Star Wars is one of the biggest movie franchises of all time, one that's constantly expanding both on the big screen and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Fans who spent decades watching the Star Wars movies in order are hyped to see the franchise return to theaters with The Mandalorian and Grogu, and there are rumors about other upcoming Star Wars movies. The latest claims John Boyega might return as Finn, and I know exactly what I'd like to see from the former Stormtrooper.

Boyega played Finn throughout all three movies in the sequel trilogy, wrapping up with The Rise of Skywalker's ending. A report from scooper Daniel Richtman (via SHH) claims that the 34-year-old actor is in talks to reprise his role in a future project. And I personally want to Finn him finally get Jedi training in Daisy Ridley's developing Rey movie.

When Finn debuted in The Force Awakens, it was heavily implied that he was Force sensitive. After all, he wielded a lightsaber and even had a short duel with Kylo Ren on Starkiller Base. And despite having the ability to sense Rey in The Rise of Skywalker, he never became a Jedi. But if Daisy Ridley's hero is starting her own Jedi Order in her movie, then it would be the perfect time to finally give Finn proper training.

Obviously, we should take this rumor with a grain of salt for the time being; there are tons of reports swirling around the Star Wars franchise. In fact, chatter about John Boyega's possible return comes shortly after a rumor that Lucasfilm was going to retcon the sequel trilogy of existence. I personally don't buy that particular rumor, and think it's far more likely that Finn and Rey could reunite on the big screen. But we'll just have to see how things ultimately shake out.

Aside from wanting to see Finn finally become a Jedi in the Star Wars universe, John Boyega's rumored return to the franchise might also be significant, given the years he's had away. The Woman King actor was the subject to some racist backlash after his debut as Finn, which was no doubt difficult considering just how popular the franchise is. So coming back and finally having the payoff with his character's Force sensitivity seems like a fitting way to put respect on Boyega's name.

Star Wars will finally return to theaters with The Mandalorian and Grogu on May 22nd as part of the 2026 movie release list. Fingers crossed that the rumors about John Boyega's return as Finn actually come to fruition.

The Star Wars movies make up one of the most beloved franchises of all time, with generations of fans watching the galaxy far, far way in theaters (and streaming with a Disney+ subscription). The franchise has been noticeably missing from the big screen since The Rise of Skywalker's ending, although there are some exciting upcoming Star Wars movies coming down the line. Chief among them is Daisy Ridley's developing Rey movie, and fans are hoping that more stars from the sequel trilogy might also appear. That includes John Boyega's Finn, and the actor recently shared the three conditions that would need to fall into place is he is going to reprise that role.

Lucasfilm announced plans for a new trilogy, as well as standalone projects like Starfighter. Exactly what's going on with the Rey project is a mystery, but fans are hoping to see Boyega back as Finn, hopefully becoming a Jedi in the process. At Liverpool Comic Con (via Collider) the Woman King actor spoke about what it would take for him to return as the Stormtrooper turned Rebel. As he put it:

Honestly, I co-sign all three of these demands. As someone who was shipping Poe and Finn when The Force Awakens was released, I'd love to see these characters' stories continue on the big screen. Especially if they also got Chewbacca involved and had a great script and story to tell. Are you listening, Lucasfilm?

After Finn briefly wielded a lightsaber in The Force Awakens, Johh Boyega thought Finn would become a Jedi and eventually battle Rey. Unfortunately he was never trained, although The Rise of Skywalker showed he was still very much Force Sensitive. If the actor returns to the space opera, hopefully that plot line can finally pay off.

Aside from the racist backlash Boyega faced, it does seem like the way Finn's story was handled left something to be desired. But if his three conditions are met and the 33 year-old actor reprises his role, maybe he'll be happier with how things turn out for his signature character. Although the studio is going to have to actually lock him down for a role in order for that to happen.

Boyega might not want to appear in any Star Wars TV shows, but he doesn't sound opposed to playing Finn again on the big screen. Personally I'm going to hold out hope that he gets a role in the Rey movie, with the character finally getting his Jedi training in the process. Fingers (and lightsabers) crossed.

Boyega's tenure in the Star Wars franchise is streaming on Disney+, and it'll finally return to theaters with The Mandalorian and Grogu, arriving May 22nd as part of the 2026 movie release list.

John Boyega once described working for a major franchise as a "luxury jail," but in more recent years, it seems he's embraced his role as an ambassador of sorts for Star Wars. This includes expressing excitement for upcoming projects in the works, as well as remaining brand-loyal when someone makes the mistake about asking him to join the Star Trek universe.

Boyega is an actor that Trekkies have been fan-casting in future projects for a while now, but he confirmed during a recent Dragon Con appearance (via Popverse) that it's not an acting gig he'll be taking on. The actor might've had his share of gripes about the sci-fi fantasy franchise that hired him, but at the end of the day, he's still a Star Wars fan through and through. In his words:

I find that actors typically don't like to openly diss on major IPs due to how it may affect any future prospects regarding said franchise (or studio). I can't imagine him getting a call to be the lead of an upcoming Trek movie with that kind of public stance, but in fairness, it's not like we've gotten any major updates on the Trek movies that are allegedly in development.

As for why John Boyega has never been a huge fan of Star Trek, his reasoning may not come as much of a surprise to longtime fans. It's the biggest fundamental difference between the two franchises since the beginning, and it's the fact that one literally has the word "war" in the title:

Without question, Star Wars will always trump Trek when it comes to orchestrating space battles or fight sequences. John Boyega is right that the other sci-fi franchise deals more in diplomacy and saves its most tense moments in the showdowns between two leaders in a conference room, not on the battlefield.

While John Boyega noted that Star Wars could learn and insert more talking and discussion into its projects, I'd argue it already has with one series. Andor, while it still has its action, features a good deal more conversation and dramatic plotlines similar to what someone would see in a Trek series. Whether John Boyega has seen Andor, I don't know, but he should check it out if he hasn't!

I agree that it wouldn't hurt for Star Wars to lean further into the non-action scenes that make Star Trek compelling, but ultimately, one has a more niche fandom for a reason. There are some fantastic Trek shows, and many of the movies are fantastic, but will that ever appeal more to the mainstream than people with laser swords doing flips? I'm doubtful, but I still love it all the same!

Stream all the Star Wars movies right now with a Disney+ subscription, and keep an eye out for more updates on movies on the way as we close out the year and look ahead to 2026.

The Star Wars universe is vast, but few things spark more fan outrage than the Sequel Trilogy—though honestly, I think Rey catches way too much heat. Still, the criticism hasn’t just come from the outside. John Boyega, who played Finn, has been open about sharing many of those frustrations, while still always wearing his love for the Jedi epic proudly.

After hearing him lay out what his version of the sequels would’ve looked like, it’s even more clear he’s not just an actor who showed up for a paycheck—he’s a fan who actually gets it, and has his own ideas for how the third trilogy should have gone, highlighting something I think is missing in many big blockbusters these days: creatives who listen to fans, and are longtime fans themselves.

How John Boyega Would Have Handled The Sequel Trilogy

John Boyega is a Star Wars fan—and that matters, especially now, as franchise storytelling continues to split between creators who honor legacy and those more focused on subverting it. If you’ve ever felt let down watching iconic characters get sidelined for the sake of a twist, you’re not alone—and the Force Awakens performer clearly gets it. At Florida Supercon 2025 (via Popverse), the Attack the Block star laid out his vision for the franchise, and honestly, it sounds a lot like what fans have been asking for all along. As he told the crowd:

But the franchise veterans’ take highlights a refreshing counterpoint: honoring expectations isn’t lazy—it’s powerful when done right. He then shifted focus to the newer generation of characters:

The Pacific Rim actor is hitting on a lot of fan complaints with the newer entries in the franchise, and how a lot of characters feel like they know how to do everything automatically. But, the star doesn't seem to be against new characters—he’s more against shortcuts.

So what kind of story would he tell, if given the keys to the galaxy? The former Stormtrooper-turned-Resistance hero says he’d dive deep into the lore—specifically, the kind pulled from classic video games that longtime fans know and love.

Boyega Would Have Pulled From Fan-Favorite Video Game Lore

This is where Boyega sets himself apart from the “just-here-for-the-gig” crowd—by name-dropping Knights of the Old Republic, a fan-favorite video game series set thousands of years before the Skywalker saga (streaming with a Disney+ subscription). As he put it:

A KotOR movie has been rumored for years, but nothing’s come of it, and as a lifelong fan of the sci-fi juggernaut series, I can’t help but wish more filmmakers were like John Boyega. He takes a not-so-subtle jab at Rian Johnson’s take on Luke, but not out of spite—because he actually cares.

I don't think the British actor is trying to shock for shock’s sake, but wants to tell stories that respect the lore and reward the fans who’ve stuck with it. It’s time to start giving more power to the fans who grew up loving these worlds and now have the perspective and passion to honor them. We’ll see what the future of upcoming Star Wars movies holds, especially with Daisy Ridley’s return—but honestly? They should just hand Boyega the keys and let the man cook.

Next up in the galaxy far, far away: the upcoming The Mandalorian and Grogu, blasting onto the 2026 movie schedule and theaters May 22, 2026.

If you’ve been tracking the warp-speed march toward the upcoming Spaceballs 2, you'll know a few key details about the sequel. For one, it's actually happening with Mel Brooks back as Yogurt, and Josh Gad co-writing and starring for Amazon MGM, which has staked out a 2027 theatrical release. That alone is enough to send a can of Perri-Air flying but, to make things even more interesting, a Star Wars alum just pitched themselves for the long-gestating comedy sequel, and man, I really hope they manifest this!

The moment came from comments made by none other than Finn star John Boyega while he attended Dragon Con (via Popverse). The veteran of the Star Wars franchise (streamable with a Disney+ subscription) used a fan panel to openly audition for the gig, turning a Q&A into a charming “call me” to the filmmakers. Boyega told the crowd:

If you’re putting together a fresh take on Spaceballs, casting a real Star Wars actor is not only hilarious but also makes total sense for the parody. John Boyega has proven he can switch between being a serious hero and a comedic force (no pun intended), which is precisely what made the original movie one of the greatest parody movies.

The meta jokes would be absolutely hilarious—just imagine Finn battling it out with lightsabers (or, you know, Schwartzes) against Dark Helmet. It’s such a fun idea. Plus, since John Boyega has been pretty vocal about his issues with his character’s story and the Star Wars fandom after racial backlash, the writers could really give him a better character arc, or at least throw in some clever references to the Disney trilogy.

We’ll have to see whether Gad or another Spaceballs 2 producer picks up the phone for Boyega, but we do know some legacy players are circling back. Reports indicate that Bill Pullman and Rick Moranis are in the mix, and Gad recently teased that if Moranis returns after a decades-long retirement, it’ll be because the movie is “worthy” of him. The bar is high, by design.

The casting energy around Spaceballs 2 already blends nostalgia and new blood—think Lewis Pullman (Lone Starr actor Bill Pullman’s real-life son), Keke Palmer, and Gad himself. So adding a marquee Star Wars veteran would sharpen the satire and broaden the audience in one move. Needless to say, the Schwartz works in mysterious (and very commercial) ways.

Will Amazon MGM pick up the phone? That’s above my pay grade. But, if Spaceballs 2 is aiming to be both a worthy sequel and a victory lap for the galaxy’s funniest spoof, bringing in John Boyega would be one giant step for parody-kind. Until casting is official, consider this the most entertaining open audition in the cosmos. May the Schwartz be with whoever’s manning the call sheet.

Spaceballs 2 is expected to have a theatrical release sometime in 2027, and it will more than likely will hit streaming for anyone with a Prime Video subscription sometime after that.

