John Boyega Finds Redemption in His Star Wars Experience

John Boyega

John Boyega, who shot to global fame with his role as Finn in JJ Abrams’ Star Wars reboot, has come a long way since his much-publicized anguish about the treatment of his character by Disney.

In 2020, Boyega publicly called out Disney for sidelining Finn after the character’s much-hyped debut in The Force Awakens. He criticized the studio for marketing Finn as a crucial character and then pushing him aside in the subsequent films. He said it was not good to bring out a black character and then treat them as less important to the franchise.

However, three years later, Boyega seems to have made peace with his experience. Speaking to The Times of London, he said, “For me, Star Wars has made the man, in a sense… The experiences, the fun times, good times, ugly times, bad times, it makes you who you are as you navigate through the industry, and that has definitely been interesting.”

Boyega also reflected on the finale of the Star Wars franchise, where his character, Finn, was reunited with his co-stars. He said, “I feel like the arc that JJ tried to tie up, that’s where I feel comfortable with the release of him. And since then, I’ve been able to enjoy, as a fan, The Mandalorian and Obi-Wan Kenobi. I’m enjoying the balance of all things.”

The actor is currently promoting his latest project, ‘Breaking,’ where he plays the lead role of Marine veteran Brian Brown-Easley. The real-life story centers around Brown-Easley's decision to rob a Los Angeles bank after his benefits were stopped in 2017.

Last year, Boyega praised Disney for its handling of similar fan criticisms of Moses Ingram's role in Obi-Wan Kenobi, saying he was "warmed" by the studio's response.

John Boyega's journey with Star Wars has been one of ups and downs, but it seems he has finally found redemption in his experience. His words serve as a reminder that even the most challenging situations can shape and mold us into the person we are meant to be.