A section of Star Wars fans felt hard done by, with Finn’s story arc allegedly left unexplored in the sequel trilogy. They claim that even though the last installment hinted at the character’s Force sensitivity, it was sidelined in favor of other key characters like Rey and Kylo Ren. Actor John Boyega, who has expressed dissatisfaction with the franchise’s treatment of the character, has confirmed that talks have taken place regarding a possible return of Finn in a new Star Wars project.
John Boyega in talks with a leading creative force behind Star Wars
John Boyega had earlier expressed his dissatisfaction with the Star Wars universe, as he felt that his character, although a central figure in the storyline in the first installment, gradually lost the focus it deserved in the subsequent films. Disappointed by his character’s narrative development, he suggested that the studio—and the industry at large—had a problem with a person of color playing a leading role in the franchise. The tensions between Boyega and the studio led fans of the franchise to believe that Finn’s story arc was done for good.
However, this doesn’t seem to be the case. At MEGACON Orlando, the actor was asked whether there was any possibility of his return to the Star Wars franchise as Finn, which prompted an audience member to shout, “Get Dave [Filoni] on the phone.” Boyega replied, “I actually have, actually.” Dave Filoni is the Chief Creative Officer at Lucasfilm, overseeing the overall creative direction of Star Wars projects.
Boyega’s comments now open up the possibility of exploring Finn’s Force sensitivity in greater depth, potentially unlocking the full extent of his powers and allowing him to become a crucial member of the Resistance. His recent comments gain more significance in light of his past comments about Star Wars’ “elite” culture. “Lemme tell ya, Star Wars always had the vibe of being in the most whitest, elite space. It’s a franchise that’s so white that a Black person existing in [it] was something,” he said.
“They’re okay with us playing the best friend, but once we touch their heroes, once we lead, once we trailblaze, it’s like, ‘Oh my God, it’s just a bit too much! They’re pandering!’” he further added.
Now, it remains to be seen whether Boyega’s conversations with Dave Filoni lead to something constructive. The hope is that Boyega and the studio can put their differences behind them and give the fans what they want.
