With its sweeping story of fathers and sons, brothers and sisters, and moody teenagers hating sand, Star Wars is uniquely suited as a film that parents can share with their children. Yet for actor Diego Luna, his relationship with Star Wars and his children suddenly and drastically changed when he was cast in director Gareth Edwards’ Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The charming Mexican actor plays Captain Cassian Andor, an intelligence officer working for the Rebel Alliance who may exude Han Solo vibes, but plays far dirtier than our favorite scruffy-looking nerf herder ever would.

For Luna, getting cast in Star Wars was a dream come true and something he was very excited to share with his children. Recently, at a press day in San Francisco, I sat down with Luna to talk to him about when being a part of the galaxy far, far away became real to him, the moment he found out he landed the role (as well as the mean trick Gareth Edwards played on him), and his kids’ adorable reactions to seeing some of the very first footage of their father in action as Cassian Andor.

What would your reaction be to getting cast in Star Wars? Let us know in the comments below.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story opens on December 16, 2016. Be sure to read our spoiler-free review!

Dan Casey is the senior editor of Nerdist and the author of books about Star Wars and the Avengers. Follow him on Twitter (@Osteoferocious).