the Star Wars universe? That was new territory. Yet, as soon as Rogue One hit theaters in 2016, it became clear that Luna’s portrayal of Cassian Andor was a stroke of brilliance. His gritty, morally complex take on a Rebel operative showed a side of the Rebellion rarely explored in the glossy sheen of galactic heroism.

Cassian wasn’t a clean-cut hero. He shot first, asked questions never, and operated in shades of grey that made Han Solo look like a choir boy. Rogue One gave us a character who wasn’t just fighting for freedom—he was fighting to survive. Diego Luna brought an authenticity to Cassian that was deeply human and refreshingly raw, especially in a franchise known for its mythic heroes and laser-sword-wielding space wizards.

Building the Andor Legacy

Fast forward to 2022 when Andor Season One dropped on Disney+. Fans were skeptical—could Cassian’s backstory really hold up an entire series? The answer, as it turned out, was a resounding yes. Created by Tony Gilroy, the mastermind behind Rogue One, Andor took the Star Wars universe into uncharted territory. No Jedi. No lightsabers. Just gritty rebellion, espionage, and the brutal reality of fighting the Empire from the shadows.

Luna’s performance elevated Andor beyond typical Star Wars fare. His portrayal of Cassian as a man trapped between survival and ideology brought depth to the Rebellion we hadn’t seen before. In many ways, Andor Season One was a masterclass in slow-burn storytelling. Each episode peeled back the layers of Cassian’s life, showing how ordinary people become revolutionaries—not out of prophecy, but out of necessity.

A Decade of Rebellion

Now, in 2025, we’re on the brink of Andor Season Two, which is set to be Diego Luna’s final turn as Cassian Andor. A full decade after his casting announcement, Luna’s journey with the character is coming to an end, but the legacy of Cassian Andor will undoubtedly ripple across Star Wars lore. Andor proved that Star Wars could be more than just epic duels and galactic dogfights; it could be intimate, personal, and raw.

Reflecting on a Decade of Andor

As we look back on ten years of Diego Luna as Cassian Andor, it’s impossible not to appreciate how much the character has grown—and how much he has shaped Star Wars storytelling. From his morally gray debut in Rogue One to the layered, intense character study in Andor, Luna brought a grounded authenticity to the Rebellion. His portrayal peeled back the glossy surface of Star Wars and revealed the dirt, grit, and sacrifice required to resist the Empire.

The End of an Era, the Start of a Legacy

As we look forward to Andor Season Two, there’s a bittersweet feeling in knowing that this is the end of the line for Cassian. But if the first season is anything to go by, his final act will be nothing short of spectacular. Diego Luna took a side character from a standalone film and transformed him into one of the most compelling figures in the Star Wars universe. And he did it with grit, heart, and just the right amount of recklessness.

Here’s to a decade of rebellion—and to whatever comes next.