Diego Luna Explains Why He’ll Never Revisit This Iconic Role
Diego Luna opens up about why he’s against making a sequel to Y tu mamá también, reflecting on the film’s unique place in cinema and the risks of revisiting beloved classics.
Sequels, prequels, and spinoffs often get a bad rap for lacking originality, but sometimes they breathe new life into familiar stories. Take Andor, for example—the Disney+ series that dives into the backstory of Cassian Andor, the rebel hero from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. While Rogue One was a massive hit, its production was famously rocky, with major reshoots and edits happening just before release. Because of that, Diego Luna’s character didn’t get the depth he deserved, as the spotlight mostly stayed on Jyn Erso, played by Felicity Jones. Cassian’s fate at the end of Rogue One meant his story seemed finished, but Andor gave fans a chance to see how he became a key figure in the Rebellion, making the original film even richer.
For viewers who’ve watched both seasons of the Emmy-winning show, Cassian’s journey in Rogue One now feels more meaningful. But continuing a story that already feels complete is a tough challenge. That’s exactly why Diego Luna recently shared with The Guardian that he has no interest in ever making a sequel to Y tu mamá también. The coming-of-age classic, directed by Alfonso Cuarón, starred Luna and Gael García Bernal as two teens on a life-changing road trip with an older woman. The film’s unforgettable ending reveals that the two friends never see each other again, and Luna believes trying to revisit that story would be a mistake.
“I don’t think it’s worth it,”
he said.
“It was special and unique, but it was part of its time. Films like that are like marks on the ground; they’re a reminder of something that happened and is gone. We cannot just say: ‘Let’s do it again.’”
Why Some Stories Should Stay Untouched
Taking on a sequel to a beloved film is always a gamble. For every hit like Blade Runner 2049 or Top Gun: Maverick, there’s a flop like Independence Day: Resurgence or Zoolander 2. Y tu mamá también would be especially tough to revisit, since the characters’ youth is so central to the story. Even though fans would love to see Luna and Bernal team up again, the magic of the original would be hard to recapture if the focus shifted to older versions of their characters, Julio and Tenoch.
The only scenario where a sequel might work, Luna suggests, is if Alfonso Cuarón himself returned to direct. Oddly enough, Cuarón hasn’t made a feature film in nearly a decade. After winning his second Best Director Oscar for Roma, he’s been busy with the Apple TV+ miniseries Disclaimer, which didn’t quite live up to expectations. While Luna would love to see Cuarón back behind the camera, he doesn’t think it should be for a Y tu mamá también follow-up.