Andor star Diego Luna reveals how he was typecast by Hollywood before starring in the Star Wars series

Diego Luna, the lead actor in Andor, recently spoke about how he was often typecast in Hollywood before joining the Star Wars universe. At a roundtable discussion with The Hollywood Reporter, Luna said he was repeatedly offered the same kind of role, which is that of a drug dealer.

His comments shed light on how actors from certain backgrounds are boxed into stereotypical characters, often without space to grow or show range. Luna’s experience sheds light on a challenge that many actors face: limited opportunities based on race, origin, or industry bias.

But he also shared that things have started to change. Thanks to evolving audience preferences and shifts in how TV is made, actors are finally being seen for more than one type of role. For Luna, Andor became the project that allowed him to step into something new.

Diego Luna’s experience with typecasting

During the roundtable, Luna said:

“Before Andor, the only project I would get offered would be a drug dealer, right? And then I could be the nice drug dealer and not the very vicious one, but still a drug dealer, you know? And you know when the system doesn't even send you, you know, messages of like, yes, you could probably, you know, find a way to be yourself and still work in those projects that you're looking at, you know? That you're hoping, as audience, you're hoping to see yourself reflect there.”

Luna explained how discouraging it was to be offered only one kind of part. Even when the character was written with some sympathy, it was still the same role. According to him, the system rarely offered space to actors like him to play characters outside this mold.

He also mentioned how this shaped the kind of stories he saw himself in. As a viewer, he hoped to feel represented in the stories on screen—but as an actor, he was not given those same chances.

What Andor changed for Diego Luna

Andor was a turning point. In the show, Luna plays Cassian Andor, a rebel spy in the Star Wars universe. A role completely different from the ones he had been offered before, for the first time, Luna played the lead in a major science fiction franchise where his identity was part of the story, but not reduced to a stereotype.

He spoke about how the reaction to Andor made him feel like something was shifting. Viewers were open to seeing actors like him in different kinds of stories. Hence, it wasn’t just about the industry giving opportunities, but also about audiences coming with new expectations:

Luna said:

“I think things have changed in the last years, and I think this TV system has changed where audiences are sending messages that are giving us, you know, the clues of like, oh, well, if you would like to, if you could pursue an idea of like actually belonging to something you've never belonged before.”

This, for Luna, was a breakthrough moment. The success of Andor not only changed the kind of roles he could play but also helped prove that actors don’t have to be limited by the same roles again and again.

A shift in Hollywood and audience expectations

Luna’s story is one example of how Hollywood has slowly started moving away from old casting patterns. He credits television and its global reach for helping push this shift. With streaming platforms and bigger audience feedback, casting decisions are beginning to change.

Instead of only seeing certain actors in supporting or criminal roles, there’s now more space for them to be leads, heroes, or complex figures. Luna’s experience with Andor shows that when given the chance, actors who were once stuck in the same roles can thrive in something bigger and more meaningful.

His story also shows that audience preferences have enough power to turn the tables. As people ask for more variety and more honest representation, the industry is forced to take notice. Luna’s journey from playing drug dealers to starring in a Star Wars series reflects that progress.

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Andor is available to watch on Disney+.

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