Diego Luna explains something bigger has led to lifelong friendship with La Maquina’s Gael Garcia Bernal

More than two decades after their breakout roles in Y Tu Mamá También, Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal have reunited on screen in La Máquina, Hulu’s first Spanish-language series. While their professional partnership has been lauded in Hollywood, their friendship traces back much further, to their childhood days in Mexico when both actors co-starred in stage plays and shared a close bond through their families.

Diego Luna and Gael Grcia Bernal’s unbreakable bond:

La Máquina brings the two actors together once again, with García Bernal, 45, playing Esteban, a seasoned boxing champion, and Luna, 44, portraying his appearance-obsessed manager. The six-episode limited series dives deep into the physical and emotional complexities of the sport, exploring themes of brotherhood, ambition, and the existential challenges athletes face as they near the end of their careers.

García Bernal, reflecting on the universal nature of boxing, noted the deeper symbolism of the sport. “Boxing is a sport where you win, you lose, but there’s this interesting dichotomy between sport and life,” he said. “People who excel in sports sometimes think life operates the same way—but it doesn’t. It’s not about winning or losing.”

The actor continued, emphasizing that La Máquina aims to challenge traditional notions of success. “It’s not a search for victory. It’s about exploring the trap of success, the capitalist pressures that force individuals into decisions that compromise their freedom. We wanted to explore how, by losing, you can sometimes truly win.”

Luna and García Bernal have both experienced tremendous success in their careers since Y Tu Mamá También. Luna’s recent credits include his starring role as Cassian Andor in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and the Disney+ series Andor. Meanwhile, García Bernal won a Golden Globe in 2016 for his portrayal of orchestra conductor Rodrigo De Souza in Mozart in the Jungle.

Despite their thriving careers and the demands of fatherhood, both actors have worked hard to maintain their friendship. Luna shares two children, Jeronimo, 16, and Fiona, 14, with ex-partner Camila Sodi, while García Bernal has three children—Lázaro, 15, Libertad, 13, and a 2-year-old daughter—with ex Dolores Fonzi and Fernanda Aragonés. Luna acknowledges that their deep bond has transcended their busy lives, noting, “Something bigger keeps us together.”