Filming for Second Season of Diego Luna’s “Star Wars” Prequel “Andor” to Begin in Late November

Posted on November 8, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Diego Luna is back at War…

Andor, the Star Wars prequel starring the 42-year-old Mexican actor and producer, has already set the start of filming for its second season with creator Tony Gilroy revealing the date.

Earlier this year, Gilroy confirmed that the second season of Andor would start shooting in November.

Eager fans had been anxious to find out when that would be and Gilroy recently told Collider in an interview that the Disney+ series would start shooting “the Monday before Thanksgiving,” which is November 21.

The show was planned out as a two-season adventure with the second season leading up to the events in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story where audiences were first introduced to Luna’s Cassian Andor character. Each season would consist of 12 episodes for a total of 24 episodes.

Gilroy had previously said the first season would consist of one year presented throughout 12 episodes. The second season would be broken into “four blocks of three [episodes]” with “each block” representing “another year closer.”

“We really get to take the formative forging of Cassian Andor in the first 12 episodes and then we get to take that organism that we’ve built up and run it through the next four years in a really exciting narrative fashion,” he added.

Gilroy hinted that the last season of Episode 24 would “walk the audience directly into the first scenes of Rogue One.”

Andor explores a new perspective from the Star Wars galaxy, focusing on Cassian Andor’s journey to discover the difference he can make. The series brings forward the tale of the burgeoning rebellion against the Empire and how people and planets became involved. It’s an era filled with danger, deception and intrigue where Cassian embarks on the path that is destined to turn him into a rebel hero.

Justina Machado Wins First-Ever Imagen Award for Her “One Day at a Time” Performance

Posted on August 19, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

The third time’s the charm for Justina Machado…

The 44-year-old Puerto Rican actress, a three-time nominee, picked up her first Imagen Award. The awards honor the positive portrayal and creative excellence of Latinos and Latino cultures on screen.

Machado, who’d previously been nominated for her performances on HBO’s Six Feet Under in 2005 and 2006, took home the Best Actress – Television award for her performance in Netflix’s One Day at a Time, which was named Best Primetime Television Program – Comedy.

Machado’s on screen children, Isabella Gomez and Marcel Ruiz, also picked up awards. Gomez was named Best Supporting Actress – Television; Ruiz was named Best Young Actor – Television.

Scandal star Guillermo Diaz was named Best Actor – Television, his first Imagen Award in two attempts.

Peter Gadiot picked up his first Imagen Award, and his first acting prize in his first-ever nomination. The 31-year-old half-Mexican actor was named Best Supporting Actor – Television for his work on Queen of The South.

In film, Miguel Arteta won the best director award for Beatriz at Dinner, while Diego Luna was named best actor – feature film for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Best actress – feature film was awarded to Salma Hayek for her work in How to be a Latin Lover.

Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and his family were given the Imagen Foundation’s President’s Award for their humanitarian and artistic contributions.

The Imagen Awards were hosted by comedian/actress Aida Rodriguez before more than 600 attendees.

The Imagen Awards 2017 winners were judged and selected in seventeen categories by an independent panel of entertainment industry executives and Latino community leaders. The Imagen Awards program was established in 1985.

Here’s a look at the complete list of 2017 Imagen Awards winners:

Best Picture: How to be a Latin Lover
Best Director: Miguel Arteta, Beatriz at Dinner
Best Actor – Feature Film: Diego Luna, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Best Actress – Feature Film: Salma Hayek, How to be a Latin Lover
Best Primetime Television Program – Drama: Queen of the South
Best Primetime Television Program – Comedy: One Day at a Time
Best Primetime Program: Specials, Movies, & Mini-Series: American Crime
Best Actor – Television: Guillermo Diaz, Scandal
Best Actress – Television: Justina Machado, One Day at a Time
Best Supporting Actor – Television: Peter Gadiot, Queen of The South
Best Supporting Actress – Television: Isabella Gomez, One Day at a Time
Best Young Actor – Television: Marcel Ruiz, One Day at a Time
Best Variety or Reality Show: Fluffy Breaks Even
Best Children’s Programming: Elena of Avalor
Best Documentary: ESPN Features: SC Reportajes “The Heights”
Best Informational Program: Gaycation with Ellen Page
Best On-Air Advertising: Acura MDX: “Family Home”

Luna Joins Voice Cast of John Legend’s Animated VR Series “Rainbow Crow”

Posted on April 20, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Diego Luna is chasing the Rainbow…

The 37-year-old Mexican actor has joined the voice cast of Rainbow Crow, the new animated virtual reality series from Baobab Studios that John Legend is producing and toplining.

The first chapter of the series, which is based on a Native American legend, will be unveiled Friday in a world premiere screening at the Tribeca Film Festival.

In the series, carefree forest animals imagine that spring will last forever. However, winter comes and the animals soon realize that their lives are in danger. What they need is a hero: what they need is Rainbow Crow (Legend).

Luna will voice Moth, one of Rainbow Crow’s companions helping him along his journey to save the forest.

