Ubisoft and Lucasfilm’s open-world video game “ Star Wars Outlaws ” launched Friday, giving fans of the galaxy far, far away a chance to play as a new character, Kay Vess (voiced by “Tarot” and “Star Trek: Section 31” star Humberly González ) in a story set in between the events of the original film trilogy’s “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.”

This new lead isn’t a Jedi or Sith, a rebel or an Imperial sympathizer — she’s a scoundrel trying to survive the crime-ridden “Star Wars” universe with little to no knowledge of the crime syndicates that rule and no one but a little sidekick companion named Nix to help her out.

“It's a truly exciting timeline, and I know this from the creative team — Nikki Foy, the lead script writer, and Navid Khavari, our narrative director. When this opportunity came to them and they discovered the timeline they would be working within was set between ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ and ‘Return of the Jedi,’ I think everyone was surprised,” González told Variety . “And they always say, ‘We got out of there before they changed their minds,’ because this is a dream timeline. It's a period where criminal organizations are flourishing. The underbelly of ‘Star Wars’ is rampant. So, we introduce this new scoundrel story where she's a young woman who isn't a Jedi. She's not a Sith. She doesn't want to be part of any faction, not the rebels, not the Empire. Her dream is simply to get rich and be free in the galaxy. She doesn't know what that means yet, but we get to explore it with her as she takes her first steps towards becoming an incredible scoundrel. However, she lacks the experience of those we've seen in ‘Star Wars’ before, like Lando Calrissian and Han Solo. She is different because she doesn't have that background. So, exploring the underworld with someone who is unaware of its dangers is very exciting.”

González, who not only voiced Kay Vess but also performed the full-body motion capture for the video game character, says she influenced how the character was ultimately portrayed by incorporating her own ideas about Kay's personality.

“I understand that when they initially crafted the character, they were aiming for a more cynical, sharp, and sassy persona. But when I joined the project, I wanted to bring a more vulnerable side to her — to show the cracks in her tough exterior, the flaws she had to maintain composure through. That, to me, is what makes her so complex and layered,” González explained. “Because if she’s a rookie, how does that impact her actions and what is she learning? We get to experience this familiar ‘Star Wars’ timeline, but through fresh eyes, a new perspective. What happens when Kay Vess encounters Jabba the Hutt, who we know leads one of the most powerful criminal organizations? She has no clue who he is. It’s a very fun experience to introduce this novice scoundrel into a world we know so well and is so dangerous.”

Kay is also unique in the “Star Wars” universe as the first Latina lead in the franchise's history. This fact is a source of great pride for González, who was born in Venezuela. She says she has met Latinx fans at preview events who have been moved to tears by seeing themselves represented in “Outlaws.”

“I met this young girl who came dressed as Kay Vess. She built everything herself. She created the classic bomber leather blue jacket that Kay Vess wears, and track pants, the boots, she had her hair done, and the makeup. She even had this backpack, and it was Nix,” González said. “I was in awe, because it was a moment in real time of how important representation is — and especially having female protagonists in the gaming industry. There can be so much toxicity, a lot of misogyny, a lot of just trolls on the internet, that when women enter this space, there can be a lot of sexism, even though there is so much creativity and expertise when it comes to women in the field. And this young girl came to me and just said, ‘I have been waiting for a project like this for so long, for me to play as a strong female lead and explore an open world.’ And she just wanted to thank me. We were both in tears because I said it means just as much for me because I didn’t grow up seeing myself represented on screen, and being a Latina and being the lead of one of the biggest franchises in our time, means so much. That was a moment that made me realize the magnitude of what we’re doing and what it means for me to enter this franchise.”

González spoke with Variety about starring in “Star Wars Outlaws” amidst the ongoing SAG-AFTRA video game actors strike , which began on July 26. While the Ubisoft-developed “Star Wars Outlaws” is not affected by the strike and not among the titles involved, González addressed the central issue of the strike for herself and other actors, which is increased protections against artificial intelligence (AI). She believes her work as Kay Vess demonstrates the importance of this issue.

“I truly love this job, and I hope to continue doing it for many years to come. I believe it's crucial to fight for our rights and respect the actors' craft. I hope that with the actors on the picket line raising these issues, people will realize that no AI can ever truly replace what a real human can do,” González said. “I feel incredibly fortunate to play Kay Vess, because her character is deeply infused with my own experiences growing up in Venezuela and being an immigrant. Leaving everything behind, starting over, and pursuing my own dreams are deeply resonant with Kay Vess's journey. She grew up with nothing and has a strong sense of what freedom means to her. So when it comes to these issues, I will always stand on the side of protecting our rights.”

González, who recently finished filming the Paramount+ movie “Star Trek: Section 31” alongside Michelle Yeoh (yes, she's aware of the unique situation of starring in these iconic space franchises) is currently filming the third season of Netflix's “Ginny & Georgia”, and she would love to expand her portrayal of Kay Vess with a TV adaptation of “Star Wars Outlaws.”

“I believe it would be incredible to see Kay Vess come to life in live action, as one thing that's absent in animation are the subtle expressions of a real human on screen,” González said. “It would be an amazing experience for me to wear her costume, embody her appearance, and see her interact with real characters and creatures in the landscape. It would be a dream come true. I definitely wouldn't pass up that opportunity. And I think there are countless opportunities to feature Kay Vess and other established roles from the original ‘Star Wars' trilogy, with so many possibilities for her to appear in different locations. It would be amazing, and I believe fans would absolutely love it.”