The 2025 Emmy nominations are out, and while Andor soared with 14 total nods, one name was shockingly missing: Diego Luna. The actor, who delivered a career-defining performance as Cassian Andor, was snubbed for Best Actor in a Drama Series, leaving fans and critics alike scratching their heads.
Luna's performance in Andor season 2 was widely hailed as one of the best in modern Star Wars storytelling. Across 12 episodes, he navigated the transformation of Cassian from disillusioned survivor to burgeoning rebel with a raw intensity that didn’t require lightsaber duels or flashy effects to hit home. His quiet defiance, layered grief, and hard-earned conviction were the heartbeat of the show, skyrocketing Andor into prestige TV territory.
The Television Academy clearly did recognize the show’s quality. Andor received nominations for Outstanding Drama Series, Directing (Benjamin Caron), Writing (Beau Willimon), Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (Forest Whitaker), Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Alan Tudyk as K-2SO), and a slew of technical categories, including cinematography, editing, music, sound, and visual effects. The recognition confirms what fans have known since its debut – Andor is a masterclass in sci-fi storytelling.
Nonetheless, the glaring lack of a lead acting nomination didn’t sit well with fans.
Fans have already rallied on social media. The backlash peaked on X (formerly Twitter), where one post captured the sentiment perfectly: “Diego Luna was robbed. He was phenomenal throughout Andor and him not being nominated is shameful.”
Another fan also expressed outrage, spotlighting the irony of picking Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us) for only five minutes of screentime while ignoring Luna, “Nominating Pedro Pascal for his 5 total minutes of screen time… but snubbing Diego Luna in Andor is insane.”
This isn’t the first time the Emmys have failed to recognize genre performances, particularly in science fiction. Shows like Battlestar Galactica, The Mandalorian, and even Stranger Things have historically seen love in technical categories while being shut out of major acting wins. However, with Andor’s critical acclaim, many thought this year might finally break the mold.
Luna has consistently remained gracious in the press, frequently mentioning the collaborative nature of the series and the team’s shared pride in the Star Wars project.
When the freshman season of Andor received Emmy nods, he said, “The meaning of collaboration is defined by the way we work. This is a team that I really feel proud of being a part of.”
Still, for a show that so boldly interrogates empire, power, and resistance through one man’s journey, it’s hard not to see this as a miss.
The rebellion lives on but the Emmys might need a second look at who’s leading the charge.