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Boyega says non-white Star Wars characters ‘pushed aside’
In an interview published by ‘GQ’ magazine on Wednesday, Boyega expressed bitterness over how his role as black stormtrooper Finn faded in the final episodes of the trilogy that concluded with ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ in 2019.
(From left) Richard E. Grant, Billy Dee Williams, Keri Russell, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, screenwriter and director JJ Abrams, co-writer Chris Terrio, Lucasfilm producer and president Kathleen Kennedy, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega , Kelly Marie Tran, Naomi Ackie, Joonas Suotamo and Anthony Daniels participate in the ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ Global Press Conference at the Pasadena Convention Center on December 4, 2019 in Pasadena, California. Image: AFP.
LONDON – British actor John Boyega has criticized the treatment of non-white characters in the last Star Wars movies, saying they were marketed as important elements of the franchise, but were eventually “pushed aside.”
In an interview published by GQ magazine on Wednesday, Boyega expressed bitterness over how his role as black stormtrooper Finn faded in the final episodes of the trilogy that concluded with The rise of Skywalker in 2019.
“What I would say to Disney is, don’t bring up a black character, market it to be much more important in the franchise than it is, and then put it aside. It’s not good. I’ll say it directly.” he told the magazine.
He said fellow non-white actors Naomi Ackie, Kelly Marie Tran and Oscar Isaac had suffered similar fates, while Adam Driver and Daisy Ridley had risen to prominence in leading roles as Kylo Ren and Rey.
“They gave all the nuances to Adam Driver, all the nuances to Daisy Ridley. Let’s be honest. Daisy knows it. Adam knows it. Everybody knows it. I’m not exposing anything,” Boyega said.
Boyega, who is of Nigerian descent, became a viral sensation in June when he delivered an emotional speech at an anti-racism demonstration in London following the death of George Floyd by US police in Minneapolis.
“I’m the only cast member who had his own unique experience of that franchise based on his race,” Boyega said of Star Wars. “Let’s leave it that way.
“It makes you angry with such a process. It makes you much more militant, it changes you.”
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