Star Wars is one of the biggest franchises of all time, as generations have been brought up on the galaxy far, far away. After years the Star Wars movies returned to theaters with The Force Awakens (which is streaming with a Disney+ subscription). The first entry in the sequel trilogy introduced John Boyega's Finn to the world, and the actor thought he knew where his character and Rey were headed. It turns out he was mistaken.

While fans not-so-patiently wait for upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows, more information about the last three movies is still trickling out. John Boyega has been open about his disappointments related Finn, specifically related to his use of The Force. During a panel appearance at Fan Expo Boston (via ScreenRant), the 33 year-old actor shared where he thought the story was originally going. In his words:

Well, my FOMO is through the roof. This is a huge departure from the story we saw in the sequel trilogy, but it seems like a pretty thrilling (albeit hypothetical) idea. While Adam Driver's Kylo Ren was set up to be the main antagonist of those movies, seeing Finn and Rey come to blows with a lightsaber duel would have been pretty awesome. Instead, Boyega never picked up a lightsaber after his two battles in The Force Awakens.

Throughout the trilogy it was hinted a number of times that Finn could use The Force. He took to a lightsaber quickly, and could sense where Rey was. But he never actually got trained, with Daisy Ridley's Rey being the main hero and next Jedi of the franchise. And she and Finn never turned against each other the way that Boyega assumed they would.

Personally I'm hoping that Ridley's Rey movie brings back Finn as well, and we get to finally see him starting his Jedi training. The movie is expected to follow her as she started a new Jedi Order, years after The Rise of Skywalker's ending. This seems like a great way to finally give that storyline a big payoff, as well as include another key connection to the previous movies.

Right now not much is know about what that developing project will contain, but Star Wars: New Jedi Order is currently expected to arrive sometime in the 2026 movie release list. But filming will have to start soon if that's going to happen.

John Boyega may not be in an upcoming Star Wars movie, yet, but he’s clearly still got that spark for the galaxy far, far away. In a new interview, the actor opened up about his excitement for Daisy Ridley’s return as Rey in Lucasfilm’s upcoming Jedi-centric film. But while he’s cheering her on from the sidelines, it’s hard not to wonder: should he really be sitting this one out? Come on, I need him to join back up as Finn.

While guesting on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Boyega was asked by host Josh Horowitz if he knew Ridley was returning and how he found out. The Attack the Block star laughed, admitting he found out the same way fans did: online. However, he was not surprised by the return, as he explained:

Since The Rise of Skywalker served as the most recently released Star Wars movies in order, all the Star Wars shows on Disney+ have been the biggest way the franchise has continued on. However, that’s all about to change, given Disney’s cinematic plans for SW with the impending new trilogy of films, on top of the Mandalorian & Grogu movie.. Boyega’s reaction feels authentic and generous, and it’s refreshing to hear someone who starred in one of the most polarizing trilogies speak so openly, not just as an actor but as a fan.

But why isn’t he lined up to make a return? Well, he hadn't exactly had the most peaceful run within this franchise. In the podcast interview, which you can see below, the Woman King veteran mentions watching fan reaction videos and staying connected to the fandom in a way that feels personal without being promotional. But that’s precisely why his absence from the upcoming project hits a little harder.

Finn’s story was left hanging. The Force Awakens introduced him as a major presence with real potential (possibly Force-sensitive), brave, conflicted, and deeply human. But by the time The Rise of Skywalker wrapped, that potential for the character to “elevate” and “advance” had been all but sidelined. The Pacific Rim: Uprising alum was vocal about his frustrations with how characters of color were handled, and he didn’t sugarcoat the experience. He called out the marketing bait-and-switch and made it clear that he wanted better.

Now, better might actually be possible. With Rey set to rebuild the Jedi Order in a new story directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, this is a golden opportunity to reconnect the threads of the sequel trilogy in a meaningful way by bringing Finn back into the fold. The timing works. The narrative makes sense. And Boyega’s love for the franchise, even after everything, still burns bright.

So yes, I’m thrilled to see Daisy Ridley take center stage again. But if Finn isn’t standing beside her, finally stepping fully into the Force-sensitive role fans always believed in, it’ll feel like another missed opportunity. Lucasfilm, it’s time. Let Boyega return, not just as a fan, but as a Jedi.

Every Star Wars trilogy needs its own romance. The Original Trilogy had Han Solo and Leia Organa (let’s just continue pretending like the Leia and Luke kiss never happened), the Prequel Trilogy had Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala, and the Sequel Trilogy had Rey and Kylo Ren… or rather, snuck it in at the last minute. Reylo fans finally got what they wanted when Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver’s characters kissed towards the end of The Rise of Skywalker. However, John Boyega is definitely not a fan of this ship and gave an amazing explanation for why he doesn’t like the pairing.

This topic came up when Boyega was speaking with Happy Sad Confused host Josh Horowitz at C2E2 and he was asked during the audience Q&A if Finn and Poe Dameron would have accepted the relationship between Rey and Ben Solo had the latter lived. The Finn actor started off by saying:

I mean… he’s not wrong. Kylo Ren started off his “relationship” with Rey in The Force Awakens by kidnapping and mentally torturing her, and by the end of the movie, they’d lightsaber dueled and Rey had given him the scar on his eye. Their relationship became complicated in The Last Jedi when Rey and Kylo kept trying to sway the other to join their side, and then The Rise of Skywalker revealed that the two shared a Force dyad with each other. But the point still stands that for the majority of time they knew each other, Rey and Kylo were in conflict, so Boyega’s not wrong for being leery about them getting romantic with each other.

Ultimately Ben Solo turned his back on his Kylo Ren identity in The Rise of Skywalker and raced to Exegol to help Rey fight Palpatine and the Sith Eternal. So Rey was right about there still being good in him, which John Boyega acknowledged in the following comment, though he thinks Finn would have tried to put the kibosh on her and Ben’s smooch time had he been near them on Exegol:

Rey died after reflecting her grandaddy Palpatine’s Force lightning back at him to kill him for good (fingers crossed), but Ben Solo then used the Force to revive her at the cost of his own life. So their time together as love interests was short-lived, and if Boyega had his way, it wouldn’t have happened at all. It’s fine if you disagree with him about this, although I’m sure there are plenty of Star Wars fans who agree with the actor that Rey and Finn should have been paired together instead.

Feel free to use your Disney+ subscription to revisit The Rise of Skywalker or any of the other Star Wars movies. Otherwise, get ready for the franchise set in a galaxy far, far away to return to the big screen when The Mandalorian & Grogu opens on May 22, 2026.

John Boyega's Finn remains one of the most interesting characters to me in the Sequel Trilogy, so I do hope the rumors of him returning for upcoming Star Wars movies are true. Unfortunately, Boyega wasn't discussing that at a recent convention appearance, though he did share the request he made to J.J. Abrams regarding Finn falling down when they filmed The Rise Of Skywalker.

The actor was a guest at Emerald City Comic Con, and during a panel in which he discussed a wide range of topics, he talked about his experience filming Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker. According to Popverse, the actor had one request for director J.J. Abrams when he returned, and it involved wanting his character to not be off his feet as much:

This all jives with what John Boyega told CinemaBlend back when we interviewed him ahead of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The actor behind the stormtrooper-turned-Rebellion leader told us he wanted to see Finn "elevate" and "advance" and be more sure of himself. Part of doing that had to be ensuring that his character wouldn't spend a lot of time fumbling around and getting into trouble where he needed to be bailed out.

It's been a while since I've streamed Episode IX with a Disney+ subscription, but I do feel like there were meaningful jumps in where his character was headed. Though it wasn't explicitly stated in The Rise of Skywalker (which played into the many criticisms about the film), we know that Finn was confirmed to be Force-sensitive. Unfortunately, the most interesting thing about his character was revealed in the Sequel Trilogy's final installment, and we didn't get to see where his journey may go from there.

As mentioned, however, there's a chance we will get to see John Boyega return if the rumors floating around the internet pan out. Word is he's going to make an appearance in the movie where Daisy Ridley will return as Rey Skywalker. It's not a theory that would be that hard to believe considering Rey and Finn had a pretty close relationship, and his Force sensitivity could ultimately set him up to aid her in re-establishing the Jedi Order.

Honestly, I'd just be content to learn that John Boyega will return to Star Wars in general, especially since he once referred to working for the franchise as "luxury jail." in fairness, I can understand the frustration and exhaustion he must've felt having to contend with the fandom during his first run as the character but would love to see him return and have a little more fun doing more scenes as Finn.

For now, we can only see John Boyega in his role as Finn in the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy. Stream it now on Disney+, and keep an eye on CinemaBlend as we track what else is happening in the galaxy far, far, away.

John Boyega has certainly been able to leave his own mark on pop culture through his role as Finn in the Star Wars movies. It’s crazy to think that this year will mark the 10th anniversary of The Force Awakens’ release. Ahead of that momentous occasion, Boyega is recalling how he ultimately joined the massive franchise. Interestingly, it would seem that Boyega has none other than Tom Cruise to thank for him being hired to play the stormtrooper-turned-Resistance member, and J.J. Abrams was in the mix as well.

Since the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy ended in 2019, the 32-year-old British actor has regaled fans with great behind-the-scenes stories. He’s just made a stop at Emerald City Comic Con, where he participated in a panel discussion hosted by Popverse. When talking about how he came to be involved with the George Lucas-created science fiction franchise, he name-dropped Mr. Cruise, which is surprising to me. However, it makes sense, considering that a Mission: Impossible link played into all of this:

J.J. Abrams and Tom Cruise have collaborated on several M:I films, and the one they were likely editing when Cruise brought up John Boyega was 2011’s Ghost Protocol. (Abrams served as a producer on that flick.) As a film fan, I love hearing great BTS stories, especially anecdotes about one actor helping another in some form or fashion. It’s wonderful that Cruise talked up the then-up-and-coming actor to Abrams. Also, it’s easy to understand Cruise’s praise, because Boyega is phenomenal in the criminally underrated Attack the Block (which is streamable with a Paramount+ subscription).

For years, the Risky Business icon has been widely regarded as a generous figure within the entertainment industry. This also isn’t the first time that a younger actor has mentioned that he offered them support when they were seeking out a role. For instance, Monica Barbaro, who worked with the longtime leading man on Top Gun: Maverick, revealed that he went above and beyond for her when she pursued the role of Joan Baez in A Complete Unknown. He did so by putting in a good word for her with director James Mangold.

It goes without saying that John Boyega’s professional trajectory was immensely changed due to Tom Cruise’s recommendation. Boyega rose to international stardom thanks to his roles in three entries in the Skywalker Saga, and that’s made all the better by the fact that he was a fan of the galaxy far, far away before even being cast. Still, Boyega has been honest about the downsides of being tied to the franchise, including the onslaught of racist backlash as well as the “curse” that comes into play when an actor tries to diversify their work.

Thankfully, though, the London native has been able to take on some interesting roles since retiring the role of Finn. He’s notched roles in The Woman King, Breaking and They Cloned Tyrone and Small Axe, which all received critical acclaim. It’s wild to think that Tom Cruise played a hand in John Boyega’s humble beginnings, and, if he hasn’t thanked the legend face to face already, I hope he gets the chance to do so. And, as Boyega pitched, I hope he gets to play a “guy in the chair” or an even bigger role in a movie with Cruise one day.

You can stream all of the Star Wars movies now using a Disney+ subscription.

Star Trek has been around for decades, and it takes a lot of people to fill a ship. As such, there's no shortage of actors who have joined its ranks over the years, but even in 2025, there are still some who haven't. With upcoming Trek shows on the horizon, I had to highlight some of the prominent names in sci-fi who I would love to see join Starfleet or some other role in this galaxy.

