John Boyega Shares Details On The Sequel Trilogy That We Should Have Gotten

When The Rise of Skywalker came out, it shed further light on the idea that the sequel trilogy was not very well planned out. The month after the film's release, people became aware of another Episode IX script titled Duel of the Fates, which was written when Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow was still attached to direct Episode IX. The script included a more prominent role for Finn than what we got in The Rise of Skywalker, which shows him meeting other former stormtroopers like Jannah but did not lead to the stormtrooper uprising that many fans were hoping to see.

Speaking with Yahoo Entertainment's Ethan Alter about his upcoming project Small Axe (an Amazon original), the conversation moved to Star Wars, and Boyega addressed the concept art from the days of Trevorrow's version of the film:

“I think Colin Trevorrow was going to tell that story. That image of Finn with the blue flag, and you have the AT-ATs lined up with tribal marks, and the stormtroopers take off their helmets. That would have been sick! That would have been dope, man, hands down.”

It does sound like a missed opportunity that we did not get this in the final film. Kevin Smith has even said that a friend told him that Finn's meeting with Jannah would have felt more meaningful if she had told him that the stormtroopers defected because they were inspired by Finn. But alas, we did not get even that.

Boyega went on to compare Star Wars to Marvel in terms of how hero characters should be well-represented:

“I felt it was important for me to talk about a truth that is embarrassing to talk about. We all know that what makes roles so lucrative [are] the moments you give them. If Captain America isn’t given the scenes to boost his representation, and to make him enjoyable for you guys, we won’t think he’s cool. Why shouldn’t Black characters and Black actors also fight for that same kind of representation? I think it’s a done deal with that.”

Boyega also addressed the nature of fans on the internet who feel that they have to argue a lot when it comes to actors of the new films and their comments:

“No one ever assumes the right thing of you — they’re always going to assume the most negative. If you’re saying something like that, it’s ‘He’s just trying to be prominent!’ Yeah, because I’m trying to do what I was offered! I’m trying to fulfill my job.”

Despite the shortcomings on the film side of things, Boyega did provide a positive comment about the TV side of things:

“I’m a Mandalorian fan, so Lucasfilm is doing very well with the TV shows."

Boyega has considered himself retired from Star Wars. Last year, before The Rise of Skywalker came out, he did not seem to be into the idea of getting a Disney+ series. In this more recent interview, however, Ethan Alter asked Boyega whether he would be down to return for an animated series. Seeming like he had to think about it very briefly, Boyega answered:

“An animated show would be dope! We could do it from home.”

I, for one, would prefer to see Finn back in live-action form if Star Wars were ever to tell a prominent story for him, but if Boyega would feel more comfortable with an animated series, I would be all in for that as well. After all, we have seen how The Clone Wars made the prequel trilogy era more palatable to those who had only seen the films. His recent criticisms about how the sequel trilogy did not do enough with its diverse cast should not be ignored, but rather acknowledged. Hopefully, Star Wars films can do better moving forward.

Written By Steven Shinder

Syndicated From Culture Slate