Like his co-stars, Star Wars actor John Boyega has moved on from the franchise. His latest project, Small Axe for Amazon Prime Video, highlights the racism and discrimination against London’s West Indian community from the 60’s to the 80’s. The story is a far cry from what we saw of his character Finn in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. That tale, as Boyega tells it, could have been much more satisfying.

Finn; John Boyega; Trevorrow; Rise of Skywalker
Concept art from Colin Trevorrow’s Star Wars: Duel of the Fates. (Image: Lucasfilm Ltd.)

In discussing Small Axe with Yahoo recently, Boyega opened up about what could have been for Finn in The Rise of Skywalker. As we know, original director Colin Trevorrow had a much different vision for the final chapter in the Skywalker Saga. In the films, Finn’s role reduced significantly as the sequel trilogy went on. Had Trevorrow gotten his way, however, Finn would have been front and center in Episode IX.

John Boyega dishes on what might have been

Finn; John Boyega; Trevorrow; Rise of Skywalker
Concept art from Colin Trevorrow’s Star Wars: Duel of the Fates. (Image: Lucasfilm Ltd.)

How so, you ask? The concept art for Trevorrow’s Duel of the Fates gives us some insight. Originally, Finn would have led a true rebellion on the Imperial capital of Coruscant. You can see him doing so in the cover image above. John Boyega spoke with excited dismay about the notion of Finn playing a larger role:

I think Colin Trevorrow was going to tell that story. That image of Finn with the blue flag, and you have the AT-[S]Ts 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.”  

Finn; John Boyega; Trevorrow; Rise of Skywalker
Concept art from Colin Trevorrow’s Star Wars: Duel of the Fates. (Image: Lucasfilm Ltd.)

Of course, that didn’t happen. John Boyega saw far more limited screen time in The Rise of Skywalker than he’d hoped. That topic is one about which the actor has been unapologetically vocal. “I felt it was important for me to talk about a truth that is embarrassing to talk about,” he said.   

For now, though, Boyega is done with Star Wars. Small Axe, which also stars Black Panther actress Letitia Wright, premiers November 20th.

Source: Yahoo!