Diego Luna Explains Why He’ll Never Revisit This Iconic Role

Sequels, prequels, and spin-offs often cop a bit of flak for being a sign that Hollywood’s running out of fresh ideas. Still, there’s something to be said for getting another crack at a familiar story. Take Andor for example—the Disney+ prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story—which gave Diego Luna a shot at playing a younger Cassian Andor. While Rogue One pulled in a massive crowd at the box office, the production was a bit of a shambles, with heaps of reshoots and edits right before it hit cinemas. Luna’s character didn’t get much of a look-in, with most of the attention on Jyn Erso, played by Felicity Jones. Since Cassian meets his end in Rogue One, a follow-up was off the cards, but Andor managed to fill in the gaps, showing how he got mixed up with the Rebellion and actually making the original story stronger.

For punters who’ve watched both seasons of the Emmy-winning series, Cassian’s story in Rogue One hits a bit harder now. But picking up where a classic left off isn’t always a walk in the park. That’s why Luna told The Guardian he’s not keen on the idea of a sequel to Y tu mamá también. Alfonso Cuarón’s coming-of-age gem starred Luna and Gael García Bernal as two young blokes on a road trip with an older woman, learning a thing or two about life and love along the way. The film’s ending, where it’s revealed the two mates never cross paths again, is one of its most memorable moments. Luna reckons trying to revisit that story would be a mistake.

“I don’t think it’s worth it,”

he said.

“It was special and unique, but it was part of its time. Films like that are like marks on the ground; they’re a reminder of something that happened and is gone. We cannot just say: ‘Let’s do it again’.”

Why Some Stories Are Best Left Alone

Having a crack at a sequel to a much-loved classic is always a gamble. For every hit like Blade Runner 2049 or Top Gun: Maverick, there’s a flop like Independence Day: Resurgence or Zoolander 2. Y tu mamá también would be a tough one to follow up, especially since the characters’ ages are so central to the story. Even though plenty of fans would be keen to see Luna and Bernal team up again, it’s hard to imagine the same spark if the story picked up with older versions of Julio and Tenoch.

The only way a sequel might get off the ground is if Cuarón himself came back to direct. Oddly enough, he hasn’t made a film in nearly a decade. After winning his second Best Director Oscar for Roma, he’s mostly been tied up with the Apple TV+ miniseries Disclaimer, which didn’t exactly set the world on fire. While it’d be great to see Luna convince him to return to filmmaking, it doesn’t have to be for a Y tu mamá también follow-up.

The Challenge of Recapturing Lightning in a Bottle

There’s always a risk that trying to recapture the magic of a classic will fall flat. The original film’s charm came from its timing, the chemistry between the leads, and the sense of discovery that can’t really be faked years down the track. Luna’s not interested in taking that risk, and it’s hard to blame him. Some stories are best left as they are—a snapshot of a moment that can’t be repeated.