Diego Luna begins his 10-year journey to bring La Máquina to the screen

Her new series La Máquina, now available to stream on Disney Plus in the UK, follows an aging boxer (Bernal) whose manager and friend (Luna) is determined to get him back to the top.

However, when a nefarious organization rears its head, it is a matter of life and death.

Luna recently spoke exclusively to RadioTimes.com about the new drama and the ten-year journey he and Bernal have taken to get to this point.

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“Well, it’s been a long time,” Luna explained. “I think it’s been ten years since Gael and I talked about working together again and making sure it was something that allowed us to continue to explore the themes that we care about and friendship, Mexico and boxing.” seemed like the right way to go.

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“The Story of a Boxer was a great opportunity for us to also reflect on the Mexico we experienced as teenagers.

“So, yeah, it was 10 years ago when we met and said, ‘Let’s talk about a boxer and his manager, the end of a career.’ Then we wanted to make a film. Then this film got a little too robust, there was suddenly too much we wanted to talk about.

“And that became this project. By working with Fox Searchlight, we found great partners who were open to exploring and developing this with us, and here we are.”

Luna also spoke about his personal background in boxing, explaining: “I made a documentary about Julio César Chávez, a great boxer, one of the great champions of Mexico, and he was at the peak of his career when I was 12.”

“So I remember he was my reference, he was the Mexican who beat everyone, he was the most successful story in sport that I could identify with.”

“Boxing is a huge sport in Mexico, I think it’s one of the things we’re really good at. There were many, many Mexican champions.”

“But boxing is also a great way to talk about fame, about an event that concentrates and connects different parts of society in my country – an event that creates big stars, people who become really popular.”

“You know, a fighter can be known in every class of society. And what it produces is so primal, the event is so powerful.”

“And it’s also very theatrical, it happens to the people there and you witness something that won’t happen again. It’s also a great tool for talking about what popularity does to you and what those stories can do, on a personal level and on an intimate level.

“I think talking about a boxer and a manager is a great way to also talk about the world that Gael and I experience and live in every day.”

“And this whole idea of ​​ending a career too. How do you end your career? Everyone teaches you how to get there, but no one teaches you goodbye.”

“So it was a fun and interesting trip that I was able to take with my close friend and also reconnect with many people in Mexico. We have assembled a team made up of the people we have worked with since day one. It’s not just us, but there are other people in this crew who were on Y tu mamá también, so that’s where it goes.”

La Máquina is now streaming on Disney Plus. You can sign up to Disney Plus now for £4.99 per month or £79.90 per year.

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