Whether it's joining a full-length series or just popping around for a one-off movie, these actors would be perfect for Star Trek. Frankly, some of them have done so much sci-fi in their careers that I'm shocked it hasn't happened already. All that being said, let's jump on my picks and go over where I'd best see them fitting into the franchise when it comes to roles.

Gillian Anderson

Had Bryan Fuller remained the showrunner of Star Trek: Discovery, this could've happened already. The creative revealed on the D-Con Chamber that Gillian Anderson was planned to play a Starfleet Captain, though her exact role in the series was not defined. It is ironic that the person paired with David Duchovny to play the paranormal skeptic in The X-Files could've been someone who regularly interacted with aliens in Star Trek.

I don't think there's any denying Anderson would be the perfect fit for a Starfleet Captain or some other high-ranking official in the organization. I would say she has "Janeway energy," so it's easier to see her in that captain role because someone has previously paved the way with a character I could've easily seen her playing as well. Will it ever happen? I want to believe.

Rosario Dawson

After playing Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars and nurse Claire Temple in Netflix's Marvel shows, it only seems fitting that Rosario Dawson jumps to Star Trek next. In fact, the actress said years ago she's a fan and would love to be a part of the franchise, initially proposing that she play a background character just to be included in the fun and complete a lifelong dream. Of course, she's a big deal in Hollywood, and I doubt the franchise would toss her in rather than offer her an actual role.

Dawson's father suggested she play a Q, and I'm 100% on board with that idea. I think linking her to Starfleet is just too obvious of an option, and we could use more Q characters in the franchise to inject additional chaos into the shows every so often.

Alan Tudyk

Alan Tudyk isn't just a sci-fi actor; I would say a vast majority of the work in his career has come from the genre. He was burned on the set of Rogue One and was on the cast of Firefly, one of the most iconic canceled sci- fi shows. Frankly, I'm shocked he's never done anything with Star Trek, and I think it's high time that change.

The best thing about Tudyk is that he's just as iconic as a voice actor as he is in live-action. That makes him a perfect fit for any species of the week that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds could use, corporeal or otherwise. For some reason, I see him playing a Medusan, but I can't explain why that sounds so perfect.

Elliot Page

Elliot Page hasn't been as active in Hollywood as in years past, but maybe it's because the right role hasn't come along. There's ample opportunity for the actor to make a comeback in the Star Trek franchise and an audience pre-dispositioned and ready to embrace the latest chapter in his life.

I also feel like Page just naturally has the look of someone suited to be a Vulcan or Romulan. Much like James Frain was the perfect fit for Sarek, I see Page taking on the role of a Vulcan leader or maybe a tough Romulan ready to take down the Federation with some brilliant scheme. In truth, I just want to see Page doing big things in Hollywood again, and I could think of no better fandom to welcome him into than the Star Trek universe.

John Boyega

There's a part of me that thinks John Boyega referring to his time in Star Wars as "franchise jail" means he won't readily do another sci-fi franchise again. Still, if there was a shortlist of actors in Hollywood, I would say are the best fit to bring back Star Trek movies, he'd be the star I'd want to prop up the franchise with.

As a franchise lead, he'd almost certainly have to be a Starfleet Captain. Sure, I'm all for the idea that anyone can be the lead of a Star Trek adventure, but he spent his time in Star Wars largely playing second banana to a larger story. It's high time we make John Boyega a leading man in sci-fi, and Trek would welcome him with open arms if he's willing to give it another try.

Domhnall Gleeson

I know I used the picture of him as Hux, but truthfully, I'd want more of the Domhnall Gleeson who appeared in Ex Machina for a Star Trek movie. Let's be honest, there's no shortage of Gleeson performances in movies that showcase his strengths as an actor, and they all make for a candidate that Starfleet would want among its highest ranks.

The problem is that Domhnall Gleeson is just so damn captivating as a villain. It would be a shame to have him in Star Trek and not play one of the most dastardly antagonists any of the quadrants have ever seen. I'm talking about something way worse than any of the most dangerous villains of The Next Generation, maybe even worse than Deep Space Nine's Dukat. He's capable of it, we just need someone over at Paramount to give him a shot and let him cook.

Katee Sackhoff

Katee Sackhoff has been a big name in the science fiction world for a while, really exploding onto the scene in Battlestar Galactica. Decades later, she's played Bo-Katan Kryze in The Mandalorian and talked about shifting over to Star Trek. Jonathan Frakes suggested she join Starfleet Academy, and I 100% sign off on that idea.

It may not be the best time to bring up Section 31 after critics were unkind in their reviews of the recent movie, but is there any person more suited for the morally gray faction? I could see Sackhoff steering the fandom back to being on board with Section 31, and if she can be paired up with Michelle Yeoh for a potential sequel to the movie, that's even better.

These are just a few names that I'd be thrilled to see involved with Star Trek as the franchise presses onward into the future. Those looking to keep tabs on everything on the way should pick up Paramount+ and catch up on some of the fantastic shows from the past few years.

Daisy Ridley quickly became famous at the age of 23 for taking part in some of the best Star Wars movies in years, starting with The Force Awakens. But as she became a new face of one of the biggest franchises of all time, the actress was quickly thrust into the spotlight and exposed to the double-edged sword of fame. Ridley recently recalled how one interview she did during her time promoting the Sequel Trilogy led to some fallout at the expense of her own shuteye.

Back in 2019, ahead of The Rise of Skywalker hitting theaters, Daisy Ridley was asked by The Guardian about how her “privilege” has perhaps affected how she navigates celebrity. The interview wrote that the question led Ridley to become “suddenly incredulous” and led things to “take an awkward turn.” Ridley then said her and co-star John Boyega had a “similar enough” upbringing before correcting herself that she’d gone to a performing arts boarding school on scholarship. Here’s how she reflects on the interview now:

While speaking to The Telegraph, Ridley reflected on her comments from five years ago, sharing that the interview’s contents kept her up at night because of how she felt her words were taken out of context and expressed in a way that did not reflect what she meant to say. The interview certainly could make it sound like Ridley was tone deaf to how her co-star being the son to immigrant parents from Nigeria would give them different privileges, but that was not the star’s intention.

When the interview was released, a Reddit thread on the topic showed a lot of fans siding with Ridley. One comment said the interviewer gave her a “really dumb” question, while others said it was “passive aggressive” and “nasty” toward the actress. Ridley and Boyega became fast friends on the Star Wars movies and remained close throughout their wild shared experience together of becoming big names in Hollywood with the release of The Force Awakens. (Ridley even gifted Boyega with an awesome wrap gift after they finished filming the trilogy.)

Next up, Ridley is set to reprise her role as Rey in an untitled movie that has the actress excited to return to the universe. The movie will pick up 15 years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker at a time when Rey is training a new generation of Jedi. You can check out what other upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows are coming up next here on CinemaBlend.

When it comes to the Star Wars sequel trilogy, there are a number of developments that fans wish would’ve come to fruition. A hope that still persists even now is that a romance may be established between good buddies Poe Dameron and Finn, played by Oscar Isaac and John Boyega, respectively. Isaac long hyped up a romance between the two characters alongside fans, but to no avail. Now, years later, Boyega is keeping shippers' hopes alive and he’s done so in a truly sweet way.

The Breaking star recently appeared at New York Comic Con, where he chopped it up with the fans, took pictures and signed autographs. While at the annual convention, the 32-year-old British actor also shared some photos to social media. Among them was a snapshot of a bracelet he sported sometime during the festivities. The accessory conveys a brief, but clear, sentiment that you can see in the screenshot from his Instagram story down below:

At first glance, it may look like one of the bracelets that are handed out at Taylor Swift concerts, but this one has a Star Wars-infused twist. I can’t help but smile when seeing how John Boyega nodded at Finn and Poe. What I’d also want to know is how the actor obtained that trinket. On the one hand, I could see him having it made for himself. However, given the fan-oriented nature of Cons, it’s also possible that someone gifted him the item while he was making his way across the convention floor.

Since the two characters debuted in 2015’s The Force Awakens, Finn and Poe have been heavily shipped. The two became fast friends during the opening moments of the aforementioned film, during which they both escaped the clutches of the First Order. They eventually reunited at the Resistance’s base. It was there that they excitedly embraced, and Poe also allowed Finn to keep his jacket, which the latter picked up after they crashed on Jakku. By the events of 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, the pair remained close friends, but there was no sign of romantic sparks.

Oscar Isaac seemingly couldn’t stop teasing the idea of his character linking up with ex-Stormtrooper Finn. He even joked that it was “a little difficult” to see Finn lock lips with Rose Tico in The Last Jedi. Also getting in on the fun was Mark Hamill, who penned a poem about the two theoretical lovers, and John Boyega fanned the flames by sharing pics of himself and Isaac. Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy weighed in as well years ago and, while she didn’t say the ship would happen, she didn’t say definitively that it wouldn’t.

Nevertheless, the Moon Knight star claimed that the “Disney overlords” weren’t ready for such a relationship to be highlighted in the galaxy far, far away. I do like the idea of Poe and Finn being platonic friends with a brother-like relationship, though I can certainly understand the appeal of them being together. LGBTQ+ Star Wars characters are gradually starting to come into the fold, though there’s still plenty of work to be done when it comes to representation on that front.

There’s no telling whether there might actually come a time at which John Boyega and Oscar Isaac’s characters will return. Given the franchise is headed in new directions, I’d say the chances of that are slim. Still, there’s always fan fiction, and those who feel strongly can continue to celebrate the big “what if” via bracelets like Boyega or in other ways.

You can check out the adventures of Poe and Finn by streaming the Star Wars movies using a Disney+ subscription.

Simu Liu delights fans on social media with cheeky posts and tidbits from his feature films. The Marvel star is also known to share the occasional selfie, and he truly just delivered in that regard. Liu took to the web to post a shirtless pic, and he looks ripped. Funny enough, one specific thought came to my mind, and that was even before I saw the sea of responses in the comment section. So imagine my surprise when Star Wars veteran John Boyega shared a reaction that completely aligned with what I was thinking about.

What Did Simu Liu Post, And How Did John Boyega React To It?

The Barbie star’s chiseled body (complete with distracting abs) was on full display in a photo that he shared to X. As sizzling as the photo is, it’s his caption that truly seemed to grab some people’s attention. The actor cryptically typed down “prepping…,” with the caption being accompanied by the curious eyes emoji. What really made me chuckle, though, was the how the Star War veteran reacted. Check out the original post and the response:

Needless to say, the Jackpot! star is looking jacked, but it's unclear what he's preparing for. Still, my first inclination was to think that Simu Liu was teasing that work has finally begun on the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings sequel. So it delights me to no end that John Boyega had Marvel’s kung-fu master on the brain as well.

I love and appreciate so much about the Attack the Block star, but what I really love is his admiration for his peers’ work. His gif post would suggest that he’s just as eager to see the Atlas star return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as well. What’s also sweet is that the Canadian actor also reacted to John Boyega’s response with a fun one of his own. He shared a gif of John Boyega’s Star Wars character, Finn, from The Force Awakens. As fun as this exchange is, it does remind me that fans are still in need of answers on the next Shang-Chi movie.

How Much Has Been Said About Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi 2 At This Point?

Unfortunately, not much has been said about the next installment of Xu Shang-Chi’s next solo film, and Marvel Studios hasn’t even formally announced it yet. It was reported in 2021, however, that Shang-Chi 2 would move forward, as director Destin Daniel Cretton signed an exclusive multi-year deal with Disney. As part of that agreement, Cretton has overseen another Marvel production – upcoming show Wonder Man. More recently, it was also reported that Cretton had signed on to direct Spider-Man 4, starring Tom Holland.

