While Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker came under fire for various reasons, the film got criticized for how it treated its characters such as John Boyega's Finn. And now that the Skywalker Saga has finally concluded, the actor gets candid about his experience in working on the franchise.
In a recent interview with GQ, Boyega defended J.J. Abrams from those who blame the director for The Rise of Skywalker while pointing out that his character was pushed aside despite being lobbied as a key part of the sequel trilogy.
Boyega was failed to be given the same attention, along with the other people of color in the cast, Naomi Ackie, Kelly Marie Tran, and Oscar Isaac. Tran, who plays the part of Rose even suffered racist harassment prompting her to leave social media. Her character's role was also reduced in The Rise of Skywalker, given less than 2 minutes of screentime.
The actor also admitted that with his character pushed aside, the nuance was all given to Kylo Ren actor Adam Driver and Rey actor Daisy Ridley, pointing out that his co-stars also know this.
Boyega's casting in The Force Awakens even inspired racist hashtags that suggest boycotting the film. While the actor acknowledges the "amazing opportunity," he won't deny the challenges of being in the industry while Black.
In contrast, the actor's upcoming project, Small Axe, has a positive experience, reminding him of his happier days at drama school, expected to be released later this month.
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