Diego Luna Joins ‘Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One’

DirectorGareth Edwardsis quietly putting together an amazing, diverse cast for his upcomingStar Warsfilm. We knowFelicity Jonesis on board, and we’ve heardRiz AhmedandBen Mendelsohnmight be along for the ride too. NowVarietyreportsDiego Lunawill join the team forStar Wars Anthology: Rogue One, which follows a group of solders who steal the plans for the Death Star.

The trade also reports Mendelsohn’s role is that of the lead villain. Read more about theRogue Onecasting below.

Diego Luna

Varietybroke the news of Luna’sRogue Onecasting. Neither Lucasfilm or Disney would comment, of course, but the report is he’s one of the film’s leads, along with Jones and Ahmed.

They’re all part of “a band of resistance fighters unite for a daring mission to steal the Death Star plans.” Variety is also reporting that Mendelsohn’s role is not part of the team. Instead, he’ll be the film’s villain, which could potentially be some kind of Imperial Officer.

Luna first hit the mainstream with a starring role in Alfonso Cuaron’sY Tu Mama Tambien. Since then, he’s worked with Steven Spielberg, Gun Van Sant, Harmony Korine and many more. After becoming something of an “it” actor, he more recently took a step back, choosing to focus on producing and directing. He appears in films here and there, but this would be his biggest role to date.

Rogue Oneis the first “Star Wars Anthology” film, meaning it’s a film that’s set in the Star Wars universe, but doesn’t focus on the main story. In this case, the story takes place before the originalStar Warsas the results of this film directly play into the first scene of that movie. The plans stole in Rogue One will go to Princess Leia, who puts them in R2-D2, and then find their way Luke Skywalker.

Gary Whitta wrote the first draft of theRogue Onescript and Chris Weitz is completing it. The film is currently scheduled for release August 26, 2025 and will be followed six months later by Rian Johnson’sStar Wars Episode VIII.Then the next year, a second Anthology film which is rumored to be a Boba Fett origin, should be out.

What do you think of this latest piece of Rogue One casting?