‘Rogue One’ actor Diego Luna to play transgender woman in new movie ‘Berlin, I Love You’
The actor is best known for starring in 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
Actor Diego Luna has been cast to play a transgender woman in the upcoming movie Berlin, I Love You despite criticism of cisgender actors playing LGBT roles.
Best known for starring in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the Mexican actor – who has also starred in the LGBT+ movies Tu Mamá También and Milk – was cast to star in the new Emmanuel Benbihy movie as a transgender woman.
In a clip, which was shared on NewNowNext, it sees Luna’s character discussing sexuality and gender with a bi-curious teenager played by Michelangelo Fortuzzi.
During their conversation, Fortuzzi’s character says: “I don’t know if I prefer to kiss men or women… Will you please kiss me?
“I want to know how it feels, to kiss a man.”
Luna then replies: “You know what, baby, right now you’re in front of a woman. It’s just not going to work.”
The teen then responds: “But you are a man.” To which Luna says it is a “little more complicated” than that.
Watch the clip below:
Luna’s casting has caused controversy after a number of other cisgender actors – including Scarlett Johansson – were slammed for being cast in transgender roles when many trans actors struggle to find roles.
The new movie – which is the latest in the Cities of Love series – includes a stellar cast including the likes of Kiera Knightly, Helen Mirren and Mickey Rourke.