Should that Spidey news prove to be true, it’s unclear as to how long fans will have to wait to see the next solo film starring the MCU’s resident martial artist. Amid the uncertainty surrounding the superhero flick, though, Simu Liu has been keeping fans optimistic – and not just by posting ripped selfies. Back in April, Liu addressed rumors that the film had been canceled by assuring fans that “it’s happening.”

There’s certainly, at the very least, a chance that the latest social media post from the Simulant star indicates that he’s almost ready to don his eponymous rings once more. I’ll certainly remain hopeful that Shang-Chi 2 is a step closer to happening and, whenever it opens, I’ll be one of the first in line to see it. John Boyega’s reaction to the selfie also makes me confident that he’ll be among those who eventually buy a ticket as well.

While you wait for an official update, stream Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings as well as the Marvel movies in order using a Disney+ subscription.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is wildly popular, even if movies like The Marvels struggled at the box office. The franchise has gone through a big change, with Kang actor Jonathan Majors being found guilty for assault, and the studio promptly dropping Majors from the role. Since then there’s been a ton of chatter about who might take on the mantle of the villain. After Kang replacement rumors swirled, John Boyega’s response to fan casting has resurfaced.

Now that the Creed III actor is officially out of the MCU, there’s been a ton of chatter about which actors might replace Majors as Kang. Star Wars icon John Boyega is one many fan lists, although it doesn’t look like he’s all that interested in playing the role. Case in point: Boyega’s tweet response when someone suggested he take on Kang back in November. Check it out below:

Well, there you have it. While this GIF response was posted before the verdict was revealed, it certainly seems like Boyega doesn't want to take on the mantle of Kang in the MCU. And as such, we should probably cross his name off of any fan cast lists for the time being.

Those of us who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know that Majors got to play Kang throughout Ant-Man 3 as well as two season of Loki. He was expected to be the next Thanos-level villain, with the credits scene of Ant-Man 3 revealing an entire colosseum full of variants. And as such, moviegoers are definitely interested in the studio's plans for the future. 

Since the MCU has lost its Kang, there are a few options Marvel could take to continue the shared universe's overarching story. One option would simply be to recast, although they'd have to find an actor willing to step into those shoes-- one that isn't John Boyega. Another option is having a different character become the big threat. Finally, Kang could simply be killed off and the studio could form a new villain to bring Earth's Mightiest Heroes together. Maybe the TVA could end up pruning all the Kang variants in the wake of Loki's Season 2 finale? Only time will tell, but the stakes definitely feel high.

As we waited for Jonathan Majors' legal situation to play out, there were reports that Marvel knew it had a Kang problem ahead of Loki Season 2's airing, but were unable to write around it due to the strikes. The allegations against Majors came out in March, but only went to court recently. We'll just have to see if the studio planned a way out of this plot lines, or if recasting really is the answer.

The next MCU movie hitting theaters is Deadpool 3 on July 26th. In the meantime, check out the 2024 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Though Hollywood A-listers make more money for one movie that some of us will see in a lifetime, there are times where even some of the highest grossing actors of all time didn’t make as much as you'd think. Over the years, stars like Robert Downey Jr., Julia Roberts, and Brad Pitt have brought in massive paydays for acting and producing, but those same stars have also seen incredibly small paychecks for one reason or another.

If you’ve ever wanted to know about 33 actors who made way less than you’d think for a beloved movie, look no further…

Robert Downey Jr. Made $500,000 For Iron Man

Robert Downey Jr. was the first major star of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and would be a staple of the Infinity Saga for more than a decade. During this time, he made a ton of money for his superhero performances. However, he only took home a comparatively small payday of $500,000 for 2008’s Iron Man, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Bill Murray Made $9,000 For Rushmore

Bill Murray is one of the most beloved actors of all time and a frequent collaborator of Wes Anderson’s ever since the release of Rushmore back in 1998. That fruitful partnership started out modestly for the SNL alum, as he was paid $9,000 for his take on Herman Blume, per Vulture.

Gal Gadot Made $300,000 For Wonder Woman

When Gal Gadot first signed on to portray Diana Prince in the DCEU back in 2014, Variety reported that the Fast & Furious star would take on a salary of $300,000 per movie, including Wonder Woman, which was released three years later.

Julia Roberts Made $300,000 For Pretty Woman

Though she had some success at the box office prior to its release, Julia Roberts turned into a massive star thanks to 1990’s Pretty Woman and one of the most well-known A-listers on the planet. However, Roberts, who would go on to earn a ton of cash for movies like Erin Brockovich years later, reportedly received a modest sum of $300,000 for her role in the all-time great romantic comedy, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Hilary Swank Made $3,000 For Boys Don’t Cry

Hilary Swank won her first Oscar and became one of the most talked about actresses thanks to her transformative portrayal of Brandon Teena in Kimberly Peirce’s Boys Don’t Cry. When appearing on Women’s Dinner Party years later, Swank revealed she was paid $3,000 for the role, which wasn’t enough to qualify for health insurance.

Tom Hanks Made $50,000 For Toy Story

Tom Hanks, who won two Academy Awards prior to the 1995 release of Toy Story, was reportedly paid $50,000 to provide the voice of Woody in the landmark Pixar film, according to the Los Angeles Times. In the same article, the publication reported that Hanks made $5 million upfront for its 1999 sequel.

Oprah Winfrey Made $35,000 For The Color Purple

Oprah Winfrey received an Oscar nomination for her performance in Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple back in 1985. The media mogul, who is worth billions today, later told Essence she was paid $35,000 for portrayal of Sofia.

Robin Williams Made $75,000 For Aladdin

Aladdin will forever be remembered as one of the best Robin Williams movies, and rightfully so. And while the late actor provided countless hours of incredible lines for his co-starring performance, he only made $75,000 for his troubles, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Jamie Lee Curtis Made $8,000 For Halloween

John Carpenter’s Halloween, one of the best horror movies, turned Jamie Lee Curtis into a scream queen almost overnight. However, the Academy Award winner later told People Magazine that she only made $8,000 for her portrayal of Laurie Strode.

Nick Castle Made $25/Day For Halloween

Nick Castle has played Michael Myers a total of five times over the years, with the most recent being 2022’s Halloween Ends. Though the role made him a horror icon, Castle told Vanity Fair he was only paid $25 for each day of shooting in the original back in 1978.

Matthew McConaughey Made Less Than $200,000 For Dallas Buyers Club

Matthew McConaughey won an Oscar for his performance in Dallas Buyers Club, a role that ushered in a new era of his career. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he was paid less than $200,000 upfront for the movie9 but did receive an undisclosed amount on the backend.

Chris Evans Made $300,000 For Captain America: The First Avenger

Chris Evans was a driving force for the first few phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and was paid handsomely for his efforts later on. However, when he was cast to play Steve Rogers in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, he reportedly only made $300,000, per The Guardian.

Jeff Daniels Made $50,000 For Dumb And Dumber

Jeff Daniels, who was mostly known for his dramatic roles at the time, was cast to appear alongside Jim Carrey in the Farrelly Brothers’ 1994 comedy Dumb and Dumber despite New Line Cinema wanting someone else. Years later, the directors told The Hollywood Reporter that the studio low-balled him with an offer of $50,000, thinking he’d say no. You know the rest.

Taraji P. Henson Made $150,000 For The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

Taraji P. Henson received an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Queenie in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a performance that netted her a great deal of screen time. However, as she later told Variety, she was only paid $150,000 for the gig, which was several hundred thousand dollars less than her initial request of $500,000.

Jonah Hill Made $60,000 For The Wolf Of Wall Street 

Jonah Hill was paid $60,000 for his portrayal of Donnie Azoff in Martin Scorsese’s 2013 epic comedy The Wolf of Wall Street. While that may seem small considering the size of his role, Hill later told Howard Stern (via BBC) that he immediately took the offer, adding that he would have sold his house and given all his money to work with the acclaimed director. 

Orlando Bloom Made $175,000 For The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy 

Orlando Bloom was an instrumental part of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, with his character, Legolas, being featured heavily throughout all three movies. During a 2023 appearance on The Howard Stern Show, the actor revealed he was paid a total of $175,000 for the entire project.

Jon Heder Initially Made $1,000 For Napoleon Dynamite 

Napoleon Dynamite pretty much came out of nowhere and took the world by storm in 2004, partly because its star, Jon Heder. A few years after the film’s release, Heder told Stuff Magazine that he initially made $1,000 from the movie but was later able to negotiate his deal after MTV picked up distribution.

Daisy Ridley Made Between $100,000 And $300,000 For Star Wars: The Force Awakens 

Daisy Ridley was a relatively unknown actress when she was cast in one of the lead roles in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which might explain her low salary for the 2015 blockbuster. According to Variety, that number was reportedly between $100,000 and $300,000.

John Boyega Made Between $100,000 And $300,000 For Star Wars: The Force Awakens 

John Boyega’s Finn was one of the most heavily featured characters in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but the young actor reportedly only received a payday somewhere between $100,000 and $300,000, per Variety.

James Earl Jones Made $7,000 For Star Wars

James Earl Jones’ dynamic voice gave Darth Vader a menacing edge in George Lucas' 1977 film Star Wars (and the rest of the franchise), but did you know that he was only paid $7,000 for the first movie? When speaking with the American Film Institute, the legendary actor admitted that he thought that was good money at the time.

Mel Gibson Made $9,000 For Mad Max 

After appearing in Mad Max, Mel Gibson would go on to lead some of the best action movies of all time, but back when he was cast in the late ‘70s, he was a broke college student. That’s why, as he told ExperienceWith.com, his $9,000 salary for George Miller’s dystopian thriller seemed like a fortune.

Seann William Scott Made $8,000 For American Pie 

American Pie was one of the biggest movies of the ‘90s, and Seann William Scott’s Stifler was its breakout character. So, how much did the young actor make for his career-defining role? Well, as he told The Rich Eisen Show in 2023, he was paid $8,000, most of which he spent on a used Thunderbird.

Christian Bale Made The Minimum Salary For American Psycho 

Christian Bale’s take on the unhinged Patrick Bateman in 2000’s American Psycho is one of the actor’s most unforgettable performances, but it could very well be one of his smallest paydays. Though he didn’t reveal the exact number in a 2022 GQ profile, the actor did say it was the “absolute minimum they were illegally allowed” to pay him.

Michelle Williams Made $625,000 For All The Money In The World 

Michelle Williams was reportedly only paid $625,000 for her portrayal of Gail Harris in Ridley Scott’s 2017 biographical crime thriller All the Money in the World, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Though this is a hefty fee, her co-star, Mark Wahlberg, was reported to have taken home $5 million for his role.

Barkhad Abdi Made $65,000 For Captain Phillips 

Barkhad Abdi became an overnight sensation following the release of Captain Phillips, in which he plays lead pirate Abduwali Muse. According to the New Yorker, Abdi’s acting debut and Oscar-nominated performance earned him $65,000.

Jennifer Lopez Made $0 For Hustlers 

Jennifer Lopez received a Golden Globe nomination for her role in Hustlers, a movie she made for free. During a GQ breakdown of her biggest career moments, the multi-talented star said she starred in and produced the movie for no upfront money, as she was investing in herself. However, it wasn’t disclosed as to how much she made on the backend of the film’s release, which was $157.6 million, according to Box Office Mojo.

Gunnar Hansen Made $800 For Texas Chain Saw Massacre 

Gunnar Hansen’s Leatherface is an instantly recognizable horror villain thanks to his mask made of human flesh and signature chainsaw. But did you know that the actor was only paid a three-digit sum for his performance in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre? In 2013, the actor told Fast Company that he made $800 for his part in the iconic ‘70s horror movie.

