John Boyega On ‘Star Wars’ Role: “Do Not Bring Out A Black Character & Then Have Them Pushed To The Side”

Published: Wednesday 2nd Sep 2020 by TGJ Team

John Boyega isn’t happy with his experience in the hit franchise ‘Star Wars.

More below…

Embellishing the October cover of British GQ, the ‘Star Wars’ actor voiced his frustration with the treatment he received in an interview with the magazine.
The accomplished star revealed:
 [W]hat 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.” He adds “It’s not good. I’ll say it straight up.
He goes on to add:
“What they want you to say is, ‘I enjoyed being a part of it. It was a great experience.’ I’ll take that deal when it’s a great experience.”
Suffice to say, it likely took ample bravery for Boyega to be this frank. 
At the same time, having made high profile appearances at the Black Lives Matter protests in London earlier this year, it’s clear that Boyega’s heart lies in the fair treatment of Black people.

Hence, he’s using his platform to make a positive change for those that follow in his footsteps. 

Peep more from his shoot:

Your thoughts?

[Photo Credit: GQ / Danny Kasirye]

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  1. J September 2, 2020

    Love this man. I would probably not have the balls to say that though lol. Somebody needs to say it

  2. Clarks0o0ñ September 2, 2020

    U are doing the most.

    Burning bridges will not get u anywhere in Hollywood.
    U will end up doing tyler Perry movies.

    • tyty September 2, 2020

      Shut up he is right they marketed him as a co-protagonist only to sideline him because white star wars incels where a mad a black man was going to have an important role in the film God forbid that ever happened. Where you not laughing at Nick canon for bowing down to his white Massa and standing his ground? He has a Netflix deal I’m sure he will be alright.

      • musixxman96 September 2, 2020

        They cast him and a chinese actress as token diversity hires – it sounds bad to say but its true. This is why forced diversity never works – it doesnt please the diverse actors hired and it doesnt please the audience because they know it looks forced.

        It would be like them rebooting/making a new sequel to Harry Potter (A direct sequel, not spin off) and forcing diversity in that in the leads. People dont want change as much as they call for it – this is why I always say stop treading on old ground (i.e star wars reboots, spin offs) and start making new stories/movies with accurate representation from the get go.

        Its more evident when its plastered on a historically white franchise which is from the 80s 90s and 2000s. Suddently in 2015 new characters specificaly a black man and asian woman (who got bullied alot, not good)!are pushed as diversity hires and I understand his frustration.

        Im not sure where his career is going but im sure his bank account is heavy so kudos to him – he won either way. I only recall him being in star wars and pacific rim and that wasnt good – so i’d be interested to see what happens next.

        I’d like to see him follow the Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out, Black Panther) route because i really like his acting/role choices.

        I would say hes more confident about speaking out becuase hes financially stable and its politically the climate to be talking about these issues and he has every right to.

  3. ERIC September 2, 2020

    I would like to read an interview from him just one time that isn’t about an issue he has with something or someone. He has been very vocal about his displeasure with Disney, Star Wars and the direction of the last two movies, but I never saw anything about him feeling pushed to the side because of his race. Numerous actors felt like too many of their scenes were cut and they shared that openly, but John trashes on the movies just on GP.

  4. tyty September 2, 2020

    It was the big elephant in the room that needed to be addressed Disney have the balls to put out stuff like black is king reboot a Disney princess into a black girl but left Jhon and Tico rose unprotected and to the sidelines to satisfy the racist rabbit star was fans only to make a s***** trilogy. They bowed to fan pressure demoted jhon from co-protagonist to side character and completely ignored tico rose character after she was racially abused. They deserve to be called out especially with all that lip service Hollywood is doing in regards to ”diversity”.

  5. chilepleaseee September 2, 2020

    Idk if this is a black thing or just a Disney/Star Wars thing. The white female character, Daisy Ridley, said she struggled to find work afterwards and is just now getting jobs. John wasn’t well known before Star Wars so idk..that’s the movie biz for ya. Idk what he expected. The franchise is already over saturated.

    • Whateverrrrr September 4, 2020

      Don’t do deals with the devil.

  6. just+saying September 2, 2020

    Since he’s being real, I will also… he was one of my least favorite things about that trilogy. His performance was bad.

  7. DeanD September 2, 2020

    Good for Boyega for standing up for himself and his character Finn. Both were done dirty, especially after Rise of Skywalker. But, personally I’m not sure race had that much to do with it. He was front and center for the first two films, but since the trilogy wasn’t planned out I don’t think they knew what to do with his arc. He’s a great actor, he’s young and has a great future ahead of him. Also want to show some love to Ray Fisher, Cyborg from Justice League. I’m so proud of them for speaking their truth and hopefully sparing other young black actors the same indignities.

  8. Fancy BISH September 2, 2020

    He is nothing but a clown he filmed three Star Wars movies from 2015 – 2019 for him to speak out now hmmm someone is bitter. No one who started in them Star Wars films done well and why would Disney market him as much more important in the franchise like he said when he simply wasn’t.
    He can not act he is a very wooden actor, he was a nobody before Star Wars and nobody said let’s go watch Star Wars because boyega is in it so why would Disney market him over anyone else is laughable.
    He needs to stop playing the victim get a kleenex tissue and dry his tears away.

    • tyty September 2, 2020

      You don’t know what you’re talking about he was a main character/ in all the first promo pics he was holding a light saber clearly indicating he had a major role. They changed his character after the back lash from rabbid Star Wars fans. Why would he say anything about a film his contractually tied to before it’s finished? Every single person involved in the film has come out and criticised it. You think people where lining up to see that dry ass acting from the female lead? Kylo Reno says he wants nothing to do with the film. Oscar Issac says he will never work with Disney again ?? Even Luke sky walker wants nothing to do with Star Wars now? Stop talking out your ass.

      • Fancy BISH September 2, 2020

        tyty akaJ asmine aka g ay g ay , he was not the main character Ray was he was her 2nd sidekick next to the robot who was her 1st sidekick.

      • Fancy BISH September 2, 2020

        *Jasmine

  9. Charli+Cheer+Up September 2, 2020

    Ouch. What a huge blow for the latest trilogy for him to be saying that. He does have a point though. At first I thought the new trilogy would be about Rey & Finn as the mains but it quickly shifted to Rey and Kylo Ren.

  10. Wapping September 3, 2020

    Stop forcing diversity… It’s worst than no diversity.

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