JOHN BOYEGA
From Attack The Block to the First Order as Finn
How was it working with the returning cast, like Mark Hamill and Harrison ford?
It was fantastic working with those guys. you’re going to be quite surprised about how they are very much involved in this new story. It’s fantastic being involved with people who are genuinely excited to revisit their past, their history, and present a new narrative to the audience now. It’s very gracious of them, I think.
JJ Abrams is a massive Star Wars fan. What was it like shooting with him?
I think the most amazing thing about JJ is seeing him geek out at moments that he himself was involved in planning. you were there when we were talking about these ideas, but then seeing it in his face, he would always have a very geeky reaction to it. It’s really cool to have a Star Wars fan direct a Star Wars movie because you know that person is going to take the fans’ ideas into consideration, as well as paying homage to something everybody loves.
So what’s the main thing JJ brings to the table?
When the first trailer came out, my favourite part – apart from me popping out of nowhere – was the Millennium Falcon. did you see that shot? When the camera’s just upside down and it focuses, refocuses, after the Millennium Falcon levels out? That’s JJ Abrams right there. It gives you a taste of what he will do. even though he’s doing all these futuristic shots, it still feels like the originals. There’s a look that feels like you’re watching a continuation of what we had before. It’s a good balance of the old and new. finn gets to wear Stormtrooper armour and wield a lightsaber. Did you geek out? Oh, it’s exciting. Those images are the things that make me love Finn more and more each day. And every time I get to speak about him, I really do see it as an opportunity to kind of discover who this dude is. For me, it’s so exciting because we have a character who will do everything a fan would want to do. If you were a fan coming on set, you’d want to wear the Stormtrooper outfit, then you’d want to go and hold the lightsaber. Then you’d want to run away from explosions. Finn gets to be involved in both sides, so for me, as a fanboy, it just means I get to do different stuff. I’m like, “yes! More.” It’s great.