Dustin Hoffman Made $20,000 For The Graduate 

The Graduate was the movie that turned Dustin Hoffman into a young Hollywood star, but it was also one that didn’t earn him a whole lot of money. According to a 1968 New York Times article, Hoffman reportedly made $20,000 for his career-defining role, but he only ended up keeping $4,000 of that after expenses and taxes were taken out.

John Candy Made $414 For His Home Alone Cameo 

The late John Candy appears in Home Alone for only a few minutes, but it’s still wild to think that his cameo only netted the actor $414. In the Home Alone episode of Netflix’s The Movies That Made Us, it is revealed that Candy’s unforgettable portrayal of Gus Polinski, the Polka King of the Midwest, didn’t necessarily break the bank.

Jessica Chastain Made $1.75 Million For The Martian 

Jessica Chastain’s paycheck for The Martian was shockingly low. Around the time of the film’s 2015 release, there was a report that the actress made $7 million from her part, but she told The Huffington Post that she actually made around a quarter of that, which would be around $1.75 million. The film’s star, Matt Damon, reportedly made between $15 and 25 million for his part.

Brad Pitt Made $6,000 For Thelma And Louise 

Brad Pitt is one of the biggest and highest paid actors around today and has been that way for the better part of the past 30 years. However, that wasn’t always the case. According to the Daily Mail, the actor was paid just $6,000 for his breakout performance as JD in Ridley Scott’s Thelma and Louise.

Jon Voight Made The ‘Minimum’ Salary For Midnight Cowboy 

Jon Voight received all kinds of nominations for his performance in Midnight Cowboy, but the actor was paid the “minimum” for his portrayal of Joe Buck. When disclosing this to The Guardian decades later, Voight also revealed he received a $14.73 charge for meals on the final day of the shoot.

Adam Levine Made $0 For Begin Again 

Maroon 5 frontman and former coach on The Voice Adam Levine appeared in John Carney’s 2014 musical dramedy, Begin Again for free. When speaking with USA Today around the time of the film’s release, Levine explained that he did the movie “for no money,” stating that he had made enough through his other ventures and wanted the experience.

It’s safe to say that all of these actors have done okay for themselves over the years after making relatively small salaries throughout their career. But it’s still wild to think about Robert Downey Jr. only making half-a-million to play Tony Stark. What a steal.

There are major film franchises, and then there’s Star Wars. Generations grew up on the galaxy far, far away, which is why all three of the trilogies have been such big hits. The most recent set of movies introduced a new trio of heroes: Rey, Poe, and Finn. The latter was played by John Boyega, who recently shared sweet memories from his Star Wars trilogy… while also calling himself a “retired superhero.” Say it ain't so!

John Boyega became a household name after debuting in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, eventually reprising the role of Finn in the two sequels. While Boyega has been honest about the struggles he faced in the space opera, he’s also got positive memories of his time on set. When speaking with Ebony, the 31 year-old actor shared love for his co-stars and revealed how it’s like to view Finn years later. In his words:

While being a movie star is no doubt a strange experience, being one of the main characters of Star Wars is another level of notoriety entirely. Now that it’s been a few years since the release of The Rise of Skywalker, John Boyega is seemingly able to enjoy his legacy as Finn more. Boyega is able to be a fan again, perhaps partly because of all the work he’s done outside of George Lucas’ colorful franchise 

Despite some of the downsides to his Star Wars fame, it certainly seems like Boyega developed a strong relationship with his co-stars Oscar Isaac and Daisy Ridley. That trio were able to experience the wild nature of their sudden fame together, in addition to bonding on the set of those three movies. And sometimes that included the occasional game of Street Fighter.

Of course, some fans are hoping that this cast might reunite on the big screen. Star Wars recently announced its new trilogy, which includes a movie focused on Daisy Ridley’s Rey starting her own Jedi Academy. Fans want to see Finn as a student, finally and to see him finally becoming a Jedi in his own right. But thus far it’s unclear if Boyega is interested in returning to his signature role.

While it’s unclear when the new Star Wars movies will arrive in theaters, the franchise continues to grow thanks to live-action shows that are available with a Disney+ subscription. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

There are popular movie franchises, and then there’s Star Wars. Generations were brought up on the galaxy far, far away, resulting in an extremely passionate fanbase. Said fandom definitely made their voices known as the sequel trilogy was released, and made drastic changes to the official canon. It also intrigued a trio of new heroes in Rey, Poe, and Finn. The latter was played by actor John Boyega, who recently discussed the “curse” that comes with the franchise, while also reflecting on his decision to accept his signature role. Somebody cue the theme song!

John Boyega became a household name after debuting as the former Stormtrooper Finn in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He reprised that role in the two sequels (Boyega recently ranked the sequel trilogy), although fans are hoping to see him return sooner rather than later. He spoke to Vanity Fair about his time in that sci-fi property, saying:

This makes a ton of sense. It’s very easy for actors to be typecast in Hollywood, especially when tied to a major film franchise. Some Star Wars actors have had a hard time getting work after occupying George Lucas’ colorful franchise. And as such, Boyega has been choosing his projects very carefully in the time since The Rise of Skywalker ended. 

John Boyega’s comments to Vanity Fair come as he’s promoting his role in the new movie They Cloned Tyrone (see the reviews here) which is available with a Netflix subscription. In addition to that sci-fi comedy, he also was seen recently opposite Viola Davis in The Woman King. We’ll just have to see if/when he returns to Finn.

In that same interview, John Boyega discussed how the Star Wars sequel trilogy characters were received by the fandom. He still sees a distinction between that trio and the original heroes like Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, or Leia Organa. In his words:

Honestly, it’s going to be hard for anyone to reach the Star Wars fame of the original heroes. Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and the late Carrie Fisher remain beloved by the fandom, even if they had reduced roles in the sequels. 

As previously mentioned, there are Star Wars fans who are hoping to see John Boyega return to the role of Finn on the big screen. Many are hoping that he might have a role in the upcoming Rey movie, which will star Daisy Ridley. We’ll just have to wait and see what Lucasfilm has up its sleeve, and if Finn finally gets to train as a Jedi.

It’s unclear when the newly announced Star Wars movies will hit theaters. But the franchise continues to expand thanks to live-action shows. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Major spoilers below for They Cloned Tyrone, so tread ever so carefully if you haven’t yet watched.

A directly laid-out movie title like They Cloned Tyrone may indicate that the project itself will be similarly straightforward and to the subject-predicate-object point, but that couldn’t be further from reality. As headed up by John Boyega, Jamie Foxx and Teyonah Parris, this Netflix Original is a densely plotted and topsy-turvy sci-fi conspiracy thriller that is just as hilarious as it is head-scratching at times. Directed by Juel Taylor, Tyrone is a movie best enjoyed through multiple viewings, with many moments and lines of dialogue gaining further value once viewers have seen everything play out. And even then, the conspiracy, Old Fontaine, and the final scene are still worthy of further explanation. 

So allow me to put on my clarification cap in order to dive into the racially murky waters of They Cloned Tyrone to dig into everything that played out amidst all the expertly delivered dialogue flying out of Foxx’s Slick Charles and Parris’ Yo-Yo. 

How The Glen Was Central To A Government Conspiracy 

The very first second of They Cloned Tyrone — the blue eyes of a cartoonish white man advertising products to a Black audience — is as brilliant an opener as could possibly exist for a mystery thriller of this nature, as it’s the cypher unlocking both sinister plots at the heart of the film’s conspiratorial plotting. The Glen is a testing ground for a frighteningly repugnant government-funded experiment couched into the stated goal of promoting unity and discord.

Or, to put it another way: powerful white people have sectioned off entire neighborhoods for the purposes of testing and perfecting mind-control techniques on Black people, both those of biologically pure and cloned natures. Nearly every single element being advertised, enjoyed, and consumed within The Glen was in some way manufactured or tweaked by the shadowy group that Kiefer Sutherland’s shitbird character belongs to, from the hair products to the malt liquor to certain songs on the radio (#Ruckus) to fried chicken recipes and beyond. The majority of the local population are lab mice in a maze disguised as a neighborhood, and it’s a bunch of neo-Nazis controlling the feeding tubes, and just about everyone is under surveillance. 

The Glen sits atop a physical infrastructure comprising areas dedicated to manufacturing and distributing the aforementioned goods, research and development for brainwashing and mind control, clone storage, and more. Many key locations throughout the neighborhood are connected directly to the underground via elevators, with a vast number of mostly caucasian employees on all levels servicing the cause, from scientists to security guards to federal agents to stockroom grunts.

With all manner of “one equal race” propaganda on display throughout both the underground and the streets above, the Powers That Be use clones as a way of wildly expensive population control, and a way to not raise unnecessary alarm or worry amongst those who haven’t (yet?) been cloned. And as seen in the film, sometimes clones are put into their respective cycles when previous versions are still alive and kicking, extending how much of an ethical nightmare it all is. 

Not everything is explained in full about this process, and it’s not 100% clear how long it’s been in place, which helps the film lean into a strangely timeless vibe, even if there are references to everything from Hollow Man to the superiority of blockchain. (The fact that the audio device serving as Fontaine’s “mom” is so old possibly speaks to how long he’s been going through those motions.) It’s not entirely clear what the chain of command is beyond Kiefer Sutherland’s character and his boss, which takes us to… 

 What Old Fontaine’s Ultimate Goal Actually Was

When John Boyega’s Chester clone was introduced in a bodyguard capacity for Kiefer Sutherland’s not-quite-head honcho, that was the audience’s first clue that the “Fontaine” clone wasn’t the only one drawn from the source DNA. Which made it slightly less shocking to see the actor rocking facial prosthetics as Old Fontaine. (He’s introduced as the O.G. version, but given everything else, there’s room to speculate that even he was a clone.) At face value, Old Fontaine’s quest is virtuous, but it’s in the same empty manner as the propaganda flowing through The Glen, and is soiled all the more so by his position as the experiment’s lead geneticist.

As it was touched upon earlier in the film, Fontaine is heavily influenced by the death of his younger brother Ronnie, and it’s further explained that he was callously shot by a cop who left the child to die on the ground unattended, where medical attention could have saved his life. It clearly happened many years in the past, but Old Fontaine is still sticking with the idealized goal of making sure “what happened to Ronnie can never happen again,” even though one has to think They Cloned Tyrone takes place in a reality where similar instances happen at least as often as they do in the real world. I’m admittedly unsure if that speaks to Old Fontaine’s mental state being stretched thin, or if he’s so dedicated that he can’t see outside of his own trauma.

O.F.’s goal, which employs technology and research in part funded by neighborhood experiments like The Glen, is only slightly more nuanced than those of his colleagues. To him, brainwashing and mind control aren’t the best way to get people to agree with each other. In his mind, that problem can be solved if everyone just has the same brain, more or less, as opposed to all being of the same skin color, sexuality or nationality. And it appears he developed/created five perfect specimens to go out into the world to spread their homogenized DNA, with more of their kind presumed to follow. 

Whether or not those follow-ups would differ from the five examples lined up in his office, it’s unclear. It’s also not 100% clear if anyone else that Old Fontaine worked with was fully aware of his subset to-do list, but it didn’t seem like his work was fully sanctioned. Not only because he referred to the others’ efforts as being short-sighted, but because they’re a bunch of racists whose initial clone-breeding efforts led to afro-topped white dudes who are horny for Black women.

Old Fontaine’s efforts were possibly all in vain, however, as he was shot (presumably to death) by Chester, at the command of the younger clone. Which is perhaps the best sign of just how far the character had strayed from his core self, since it took Fontaine no time at all to react negatively to what he was hearing, and didn’t hesitate to have his maker, as it were, killed off amidst all of the clones being freed throughout the neighborhood.

