Andor Star Diego Luna finally opens up about his Emmy Nomination snub for Season 2

Diego Luna, the star of Andor, has responded to his exclusion from the acting nominations at the 2025 Emmy Awards. Although Andor Season 2 was nominated in 14 categories, including Outstanding Drama Series, Luna did not make the list in Best Actor in a Drama Series.

His acting on the show, playing Cassian Andor, who evolves from reluctant survivor to dedicated rebel, had earned praise from critics as well as fans, so the snub was surprising.

In his first public remarks, Luna downplayed the idea of unfairness.

“I’ve had to be nominated because someone stays out, right? And surely someone who had many merits. So that’s how these things are. I’m sorry, it’s not a robbery,” he said.

He highlighted his elation about the series being recognized as a whole:

"For me, the one that gets me excited very much is best series, best drama series, because that's what honors everyone's work."

Luna also expressed a desire that more of his co-workers had been honored:

"Of course, I would have preferred to see not only my name, but also the work of many colleagues."

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Andor Season 2 wins big at the Emmys

And while Luna didn't receive a nomination in the acting categories, Andor season 2 did well for itself at the 2025 Emmy Awards. Andor earned 14 nominations overall, which made it the third-most nominated Star Wars show after two seasons of The Mandalorian, reports Deadline.

The nominees comprised Outstanding Drama Series, together with directing, writing, and guest acting nominations. Forest Whitaker earned the only acting nomination for playing Saw Gerrera in the Guest Actor category.

Season 2 expanded the show's trend of blending political intrigue with character storytelling. Esquire reports that the show has been praised for pushing the Star Wars saga forward without relying on franchise spectacle, opting instead for character work and thematic resonance.

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Diego Luna looking back at his role and the snub

Luna's performance as Cassian Andor changed the trajectory of his career. Before this break, Luna had complained about being stereotyped in drug dealer roles, which he claimed did not allow him to delve into depth into characters. In this show, as per IMDb News, Luna was able to portray a multi-layered journey over 12 episodes, with a character going through moral and political dilemmas.

His method depended on understated performance instead of action-oriented drama. Critics spoke of his work as the emotional foundation of the series. Fans and creators were criticized for the absence of an Emmy nomination. Showrunner Tony Gilroy informed Deadline that performances in Andor are "long-term character studies," which could be unlike common Emmy voter preferences.

Nonetheless, Luna kept a realistic perspective.

"Well, that's what happens," he responded in his statement.

He emphasized the importance of the group acknowledgment:

"For me, the nomination that excites me a lot is the best series, the best drama series, because that's what celebrates everyone's work."

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Wider reaction and implications for genre shows

The exclusion of Luna from the acting categories has ignited wider debates about how genre television is honored. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, viewers and industry onlookers wondered whether sci-fi and franchise-based shows encounter systemic handicaps at awards time.

A few critics drew parallels between Luna's snub and acting nominations for the actors of equal roles, such as Pedro Pascal for The Last of Us. Others pointed out that though Andor has received acclaim for its writing and production, performances in science fiction tend to be less recognized by the Television Academy.

Luna's response seems to reflect these conversations without dwelling on individual disappointment. His words suggest an affinity for rejoicing in the group achievement of the show, while recognizing that several cast members were not acknowledged:

"Clearly, I would have preferred to see not only my name, but the effort of many colleagues."

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Diego Luna's reaction to his Emmy snub is one of acceptance but also a demand for greater acknowledgement of the effort shared in Andor.