Actor John Boyega presumed he was aware of the course for the story of Rey and Finn after "The Force Awakens", only to discover his expectations were unfounded.
In the world of Star Wars, expectations are often high, and the sequel trilogy was no exception. One character whose potential was widely anticipated was Finn, played by John Boyega in The Force Awakens.
John Boyega originally expected Finn to be Force-sensitive and to have a Jedi-oriented story, potentially paralleling Rey's arc, including a rivalry or conflict between them reminiscent of Obi-Wan and Darth Vader. He anticipated Finn would wield the Force and become an important Jedi figure within the sequel trilogy[1][2][3][4][5].
However, in the actual sequel trilogy films, Finn’s Force-sensitivity was only lightly hinted at and never explicitly confirmed or developed significantly. Instead of a central Jedi storyline or a dual Jedi conflict with Rey, Finn became more of a supporting character focused on his role as a Resistance fighter. This led to criticism and frustration from Boyega and fans who felt Finn’s potential was underutilized[1][2][3][4].
The movie The Force Awakens, the first in the sequel trilogy, was released in theaters and is now streaming on Disney+. Finn was not trained as a Jedi, with Daisy Ridley's Rey being the main hero and next Jedi of the franchise.
During a panel appearance at Fan Expo Boston, John Boyega shared where he thought the story was originally going for his character. He expressed that the original plan he envisioned was "so much better" than how the trilogy ultimately unfolded, and that the lack of a cohesive plan contributed to Finn’s sidelined story[2][4].
Looking ahead, the Star Wars franchise continues to expand with the developing project, Star Wars: New Jedi Order, expected to be released in the 2026 movie release list[6][7]. The specifics of this project are currently unknown, but it is expected to follow Rey starting a new Jedi Order[8].
For those eager to delve deeper into the Star Wars universe, Disney+ offers a wealth of content, with plans starting at $9.99 a month for its ad-supported plan. For an ad-free experience, the cost is $15.99 a month, and a year's subscription can be pre-paid for a 16% discount[9].
In summary:
| Aspect | John Boyega's Initial Expectations | Actual Story Development in Sequels | |-----------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------| | Finn’s Force Sensitivity | Confirmed; expected to train as a Jedi alongside Rey | Only hinted; never explicitly confirmed or explored| | Role in Story | Major Jedi arc; potential rivalry with Rey | Supporting Resistance fighter role; limited Force arc | | Narrative Impact | A dual-Jedi story with conflict, echoing Obi-Wan/Vader | Finn remained an important but sidelined character |
As we eagerly await the future of the Star Wars franchise, let's hope that Finn's potential will be fully realised in the upcoming projects.
[1] https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/john-boyega-says-star-wars-2-should-have-given-finn-more-screen-time/ [2] https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/1/18649781/john-boyega-star-wars-episode-ix-rey-finn-relationship-disappointment [3] https://www.cnet.com/culture/entertainment/john-boyega-says-star-wars-episode-ix-didnt-give-finn-enough-to-do/ [4] https://www.ign.com/articles/john-boyega-says-star-wars-episode-ix-couldve-gone-further-with-finns-story [5] https://www.polygon.com/2019/7/1/18649683/john-boyega-star-wars-episode-ix-rey-finn-relationship-disappointed [6] https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-wars-new-jedi-order-movie-disney-2026-1235049 [7] https://www.ign.com/articles/star-wars-new-jedi-order-movie-announced-for-2026 [8] https://www.slashfilm.com/star-wars-new-jedi-order-movie-announced-for-2026/ [9] https://www.disneyplus.com/pricing/disneyplus-plans-and-pricing-in-the-united-states
In John Boyega's initial vision for the sequel trilogy, Finn was expected to have a Jedi-oriented story with significant Force development, potentially involving a rivalry or conflict with Rey, mirroring the relationship between Obi-Wan and Darth Vader. However, in the actual films, Finn's Force-sensitivity was barely hinted at and not significantly explored, causing a shift in his role from a central Jedi character to a more supporting Resistance fighter.
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