What They Cloned Tyrone’s Final Scene Means 

Though we’d already seen multiple versions of the movie’s central character, with Chester also in the mix, Old Fontaine made it clear that a whole bunch of clones had been created before the one that we followed through most of the movie. (Including the one that Slick Charles tied up and left alone in his motel room.) And during one of the news reports showcasing the chaos, the character seen above holds up a file featuring pictures of Fontaine, and claims that there were also experiments happening in far larger locations such as Chicago, Detroit, and Los Angeles. 

They Cloned Tyrone’s final scene, which follows the end title card, opens up with another John Boyega character waking up and going through almost the exact same daily routine as Fontaine, from lottery scratch-offs to lifting weights to drinking 40s, only it’s very clearly happening in Los Angeles. As he’s hanging out with friends, they see a breaking news report about The Glen’s clone situation, confirming the scene aligns with the rest of the film’s timeline. 

Everyone in the room was shocked to see one of the Fontaine clones emerging from a crowd, with one of the friends turning to say, “Ain’t that you, Tyrone?” Beyond being a hilariously low-key way of addressing the film’s title, and right before that amazing “Who Cloned Tyrone?” revamp from Erikah Badu, the scene makes it clear just how far along the experiments are outside of The Glen. And it proves Old Fontaine’s point that his work will still continue, in a manner of speaking, regardless of everything that Slick, Yo-Yo and Fontaine helped make public. 

In the end, our trio of heroes are aiming to take a trip to Memphis, with Yo-Yo taking point on motivation and being an authentic human. (We think?) And while it’s unclear if there are any sequel ideas in place, Tyrone’s late-stage introduction certainly opens the door for a new uprising to take place on a larger scale in L.A. But even if that doesn’t happen, this isn’t the kind of cliffhanger ending that needs to be followed up on. 

For me, They Cloned Tyrone is one of the best sci-fi thrillers on Netflix or otherwise that I can think of, and anyone with a Netflix subscription might as well give it a rewatch after reading, to pick up on all the clues.  

Netflix releases new movies nearly all the time, and while some can fly under the radar, there are many that become hugely popular, and today, we’re going to be talking about the latest Netflix film to hopefully join that category, and that’s the already critically adored They Cloned Tyrone. 

The film, which got a stellar review from CinemaBlend and has a star-studded cast, tells the story of a trio of unlikely allies that are focused to investigate an underground government conspiracy when they find out that clones might be among them, more than they realize. The film stars Jamie Foxx, John Boyega, and more, so let's talk about where you might have seen the The Cloned Tyrone cast before. 

Jamie Foxx (Slick Charles)

Our first leading actor, Jamie Foxx, has been in the business for many years, having appeared in plenty of films during that time. He is playing Slick Charles in They Cloned Tyrone. While he has spent several years on television, appearing in shows such as In Living Color and in his own sitcom, The Jamie Foxx Show, he has continued to prove just how much of a movie star he really is. 

Some of his biggest movies include Dreamgirls, Booty Call, Miami Vice, Baby Driver, the emotional Pixar film, Soul, Jarhead, Horrible Bosses, the Quentin Tarantino movie, Django Unchained, Just Mercy, Day Shift and more. He also won an Academy Award for his lead role in Ray, where he played Ray Charles, and portrayed Electro in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, reprising the character years later in Spider-Man: No Way Home. 

After a medical incident in early 2023, he, thankfully, appears to be making a full recovery, and it’s awesome to see him on screen once again, where it looks like he is having the time of his life. 

John Boyega (Fontaine)

Next up on this list is John Boyega, a young actor who has been making waves in the business for the last decade, and plays Fontaine in They Cloned Tyrone. While he's had plenty of voice roles on television, including a major part in the show Major Lazer, he’s mainly stuck to movies. Primarily, he is known for his role as Finn in the Star Wars franchise, but has since appeared in many other movies. 

He's also appeared in movies such as Detroit, Breaking, Pacific Rim: Uprising, The Circle, Imperial Dreams, Attack the Block and more. He was also a part of The Woman King cast in 2022.

Teyonah Parris (YoYo)

Also a part of the main trio in They Cloned Tyrone is YoYo, who is played by Teyonah Parris. The actress has appeared in many films and television series before. You likely know her from the WandaVision cast, where she played Monica Rambeau, a role she is set to reprise in the upcoming movie, The Marvels. 

Parris has had many other television roles before, including her recurring part in the Mad Men cast, her recurring role on Empire, and when she was a part of the main cast on Survivor’s Remorse. 

The actress has also appeared in a variety of films. These include Dear White People, Five Nights in Maine, If Beale Street Could Talk, Point Blank, the 2021 adaptation of Candyman, and The Photograph. 

David Alan Grier

David Alan Grier is the next person on our They Cloned Tyrone cast list, and the actor has been in the industry for many years. He’s appeared in so many different films and television shows that it’s almost hard to keep track, so we’ll talk about his main roles that you might recognize him from. 

In terms of movies, some of Grier’s biggest films include Streamers, A Soldier’s Story, Boomerang (one of Eddie Murphy's best movies), Jumanji, The Big Sick, Road Hard, Bewitched, and more. He is also set to appear in the upcoming adaptation of The Color Purple. On television, Grier has had roles in series such as The Carmichael Show, where he was a prominent part of the cast, A Series of Unfortunate Events, In Living Color, Martin, Damon, The Cool Kids, Joe Pickett, and more. In 2022, he was a part of the recurring cast on The Patient. 

Kiefer Sutherland

Next up on our cast list is Kiefer Sutherland, who has been in many movies and TV shows. Sutherland is primarily known for his main role in the Fox television show, 24, but has appeared in many other series, such as The First Lady, The Fugitive, Touch, Designated Survivor, and more. 

He has also appeared in many movies like Stand By Me, The Lost Boys, Bright Lights Big City, The Renegades, Picking Up The Pieces, The Sentinel, Pompeii, Ground Control, The Contractor and others. 

J. Alphonse Nicholson

Moving on, we take a look at J. Alphonse Nicholson, who is a part of the They Cloned Tyrone cast. Nicholson had a role on P-Valley, as well as guest roles on FBI: Most Wanted and Chicago P.D. 

Nicholson also appeared in several movies such as Perfectly Single, Just Mercy, Mother’s Milk, Southern Gospel and more. Most recently, in 2023, he was in the cast of the Hulu film, White Men Can’t Jump. 

Tamberla Perry

Next up is Tamberla Perry. The actress hasn’t been in many films just yet, but she’s appeared in several television shows, including All American: Homecoming, Dare Me, Suits, How To Get Away With Murder and The Good Fight. Hopefully, after They Cloned Tyrone, we'll get to see way more of her in the future. 

Eric Robinson Jr.

Last but not least is Eric Robinson Jr., who is the last person from the main cast. He hasn’t been in many films just yet, but he did have guest roles on series such as New Amsterdam, The Ms. Pat Show, and Power Book II: Ghost.

There’s a good mix of both established Hollywood stars, as well as relative newcomers to the industry here, but with a film as funny as They Cloned Tyrone, I’m sure it won’t be long before we see many of them working in even more prominent movies and shows in the future. 

There are major movie franchises, and then there’s Star Wars. Generations grew up with the galaxy far, far away, so there’s a large and extremely dedicated fanbase. Said fanbase often likes to rank the various movies of the space opera, especially the main Skywalker Saga. And that practice can sometimes extend to the cast too. Case in point: Finn actor John Boyega recently ranked the sequel trilogy from best to worst. 

Boyega spent years playing Finn in the sequel trilogy. But following the release of The Rise of Skywalker, he’s been able to get some space away from the franchise. And as such, he was all too happy to rank the sequel trilogy while appearing on the popular web series Hot Ones. He responded eagerly, saying:

Well, there you have. John Boyega didn’t mince his words when comparing the quality of his three Star Wars movies. And he seemingly thinks that The Last Jedi is the worst, while The Force Awakens was the best. As for The Rise of Skywalker, that’s somewhere in the middle. And this take is sure to turn the collective head of the fandom.

Boyega got real about his Star Wars trilogy while promoting his new movie They Cloned Tyrone, which will be available with a Netflix subscription. Eventually the conversation turned to George Lucas’ beloved franchise, as his interviews often do. Rather than eating more spicy wings to avoid the question, he quickly ranked the movies without hesitation.

While he didn’t talk badly about the movies, it seems clear where John Boyega stands in the long-running debate about The Last Jedi’s quality. Director Rian Johnson subverted expectations with Episode VIII, which some fans took umbrage with. But after The Rise of Skywalker arrived, opinions seem to have softened on the Abrams movie… even if folks can’t get over Leia floating through space.

Boyega has been keeping busy with projects like They Cloned Tyrone and The Woman King, but some fans are hoping to see him return to Star Wars as ex Stormtrooper Finn. Specifically, they’re hoping he appears in Daisy Ridley’s developing Rey movie, possibly as a Jedi training in her new Order. 

It’s unclear when Star Wars will return to theaters, but there are new live-action shows coming to Disney+ including Ahsoka. Be sure to check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

This summer has given movie lovers plenty of options to beat the heat, with several big releases including plenty of family-friendly fare as well. But just because those blockbusters look better on the big screen, that doesn’t mean you can’t find some more-than-worthy options right from the comfort of your own home. They Cloned Tyrone — starring John Boyega, Jamie Foxx and Teyonah Parris — is available to stream with a Netflix subscription now, and critics who were able to screen the sci-fi flick ahead of its release seem to agree that this ride is one worth taking.

The trailer for They Cloned Tyrone seemed intentionally vague, telling us that our leading trio — a drug dealer, a pimp and a sex worker — unwittingly find themselves in the middle of a wild conspiracy. Juel Taylor makes his feature film directorial debut and also served as co-writer in a movie that CinemaBlend’s Nick Venable rates an impressive 4.5 out of 5 stars, saying it easily ranks in his Top 5 of the year. In the They Cloned Tyrone review, Venable praises the performances, particularly that of Jamie Foxx, writing: 

Cassondra Feltus of Black Girl Nerds also has high praise, rating the movie a 5 out of 5, shouting out its costume design, cinematography and soundtrack, with assurances that its comically quotable lines will make their way into the modern lexicon. The critic continues: 

Amon Warmann of Empire marvels at how such a mish-mash of genres (sci-fi, mystery, action, comedy, thriller and Blaxploitation) can be so consistently hilarious while never dulling the poignant message being delivered. They Cloned Tyrone is only bolstered by its central trio, and Warmann rates the film 4 out of 5 stars, saying: 

Kenneth Seward Jr. of IGN rates it a “Great” 8 out of 10, saying the movie’s genre-mashing could have been a convoluted mess, but thanks to the strong command writers Juel Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier have over a shared vision, They Cloned Tyrone is an unapologetic success. Seward continues: 

Christian Zilko of IndieWire agrees with above assessments that the move wouldn’t work without the chemistry between John Boyega, Jamie Foxx and Teyonah Parris. The critic grades the movie a B+, writing: 

They Cloned Tyrone is available to stream on Netflix now, and the critics seem to think this is one you don’t want to miss. In addition to the above opinions, the movie currently has a 94% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. 

While you're on the streamer, be sure to check out what else is new and coming soon to Netflix, and when you’re ready to hit the big screen again, take a look at our 2023 Movie Calendar to see what’s coming to theaters. 

I’ll freely and non-hesitantly cop to being overly enthusiastic for just about any movie or TV show that employs weird and unique tweaks to high-concept sci-fi plots. Groundhog Day, Palm Springs, Russian Doll, and Primer? I’ll take all those on a platter, with a heaping side of Daybreak (with Taye Diggs), Two Distant Strangers and Total Recall. Somehow, Jamie Foxx and John Boyega’s new Netflix movie They Cloned Tyrone invokes the same sense of curiosity-driven wonder as all of those projects, while still standing apart thanks to clever co-writing and direction from Juel Taylor (Creed II, Young. Wild. Free) and golden comedic performances from Foxx and WandaVision standout Teyonah Parris.

