Rogue One: Diego Luna comments on Star Wars diversity

Diego Luna seems thrilled to be bringing more diversity to a galaxy far, far away.

“A Mexican in Star Wars? Come on!” he exclaimed during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. “And in a role that actually lasts more than 10 seconds.”

Luna is one of many diverse castings in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the first standalone anthology film set within the cinematic universe. He portrays a veteran Intelligence Officer for the Rebels named Captain Cassian Andor, alongside Felicity Jones (Jyn Erso), Donnie Yen (Chirrut Imwe), Forest Whitaker (Saw Gerrera), Riz Ahmed (Bodhi Rook), and Jiang Wen (Baze Malbus).

“I’m a huge fan,” he told host Ellen DeGeneres. “I was backstage looking at the clip, going like, ‘I can’t believe that’s me.’ Like, ‘Oh my god, look how cool these are.'”

Watch Luna geek out over his Star Wars role in the clip below, which also includes a throwback to when he graced a Mexican magazine cover as a child. “You run away from your past. I crossed the border. I start to speak English to try to avoid going back to that,” he joked.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story drops into theaters on Dec. 16.