“Rainbow Crow is a tale about sacrifice, diversity, and self-acceptance, so we are proud to have an incredibly distinctive cast of talented storytellers who share our values. We can’t wait for audiences to experience what these wonderful actors have created,” said Baobab Studios CEO and founder Maureen Fan.

Baobab co-founder and chief creative officer Eric Darnell, whose credits include writing and directing DreamWorks Animation’s Madacascar franchise and Antz, is directing.

Luna, who starred in the blockbuster Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, previously formed part of the voice cast of Guillermo del Toro’s The Book of Life.

Luna to Serve on the Berlin Film Festival’s International Jury

Posted on February 1, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Diego Luna is joining the judge’s panel…

The 37-year-old Mexican actor, producer and director has been named to the Berlin Film Festival’s International Jury this year.

Maggie Gyllenhaal, German actress Julia Jentsch, Tunisian producer Dora Bouchoucha, Iceland’s Olafur Eliasson and Chinese writer-director Wang Quan’an will join Luna to round out the jury that will decide who will receive the Golden and Silver Bears at Berlinale next month.

Dutch helmer-writer Paul Verhoeven will lead the jury as President.

Luna’s breakthrough role come with Alfonso Cuarón’s Y Tu Mamá También and he’s recently stared in Disney’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and has had roles in Contraband, Milk and The Terminal. His directorial debut Abel premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2010.

The Berlin Film Festival takes place February 9-19.

Luna’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” Breaks the $1 Billion Mark

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Diego Luna is a Billion Dollar Man…

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, starring the 37-year-old Mexican actor, zoomed across the $1B threshold at the global box office on Saturday.

Saturday was the 39th day of release for the Gareth Edwards-helmed spinoff.

Rogue now becomes the lucky 13th Disney film to reach the $1B milestone and the 3rd Star Wars picture ever to do so. It’s also the Mouse’s 4th release of 2016 to hit those heights.

The current cume split is $512.2M domestic and $499.1M international for a global total of $1,011.3M through Sunday. In the standings, Rogue is the No. 1 release of 2016 domestically and the No. 7 of all time. Globally, it’s the No. 4 movie of 2016.

In another milestone, Rogue is the 7th movie ever to top $100M worldwide in IMAX with $101.3M to date.

The Felicity Jones-led tale of the heroic group that sacrifices everything to steal plans for the Death Star and set up Episode IV: A New Hope, has had its best performance to date in the UK ($79.4M), followed by China ($61.3M) and Germany ($44.8M).

Luna’s previous best box office performer was The Terminal, starring Tom Hanks. The film earned $219 million worldwide.

Smits to Make Cameo Appearance in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”

Posted on August 5, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Jimmy Smits is going Rogue…

The 61-year-old Puerto Rican actor and Star Wars alum has confirmed that he’ll be appearing in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Smits, who played Bail Organa in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, confirmed on The Talk that he’ll show up in Rogue One.

“Can you say the word cameo?” he said laughing. “Can you say the words small part?”

Star Wars fans will know that Bail Organa was the adoptive father to Princess Leia. He also bit the dust in A New Hope after the Death Star blows up the planet Alderaan. However, since Rogue One takes place before A New Hope, Smits’ character has yet to meet his end and is presumably working with the rest of the growing Rebel Alliance.

This won’t be the first time that Smits has returned to his Star Wars role. He offered his voice to the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game back in 2008.

Disney Unveils Trailer for Luna’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Diego Luna is going Rogue…

Disney premiered the long-awaited trailer for its first Star Wars spinoff feature, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, starring the 36-year-old Mexican actor, on Good Morning America.

Directed by Gareth Edwards, Rogue One takes place prior to 1977’s Star Wars and revolves around a gang of rebel spies who steal the Death Star plans, which are ultimately uploaded on R2-D2.

Details on the film have been tight, and the teaser comes as a big revelation of what’s to come. Apparently, neither Jedis nor the Force will appear in this movie, although there have been whispers about a Darth Vader cameo.

Oscar nominee Felicity Jones plays chief spy Jyn Erso, while Riz Ahmed and Luna portray resistance fighters assisting in the heist. Ben Mendelsohn portrays a dominant Imperial villain. Forest Whitaker, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen and Mads Mikkelsen also star. In addition, there’s a number of AT-ATs wreaking havoc on a tropical beach. But the cameo that has Star Wars fans giddy this morning is red-haired rebel leader Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly), last seen in 1983’s Return of the Jedi and 2005’s Revenge of the Sith. She calls Jones’ Erso “reckless, aggressive and undisciplined”.

Chris Weitz and Gary Whitta wrote the Rogue One screenplay based on an idea by John Knoll. Similar to last year with Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Christmas comes early with Rogue One opening on December 16. Force Awakens broke the domestic box office record with $247.97 million on its way to $2 billion worldwide.

The movie marks the first time that the Star Wars story has been told on the big screen outside the confines of its episodic structure.

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