John Boyega on Star Wars Romance: “It’s Not Going to Go the Way You Think”
Busy filming Star Wars: Episode VIII, John Boyega made time to talk about the developing romance between Finn and Rey. Wait, what?
Wait for it.
In an interview with Variety at Cannes, Boyega threw some kerosene on an already red-hot fire after the interviewer asked a peculiar question.
VARIETY: I loved the developing romance between your character, Finn and Rey in “The Force Awakens.” How is that romance evolving in the next chapter?
BOYEGA: I mean, we didn’t establish a romance in seven; we never played it that way. Daisy and I, we’re friends.
I certainly can’t speak for everyone but Star Wars: The Force Awakens left me with the impression that Finn and Rey were new BFFs and nothing more. He asks her if she has a boyfriend near the beginning of their relationship but to me that came off as what he felt he was expected to say. After all, his time as a Stormtrooper hasn’t afforded him a social life. I feel that’s why he’s excited to know both Rey and Poe.
Anyway, the interviewer was apparently surprised at his answer and pushed for a follow-up:
VARIETY: So there’s no romance?
BOYEGA: Yes, Finn and Rey – they’re just friends. Finn is a Stormtrooper, so he doesn’t really know what’s going on. So the romance thing is something that’s going to be interesting in the next installment. It’s not going to go the way you think it’s going to go.
Oh my god. I don’t want to get too excited here but could he mean Stormpilot? Or is that actually what he thinks we’re already thinking?? This is going to exasperate me.
In their 2016 Hollywood Report, GLAAD made specific mention of Disney’s potential to be a leader in diversifying film. “As sci-fi projects have the special opportunity to create unique worlds whose advanced societies can serve as a commentary on our own, the most obvious place where Disney could include LGBT characters is in the upcoming eighth Star Wars film,” they wrote. “2015’s The Force Awakens has introduced a new and diverse central trio, which allows the creators opportunity to tell fresh stories as they develop their backstory.” Director J.J. Abrams agrees.
What do you think of what Boyega said? Is this worse or better when he said “you never know what they’re going to pull?” Don’t forget those “positive rewrites” they were making based on audience reaction to the trio.
[UPDATE] Some fans have mentioned to me that perhaps Boyega is alluding to the new Episode VIII actor Kelly Marie Tran. He previously referred to her unnamed character as “the new lead.”
interracial mixing is disgusting
Why does everyone feel like they need romantic representation? I don’t think we even need romance in Star Wars. Look how romance worked out for the prequels. They are action movies.
virtually every choice made in the movie is about promoting a very real agenda and very real indoctrination.
He’s probably going to get paired up with some female character introduced in the next movie. I don’t really have a problem with that, as long as Poe doesn’t get paired up with anyone and I get to keep my headcannon.
Stormpilot is completely in the realm of fanfic, people reading into it. Which is fine, but Finn and Poe read as bromance. (Though I’d take that any day over the godawful Rey/Kylo shipping). As for the romantic angle, do ANY of the characters need to hook up? If Rey is the new Luke she may not be involved in one, but if she is Finn is the one with which all the chemistry is set up. Besides, the best romantic relationships are founded on a strong friendship.
Gah, I’m all over the map. I don’t know how I feel about this. As long as it’s written well, I’ll embrace it fully. Given a choice between the principal actors of VII though, Rey+Finn is still the best choice. They have great chemistry. And my boy Poe is too much of a good thing to be limited to one partner anyway.
Lucasfilm! Make the new trinity a polyamorous unit, eh?
“Make the new trinity a polyamorous unit, eh?” THIS! We bi-poly people need representation too! <3 (I'm more Stormpilot myself, but I like Rinn too.) Or no romance at all is good — Asexuals / Aromantics also need representation, and romance shouldn't be added just for the sake of romance. :)
I would be equally down for stormpilot or finnrey, because interracial relationships and same sex relationships are both underrepresented. Or, hey, maybe some other combination with new characters. That could also be cool. I just hope whichever way things go, the writing is better than “do you have a boyfriend.” That line was so bizarre and out of place, and it still really bugs me.
are you delusional? all disgusting and dysfunctional behaviors are horrifically overrepresented. if you are interracial mixing dogshit… you are a minority of social and cultural trash.
I think at the start of the movie Finn was vaguely romantically interested in Rey–“Do you have a cute boyfriend?” plus lying about being in the Resistance to impress her along with Han’s “Women always figure out the truth.” But at the end they were friends and I’m glad it turned out that way. I don’t really see/care about StormPilot, but we definitely need more examples of men a and women having platonic friendships in pop culture.
ALL PILOTS TO YOUR SHIPS
ALL PILOTS TO YOUR SHIPS
I mean, Pinn has some basis in the elements presented in the film. I don’t think that was intentional, but it could work based off what the internet has made out of it. Apparently Oscar Isaac was playing his interactions with FInn romantically, and the fans have reacted so strongly and favorably toward that conclusion that could see it happening. Still, I don’t know if Disney/Hollywood has the balls to show an explicit homosexual romance in a blockbuster as huge as SW. But really, that’s likely the best place to take risks… Everyone is going to come see it regardless of the content… I suppose the risk is having the film barred in certain places internationally.
It Poe and Finn doesn’t happen, I won’t be surprised or overly torn up, but I certainly hope Poe, Finn, or Rey might end up in a queer romance.
As much as I would love for it to be about Finn/Poe,John’s comment is probably about Kelly Marie Tran’s character and what happens between her and Finn.
I would be fine with Finn and Tran’s character getting together. That doesn’t bar Poe from a same-sex romance, necessarily, though it makes it less likely…
From what has leaked of the scripts so far,I don’t think they will end up together.
Few other folks mentioned this too, throwing it in for speculation reasons!
O_O