Actor John Boyega says he is done being silent about the opportunities for Black and minority characters in Hollywood.

What You Need To Know

  • John Boyega opened up about his experience filming "Star Wars" in an expansive interview with GQ

  • The actor said he felt his character was sidelined during the final two movies

  • The 28-year-old said he felt other non-white characters were neglected as well

  • Boyega delivered a passionate speech in support of the Black Lives Matter movement in June

In an expansive interview with GQ, the 28-year-old opened up about his time on the “Star Wars” set, saying while it was a huge “stepping stone” and an “amazing opportunity” for his career, he now realizes why he internally struggled with his role as Finn: Disney, he felt, sidelined characters of color in the later movies. 

 

“You get yourself involved in projects and you’re not necessarily going to like everything,” Boyega told GQ. “[But] what I would say to Disney is do not bring out a black character, market them to be much more important in the franchise than they are and then have them pushed to the side. It’s not good. I’ll say it straight up.”

Boyega’s quote referred to both himself and several other non-white cast members he felt were largely ignored in the franchise’s final movies. Boyega’s character, a former Stormtrooper who wielded a lightsaber in “The Force Awakens,” had much smaller roles in “The Last Jedi” and “The Rise of Skywalker.” 

Additionally, Boyega said, Disney gave the same treatment to Naomi Ackie, Kelly Marie Tran and even Oscar Isaac, who Boyega called “a brother from Guatemala.” Simultaneously, white actors like Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver had massively detailed character arcs. 

“Like, you guys knew what to do with Daisy Ridley, you knew what to do with Adam Driver,” he said. “You knew what to do with these other people, but when it came to Kelly Marie Tran, when it came to John Boyega, you know f*** all. 

“So what do you want me to say? What they want you to say is, ‘I enjoyed being a part of it. It was a great experience...’ Nah, nah, nah. I’ll take that deal when it’s a great experience. They gave all the nuance to Adam Driver, all the nuance to Daisy Ridley. Let’s be honest. Daisy knows this. Adam knows this. Everybody knows. I’m not exposing anything,” Boyega continued. 

It was the first time in the six years since “The Force Awakens” was released that Boyega has spoken so openly about his experience on the franchise. 

But the decision-makers in Hollywood weren’t the only ones that tainted Boyega’s experience in the series. As he pointed out, few other cast members were attacked by fans for the color of their skin once casting was announced. 

“I’m the only cast member who had their own unique experience of that franchise based on their race,” he told GQ. “Let’s just leave it like that. It makes you angry with a process like that. It makes you much more militant; it changes you. Because you realise, ‘I got given this opportunity but I’m in an industry that wasn’t even ready for me.’ 

“Nobody else in the cast had people saying they were going to boycott the movie because [they were in it],” Boyega continued. “Nobody else had the uproar and death threats sent to their Instagram DMs and social media, saying, ‘Black this and black that and you shouldn’t be a Stormtrooper.’ Nobody else had that experience. But yet people are surprised that I’m this way. That’s my frustration.”

Soon after the article was released readers began to weigh in--but Boyega had a message to those voicing their opinions, urging them to dig deeper to understand his message.

 

“These conversations and me sharing isn’t about a witch hunt. It’s about clarity to an anger that can be seen as selfish, disruptive and self indulgent,” Boyega said. “Obviously in hopes of better change.Bruh. In short. I said what I said. Love to you all seriously. Your support is amazing !”

The interview came several months after Boyega delivered an impassioned speech at a Black Lives Matter protest in London. 

"Black lives have always mattered," Boyega said through tears at the time. "We have always been important. We have always succeeded regardless."

Still, the actor did not discount the price he might pay for speaking so openly. At the June protest the actor said: "I don't know if I'm going to have a career after this."

Certainly, Boyega’s talent speaks for itself, and many in Hollywood agreed--Jordan Peele, J.K. Rowling, Matthew Cherry and more offered their support soon after the actor’s speech. 

Boyega is now working on Steve McQueen’s anthology series “Small Axe,” where he will play a Metropolitan Police Officer seeking to change the force from within after witnessing his father’s assault by other cops. 

And while the show itself takes place in the 1980s, the topic couldn’t be any more timely. 

Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.