A Sleepless Celebration

Host Kristin Baver welcomes Diego Luna to the stage. Despite running on only two hours of sleep, Luna expresses gratitude for the fans, noting how special it was to share the premiere episode of Andor Season 2 with a live audience the previous day. He calls the moment a full circle experience, as fans have supported the character since Rogue One.

A Decade of Andor

Baver notes that it has been almost 10 years since Rogue One premiered. Luna reflects on how he originally thought his time in Star Wars would be a one-and-done experience, coming from a traditional film background. While he and Alan Tudyk joked on set about doing a prequel, there were no live-action Star Wars television shows at the time, so it did not seem like a real possibility.

The Appeal of Cassian

When asked why fans gravitate toward Cassian, Luna credits Rogue One for committing to a different kind of storytelling. He explains that while Star Wars is filled with fantasy elements and Jedi, Andor focuses on regular people, reminding viewers that behind every revolution there are everyday people making sacrifices who often go forgotten by history.

Praising the Crew

Luna deflects the crowd’s applause, insisting that the real credit belongs to the massive crew behind the scenes. He points out that the 45-minute episode the fans watched took months of work from hundreds of people, praising the costume designers, set builders, makeup artists, and crew who returned because they cared deeply about the story.

A Message to the Fans

Luna concludes with a heartfelt message, expressing awe that 125 different countries and cultures are represented at the convention. He calls the fandom an example of what people can achieve when they celebrate differences while bonding over a shared passion, and says the fans’ energy inspires the cast and crew to get it right.