As a partial conspiracy thriller with haunting layers to explore, They Cloned Tyrone is the kind of movie that’s best experienced without a whole lot of background knowledge to add that much more value to each and every detail that gets parceled out over the two-hour runtime. On the flip side of that coin – which is probably a two-headed coin, given the direct mention of cloning in the title – Juel Taylor and co-writing partner Tony Rettenmaier have concocted a tale so densely packed that some details may fly under the radar whenever Foxx’s past-his-prime pimp Slick Charles and Parris’ strong-willed sex worker Yo-Yo are yelling at each other and stealing all the already eye-catching scenes. 

John Boyega is as far away from Hollywood glam as can be in the role of the gold-toothed drug dealer Fontaine, who faces a life-changing moment that throws him dead into the middle of a possible conspiracy that, if this were a fact-based documentary, would be as bothersome and repugnant as anything else in U.S. history.  As Slick Charles and Yo-Yo’s destinies become intertwined with Fontaine’s, They Cloned Tyrone weaves between socially bleak satire of A Clockwork Orange and “Oh shit!” comedic sequences echoing the Ghostbusters, Bill and Ted, and Star Wars franchises. The fact that it can bring so many past favorites to mind while still maintaining its own identity is a feat unto itself. 

They Cloned Tyrone features arguably career-best performances from Jamie Foxx and more.

As the lead drawing the most emotional beats, John Boyega serves up a performance every bit as effective as the endlessly watchable work delivered by Jamie Foxx and Teyonah Parris, even if Fontaine himself inherently isn’t nearly as boisterous as Slick and Yo-Yo. Without saying too much, the story itself even helps to contextualize how Boyega mapped out his portrayal, which evolves as Fontaine's life starts to unravel around him. 

All that said, They Cloned Tyrone will no doubt be remembered for years to come for everything that Jamie Foxx brings to the role of Slick Charles, who is every bit as manic and explosive as past characters in the actor’s filmography, but in a way that feels like he’s been playing the amicably arrogant shit-talking pimp for many years. The persona fits Foxx like a glove, though a glove that Slick wouldn’t wear himself, so as not to cover up all the gold on his fingers and wrists. 

Though Teyonah Parris doesn’t have the same kind of lengthy and genre-spanning career as Foxx, it doesn’t take away from everything she delivers in this career-topping performance – especially since Yo-Yo is the arguably the most thoughtful and effective person of the three to actually engage in a large-scale conspiracy like this, and gives Slick just as much gruff as he gives while still technically being his dutiful employee. Other co-stars such as Kiefer Sutherland (who is on a whole other tier of emoting), David Alan Grier and J. Alphonse Nicholson are also delivering pitch-perfect form, even if the core trio handle all of the heavy lifting. 

Director and co-writer Juel Taylor creates a bizarrely winning combination of wild and hilarious sequences within extremely dark storytelling.

By and large, Juel Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier’s Black List script would excel even as solely a straightforward and dramatically meticulous paranoid thriller such as The Conversation or Three Days of the Condor. They Cloned Tyrone would also presumably hit all the marks if it stuck wholly to being an investigation-based buddy comedy in the loose vein of Beverly Hills Cop or Men in Black. But it's more.

It also earns a place in the conversation of racially relevant genre efforts that Jordan Peele is known for, while also separately nailing all the themes and aesthetics necessary to be a memorable ‘70s blaxploitation flick, a trippy Charlie Kaufman narrative, and a modern-day take on the aforementioned Groundhog Day-esque classics. But the fact that it pulls off all of this at the same time is nearly as bonkers as the story itself. And it’s all so lovingly balanced and punctuated by a consistently funkalicious soundtrack that at times grooves the paranoia right out of the room in the best of ways.

They Cloned Tyrone’s hilarity comes from all places in the same way that its darkness does, whether it’s via dialogue, performance, action beats, WTF twists, and so on. It’s a wildly enjoyable NSFW ride from one end of this mysterious neighborhood to the next, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a special shout-out to a character whose sole purpose is to be the epitome of laidback DGAF-ness: Eric B. Robinson Jr.’s Big Moss. He’s arguably the most superfluous character, and yet his 5-8 minutes on screen cements him as being every bit as memorable as Fontaine and other headliners. 

The sci-fi plotting can get a little confusing, but it’s so fun that going back for a rewatch is a big plus rather than a slog. 

The one place where possible faults can be found with the movie, at least from a casual viewer’s perspective, is that there’s so much going on at all times. The two-hour runtime doesn’t feel overlong, but without a whole lot of fluff to be found, it’s a bit hard to take in every single element that They Cloned Tyrone puts forth in surplus. But that works to the film’s favor, at least in part, by inspiring viewers to want to go back and watch everything again to catch things that were missed the first time around.

And that’s because They Cloned Tyrone also succeeds in avoiding the trap that thickly plotted movies suffer from time and again, in which a third act will almost necessarily have to sacrifice character moments in order to dole out the twists before wrapping things up. That’s an impossibility here, since Foxx and Parris are physically incapable of delivering dialogue and exposition without making it magnetic and energetic. 

If They Cloned Tyrone doesn’t end up ranking within my Top 5 Movies of 2023, that necessarily means a bunch of amazing shit is on the way, because as it stands, even my second viewing itself would possibly still make my Top 10. It’s a hilarious and horrifying jigsaw puzzle where confident assumptions are replaced en masse by mistrust and suspicions, and everything that seems normal at first is anything but. I really hope they spinoff Tyrone next.

As Jamie Foxx continues to recover from the “medical complication” he suffered in April, many remain curious and concerned about his health status. The Foxx family has released a few official statements and has sought to shoot down rumors. All the while, much of the public has been sending well wishes to the actor, with plenty of them coming from his numerous co-stars. John Boyega, who worked with Foxx on They Cloned Tyrone, is one of the stars to send him love. Now, the Star Wars alum has revealed that he’s spoken to his recovering castmate and provided an update on him. 

Both John Boyega and Teyonah Parris enthusiastically shouted out their colleague during a recent screening of They Cloned Tyrone. At the time, Boyega got honest about wishing that the Oscar winner would’ve been able to attend. However, the Breaking star understands what his friend is dealing with. It was during an interview with People this week that Boyega revealed that he’s finally been in touch with Jamie Foxx. Based on his comments, the 31-year-old seemed pleased to have heard from Foxx, and he was likely even happier to be able to report good news: 

I imagine that the Attack the Block star must feel incredibly relieved to know that his buddy is doing well. You get the feeling that they become pretty close while working on their upcoming sci-fi comedy (which will be available to stream with a Netflix subscription). The level of uncertainty regarding the leading man’s health has certainly made a number of his friends and fans feel somewhat uneasy. With that, any positive updates (from verified sources) on his situation are more than welcome at this point.

As previously alluded to, John Boyega isn’t the only Hollywood star who has shown love to Jamie Foxx amid his illness. Fellow comedian Tiffany Haddish sent him a warm message, and other comedy vets like Martin Lawrence and Steve Harvey are rooting for him as well. Former co-star Porscha Williams wished him well this past weekend during the BET Awards. Some stars have also been discussing the speculation surrounding Fox’s well-being. His sitcom co-star, Garcelle Beauvais was saddened that “horrible” rumors have made the rounds, especially since she’s spoken to the family and has an idea of what’s going on. 

Corinne Foxx released a statement shortly after the medical episode occurred and assured fans that her father was on the path to recovery. She later provided a positive update, stating that he’d recently enjoyed a game of pickleball. Foxx himself also broke his silence on social media, where he thanked fans for their love. Though updates from Jamie’s brood have been few and far between, we simply have to respect the privacy that he and his family have requested. 

In the meantime, I’ll continue smiling when I see John Boyega and other major names giving their best to Jamie Foxx. One can only hope that he’ll be fully healed and back to doing what he does best sooner rather than later. 

You can see both actors in They Cloned Tyrone when it hits Netflix on July 21. 

As Jamie Foxx continues to reportedly recover after being hospitalized for an undisclosed “medical condition” the premiere for his latest movie They Cloned Tyrone went on without him. Noticing his absence at the event for the upcoming Netflix movie his co-stars John Boyega and Teyonah Parris shared their heartfelt messages about how much they loved working with him, and how they hope he's doing well.

The upcoming sci-fi comedy They Cloned Tyone has Jamie Foxx, John Boyega, and Teyonah Parris looking stylish and cool as this unlikely trio works to uncover a government cloning conspiracy. We may have to wait over a month until this 2023 movie release hits streaming, but the people of Miami Beach had the chance to see Juel Taylor’s directorial debut a bit early as it premiered at the American Black Film Festival. While attending the event, John Boyega spoke to ET about how he missed co-star Jamie Foxx, saying:

It’s a real shame that Jamie Foxx couldn’t make an appearance on the red carpet with his co-stars. I can imagine it must have felt a bit odd without him there. 

While nothing has been said officially about what medical condition this talented actor is battling, rumors have been swirling, that those close to him have had to publically dismiss. For example, one person alleged that the actor was reportedly left “partially paralyzed and blind” after being forced to take the COVID-19 vaccine. His rep has said these rumors are “completely inaccurate.” 

Social media users also experienced a scare when RapTV posted that the Ray star’s loved ones have been “preparing for the worst.” That post has since been deleted as Foxx’s daughter provided a hopeful post that her dad has been out of the hospital for weeks and was even playing pickleball. 

Another They Cloned Tyrone co-star who thought about Jamie Foxx during the premiere was Teyonah Parris. She also spoke to ET about the powerful impact he had on the cast and crew of their movie, and she wished him the best in his recovery, saying:

Juel Taylor also made sure to talk about Foxx during the premiere, saying that he felt that the Oscar winner gave a lot in his performance, and he continues to think and pray for him. As for the status of the 55-year-old actor’s health now, a new report said Foxx was learning to walk again as he’s reportedly in Chicago at one of the top physical rehabilitation centers that specialize in stroke, brain, and spinal cord injuries. 

While the Django Unchained actor heals, his ongoing projects Back in Action and the Beat Shazam have resumed production without him. Foxx gave Nick Cannon his blessing to take over as host for Beat Shazam while he’s recuperating. While it appears that the They Cloned Tyrone star is battling something serious, it looks like he has a lot of love from his co-stars and family that should help keep his spirits up.

John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, and Juel Taylor couldn’t help but keep Jamie Foxx in their thoughts as his absence was missed during the Miami Beach premiere of their movie. So, while Foxx hopefully makes a full recovery, you can see him and this talented cast in the movie They Cloned Tyrone, which will be available with a Netflix subscription on July 21.

We’re coming up on the seven-year anniversary of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and it remains one of the most polarizing entries in the franchise set in a galaxy far, far away. Many fans continue to share the main reasons they have issues with The Last Jedi, and even John Boyega said a few years back that he was “iffy” with some of the choices made in Episode VIII. This has been part of larger conversations the Finn actor’s had where he’s shared criticism about his time working on Star Wars, but as we approach the midpoint of 2023, Boyega has made peace over the Sequel Trilogy’s middle entry, and also discussed becoming a fan of the franchise again.

