First Look: Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal Reunite in Hulu's Spanish-Language Original Series 'La Máquina'

Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal have been friends for a really long time. But beyond that, the Mexican duo have been able to build very strong careers in the entertainment industry. Luna and García Bernal will work together once again in La Máquina, and Hulu has just released the first look at the upcoming television series. The Hulu show will also be the streaming platform's first project released in Spanish as its first language.

The premise of La Máquina (which translates to "The Machine") will follow an aging boxer and his manager. The athlete will soon realize that his abilities in the ring aren't the ones he can trust in, leading him on a journey to adapt to his new life alongside the person who has seen him grow over the course of his career. The boxer and his manager will decide to take on one more match. But the road to the performer's last chance at glory won't be an easy one to conquer.

La Máquina will premiere on Hulu on October 9. The story will consist of six episodes, as the respected boxer portrayed by Gael García Bernal attempts to close out his career under his own terms. The series was directed by Gabriel Ripstein, the filmmaker who previously worked on Narcos and 600 Miles. Luna appeared in the Netflix spinoff titled Narcos: Mexico, which also deals with the devastating landscape drug cartels bring upon the territories they take over.

After Diego Luna is seen in the unpredictable twists and turns of La Máquina, the actor will return to one of his most iconic roles. Andor follows the brave Rebel introduced in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The project gives audiences a chance to learn more about the spy and how he came to be involved in Jyn Erso's (Felicity Jones) story. The second season of Andor is set to debut on Disney+ at some point next year. Luna isn't done with the galaxy far, far away just yet.

When it comes to Gael García Bernal, the artist will be seen in Another End, an upcoming drama about two people who love each other deeply. Even after one of the characters passes away. The movie directed by Piero Messina held its world premiere in Italy earlier this year, but it remains to be seen if a studio will acquire distribution rights to screen the project in the United States.

Behind the Scenes of La Máquina

The long-time friends and collaborators, Luna and García Bernal, first appeared together in the critically acclaimed drama Y tu mamá también in 2001. They have worked together since then, founding two production companies, Canana Films in 2005 and La Corriente del Golfo in 2018. The two have also starred together in the 2008 sports film Rudo y Cursi. Despite their prolific careers, La Máquina marks a significant milestone for the actors: their first television series together. In many ways, it allowed them to return home, not only to their native language, but also to work with a crew they’ve known for years.

A Deeper Look at the Characters

Luna's Character: Andy Lujan

You might not recognize Luna when he first appears onscreen as Andy, a hustling boxing manager who spends most of his free time (and money) buying flashy clothes and getting Botox and other age-fighting procedures. In an interview, Luna mentioned that he took inspiration from managers and other talent reps he’s known, “I think he is a real showman, but he’s really playing a role 24/7, and it’s just that the play got old and people don’t want to watch it anymore.”

García Bernal's Character: Esteban Osuna

García Bernal plays Esteban, a boxer who has seen better days. After a devastating loss, Esteban “La Máquina” Osuna is at a low point in his boxing career. But his manager and best friend Andy Lujan is determined to get him back on top, in their final fight together. Despite their efforts, a nefarious organization rears its head, raising the stakes of the rematch to life or death. While struggling to mount a comeback, Esteban must also juggle his own personal demons and protect his family, including his ex-wife Irasema (Eiza González), a journalist who finds herself on a collision course with the dark side of the boxing world.

Eiza González's Character: Irasema

Irasema and Esteban are no longer married, but they share a son and remain friendly. She often gives her two friends the hard truth and does her own digging into the world of boxing. For González, who starred in Baby Driver and the Netflix series 3 Body Problem, joining La Máquina allowed her to play a new type of character. González says that she was interested in tapping into the softer side of her, but the biggest draw was to work with two actors whom she’d grown up admiring. "It was my first time playing a mother, and I just also wanted to really tap into this softer side of me," she says. But the bigger draw was to work with two actors whom she’d grown up admiring. “I’m not going to lie—it was a real ‘pinch me’ moment,” she says, adding that she used to watch García Bernal in a soap opera called El abuelo y yo.

A Touch of Authenticity

The series was filmed in Mexico, presenting a rich and diverse view of the country. The set felt more like family than crew, and for all three actors, it was an opportunity to work in Spanish after spending much of their careers focused on English-language projects. “Spanish is our homeland, in a way. Our linguistic cosmovision operates in Spanish. So we sound quicker in Spanish and we flow a little bit more,” García Bernal says. “But there is that double edge to it. Working with another language is wonderful because it’s a mask, it’s a character, it’s something that is a little bit alien to oneself.”