Diego Luna is no stranger to the spotlight, but his latest project, Ashes, marks a deeply personal return to independent filmmaking. The actor and director, best known for his role as Cassian Andor in the acclaimed Disney+ series Andor, sat down at the Cannes Film Festival to discuss how his experience on that sci-fi masterpiece—and working with showrunner Tony Gilroy—inspired him to step behind the camera again.
Based on Brenda Navarro's novel Eating Ashes, the film follows Lucila (Anna Díaz), a young woman who has been raising her younger brother Diego (Sergio Bautista) in Mexico after their mother Isabel (Adriana Paz) left for Spain nearly a decade ago in search of a better life. When Lucila finally sets out to reunite with her mother, she confronts the painful realities of migration, sacrifice, and the stories we tell ourselves about those who leave us.
Luna, who co-wrote the script with Abia Castillo and the book's editor, says the novel hit him hard. "It was painful. It was beautiful," he recalls. "I was listening to a Mexican story that I didn't know." What surprised him most was the direction of the migration—instead of heading north to the United States, the characters move to Spain, reflecting a growing trend among Latin Americans seeking safety from the dangers of crossing through Mexico. "It's interesting to reflect on what this community is bringing into Spain and how Spain receives them," Luna adds.
The film is also deeply personal for Luna, who lost his mother when he was two years old. "Most of the films I do tackle story from that angle—from the perspective of the kids and how they grew up," he explains. "For me, this was a story about absence." That emotional core drove his visual approach, using intimate close-ups and extended single takes to keep the audience locked into Lucila's perspective.
When asked how his time on Andor influenced his return to indie filmmaking, Luna credits Tony Gilroy's meticulous process. "Working with Tony was a masterclass in storytelling," he says. "He taught me to trust the audience and to let the story breathe." That confidence, Luna says, gave him the courage to tackle Ashes with a similar patience and depth. "I wanted to make something that felt honest and lived-in, not rushed."
Luna also emphasizes the collaborative nature of the project. He worked closely with his actors to ensure their own experiences shaped the characters. Adriana Paz, who plays the mother, spent time in Spain and drew from her own migration journey. "The beauty of working with great actors is that they allow the story to become theirs," Luna says. "I have to understand where they're seeing it from and find a way to translate that into their own experience."
As for what's next, Luna hints that Ashes is just the beginning of a new chapter. "I'm excited to keep telling stories that challenge how we see the world," he says. "Migration isn't just about borders—it's about the people behind the headlines."
For fans of Andor and indie cinema alike, Ashes promises to be a powerful, intimate exploration of family, loss, and the courage to rewrite your own story. And if you're looking for more underrated sci-fi gems, check out our list of Hidden Gems: 8 Sci-Fi TV Shows That Are Underrated Masterpieces.