Besides not agreeing with every story decision made throughout the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy (he specifically thought of what Rian Johnson could have “done better” in The Last Jedi), John Boyega has also dealt with racist backlash, which aided in changing his view on the franchise. However, while speaking with The Times (via Indiewire), the actor said that he’s made his peace with both the good and bad of his personal experience with Star Wars, summarizing his thoughts on the matter now thusly:

Although there was a time when Boyega felt he should be able to complain about Star Wars since Robert Pattinson could do the same for Twilight, he’s take a more introspective approach with looking back on his years playing Finn. For one thing, although not mentioning the movie outright, this is just the latest time he’s propped up The Rise of Skywalker, with past instances including him defending J.J. Abrams and making a video that steamrolled critics of Episode IX. Even though he wasn’t entirely satisfied with what The Last Jedi did with Finn, he’s ultimately comfortable with where the character was left off. Plus, he acknowledged that watching producers argue about lightsaber colors helped inspire his career.

But perhaps more importantly, John Boyega is comfortable with viewing other entries in the Star Wars franchise, naming two of the recent small screen installments available exclusively to Disney+ subscribers. It probably helps that The Mandalorian and Obi-Wan Kenobi are set in time periods far before Finn enters the galactic picture, allowing the actor a certain level of disconnect. While the latter series was a one-and-done offering, the former wrapped its third season just a few weeks ago, and Ahsoka will debut next sometime in August.

All this being said, it’s possible that Boyega’s time with the Star Wars franchise isn’t done. It was announced at Star Wars Celebration last month that Daisy Ridley is returning to lead a movie that follows Rey rebuilding the Jedi Order 15 years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. Not too long after, it was rumored that Boyega will return for this movie, and considering that J.J. Abrams confirmed that Finn is Force-sensitive, it would make sense for him to be involved in that particular story. For now though, Boyega remains a Star Wars fan like the rest of us, but should it be announced he’ll be back for the Rey movie, or maybe a different Star Wars project, we’ll let you know.

For now, you can watch John Boyega’s more recent movie, The Woman King, with a Netflix subscription, and his next movie, They Cloned Tyrone, will hit the same streaming platform on July 21. Head to Disney+ if you’d like to watch the Star Wars movies in order, or take a look at what other upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows are on the docket.

Actor Jonathan Majors' star power has been steadily growing for years. This year things seemed to hit new heights, as he starred as the antagonist of two back-to-back blockbusters Creed III and Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. It's for this reason that the public was shocked after Majors was charged with misdemeanor assault and harassment in NYC, and began seeing some professional setbacks as a result. Comic book fans are wondering what's going to happen with his ongoing tenure in the MCU, especially given his role in Loki Season 2 and the forthcoming Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. And if it comes down to it, there are 5 actors I could see replacing Majors as Kang.

Over the past few years Marvel fans were promised that Kang would be the next Thanos-level threat to the shared universe, which is why Avengers 5 is one of the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movies. The Lovecraft Country actor made a splash in Ant-Man 3 as well as the Loki Season 1 finale, which is why so many eyes are on how Majors' legal issues might affect the MCU. Majors ended up being found guilty for assault and harassment, and Marvel studios promptly parted ways with the actor. If they decide to recast, there are a few choice talents who could kill the role.

Aldis Hodge

This list has plenty of actors who are experienced with genre work and action sequences. After all, Kang is going to presumably be taking on all of the heroes currently in the MCU. Aldis Hodge is a talented actor who we've seen comfortably function within a comic book-based shared universe. While Black Adam ended up being a box office disappointment, audiences seemed to really connect with Hodge's take on Hawkman. Although with James Gunn and Peter Safran now co-CEOs and creating a new shared universe, it's unclear how the JSA will factor in. 

If Black Adam's team of heroes don't return to the DCU, it might open the door for Hodge to pivot to the Marvel side of things-- especially if the studio is looking for another talent for the role of Kang. It's a daunting role, we've been promised to see a seemingly endless supply of variants for the villain. But the 36 year-old actor has offered some acclaimed performances in projects like The Invisible Man, and I bet he'd be a killer Kang.  

Colman Domingo

This one isn't an idea that I came up with personally. While I'm a major fan of Colman Domingo in pretty much everything he's done, the internet has been buzzing with the idea of him possibly taking on the role of Kang. Domingo is rumored to be Marvel's first choice, and he's definitely got the acting chops to pull of playing multiple variants of Majors' former villain. 

While nothing has been confirmed just yet, Domingo previously voiced his interest in playing a comic book villain on the big screen. And given his acclaimed work in projects like The Color Purple, Fear The Walking Dead, and his Emmy-winning performance in Euphoria, he's certainly got the acting chops to pull it off. We'll just have to see if these rumors end up coming to fruition. 

John Boyega

Actor John Boyega became a household name when he debuted as Stormtrooper turned rebel Finn in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He'll likely always be synonymous with the galaxy far, far away, but I'd love to see him involved in another major IP. And what better choice is there than the Marvel Cinematic Universe? I mean, unless Finn is finally going to become a Jedi. 

While there are currently rumors about Boyega returning to Star Wars in the Rey movie, I also think he'd be a perfect choice to play Kang the Conqueror. He's an extremely charismatic actor (case in point: The Woman King), and I would be fascinated to see what he would bring to different variants of the Marvel antagonist. And since he's already got a good relationship with Disney, it makes a great deal of sense for him to join the MCU eventually. Although for his part, Boyega had indicated he's not interested in taking on the role. 

O-T Fagbenle

Technically this actor already has a role in the MCU. The Handmaid's Tale star O-T Fagbenle played Natasha's friend/ love interest Rick Mason in Black Widow, but it was a fairly small role. But since Gemma Chan had a role in Captain Marvel before being cast as Sersi in Eternals, technically there is precedent and wiggle room for Fagbenle to get another role... specifically as Kang. 

While his role in Black Adam was fairly limited, the 42 year-old actor is an accomplished character actor who is genuinely a chameleon in various TV and film projects. It's because of this versatility that I think he could possibly replace Jonathan Majors as Kang-- especially since we're going to be introduced to a massive group of variants. Of course, this all depends on if Marvel ends up deciding to recast. For their part, neither the actor or studio have given any indication that this is happening. And Fagbenle is presumably busy with the final chapters of The Handmaid's Tale.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

Here's is another epic choice for a possible replacement as Kang. Like many on this list, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has experience with genre work (although he's referred to it as clown work), with his career spanning both TV and film. He won an Emmy for his work on HBO's Watchmen series, where he played none other than Doctor Manhattan. Additionally, he had an ongoing part as Black Manta in the DC Universe. He first debuted as this character in James Wan's original Aquaman movie, and he's expected to reprise that role in the sequel Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. 

On top of this superhero specific projects, Abdul-Mateen also did genre work in Nia DaCosta's acclaimed Candyman sequel. In both that movie and Aquaman he was able to flex some villainous muscles, which would be on full display if he replaced Jonathan Majors as Kang. We'll just have to wait and see what Marvel is planning. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Star Wars is one of the most wildly popular film franchises in the industry, with entire generations brought up on the galaxy far, far away. And while the fandom has been able to keep up with the universe by watching the live-action shows through a Disney+ subscription, it’s been a few years since we saw George Lucas’ property on the big screen. Luckily, 3 new Star Wars movies were recently announced, set in different moments of the timeline. And a new rumor indicates John Boyega might be returning to the franchise as Finn in an exciting way in one of those upcoming Star Wars movies.

Leading up to Star Wars: The Force Awakens, there was a ton of conversation about Boyega’s character Finn, who was a Stormtrooper turned rebel. While he wielded Anakin Skywalker’s lightsaber a few times in that movie and even had a brief duel with Kylo Ren, Rey ended up being the real future of the Jedi. But that might be able to finally change, as one scooper from The Hot Mic claims that the Woman King actor will be back in Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s movie about Rey forming a new Jedi order (which has already broken the internet). As host John Rocha said:

Do you hear that sound? It’s fans collectively cheering. John Boyega has been open about his struggles while working on the sequel trilogy, and pushing for more Finn in The Rise of Skywalker. So it feels right that he might be given a second chance. We’ll just have to wait and see if this rumor comes to fruition.

While this claim about John Boyega returning as Finn is unconfirmed by the powers that be at Lucasfilm, it would make a great deal of sense. The franchise has been hinting at Finn finally training with Rey after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. That narrative was seemingly confirmed in the Lego Star Wars Holiday Special, and Boyega’s signature character definitely seemed connected to The Force throughout all three sequel films. 

For his part, Boyega has been open about his disappointment regarding Finn’s story after his entrance in The Force Awakens. He had issues with being pushed to the sidelines of the main story, and the way FInn was set up as a Jedi but never actually got to step into that role. But if the former Stormtrooper is part of Rey’s new Jedi Order, that could all change. Fingers (and lightsabers) crossed.

Three new Star Wars movies were recently announced, so it’s clear that Lucasfilm is making moves. The other two include James Mangold’s developing movie about the formation of the original Jedi Order, and Dave Filoni’s project that will seemingly wrap up the Mando-verse. 

None of these Star Wars movies have release dates yet, but fans will be treat to more live-action shows on Disney+ as they wait. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movies release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Doctor Who is preparing for many exciting things in 2023 and beyond. While there's a lot of talk about the upcoming 60th anniversary and David Tennant's return as The Doctor, many are equally excited about Ncuti Gatwa taking over once Season 14 starts. This includes John Boyega, who recently name-checked the actor and signaled his interest in appearing in the series, with one specific request. 

John Boyega spoke to Radio Times about the increase of diversity in the television and movie sectors. Boyega confirmed that diversity is improving from where it once was and pointed to Ncuti Gatwa's casting in Doctor Who as an example of that:

Ncuti Gatwa will be the first Black male to portray The Doctor. Doctor Who continues to make strides in diversity with its lead role, having introduced Jodie Whittaker and Jo Martin as the first female Doctors of the franchise in recent years. The castings broke from tradition in a major way, as the show previously had historically only cast white male Doctors to that point. 

John Boyega's praise of Ncuti Gatwa's casting led to the inevitable question of whether he'd be up for appearing on Doctor Who. Boyega, perhaps surprisingly, said that he was up for appearing, though he did have some requirements about how he'd like it to go down: 

John Boyega stated that he's up for appearing in Doctor Who, but he also made his availability clear. He's not trying to appear on the series as a recurring guest star or anything like that. This hypothetical scenario would be a one-off appearance, and then he'll go on with whatever he's doing afterward. 

While I can't hide my disappointment that Boyega doesn't want to be on Doctor Who long-term, I'm still very much into the idea of him appearing in an episode. There are plenty of instances of actors who appeared in one episode of Doctor Who and had a memorable impact on the series. If you don't believe that, then I dare you to watch the Vincent Van Gogh episode without crying!

Hopefully, Russell T. Davies or someone else connected to the show has seen John Boyega's interest in appearing in Doctor Who and is already at work trying to figure out a way to make it work. After all, is there a better way to bring in newcomers with a Disney+ subscription when the series premieres in the United States than by having a Star Wars star involved? 

If it doesn't work out, there's still plenty of reason to be excited about what's on the horizon for Doctor Who. Neil Patrick Harris will play a villain in the 60th anniversary special, and Catherine Tate is on her way back to the franchise as well. We also have an exciting new companion on the way via actress Millie Gibson. Plus, there's already a new spinoff on the way centered around UNIT, so if John Boyega is too busy in the near future, it's no big deal. 

New episodes of Doctor Who are coming to Disney+ later this fall, but you'll need an HBO Max subscription to catch up on the episodes that precede it. I would highly recommend catching up on Whittaker's run for those who might've tuned out years ago, as it might come into play in the upcoming 60th anniversary. 

John Boyega’s tenure in the Star Wars universe may have ended with 2019’s Rise of Skywalker, but the major experience continues to affect the British actor’s career going forward, including his decision to work more behind the scenes. In recent years, Boyega has become a producer on a number of his projects. As he recalled, his time on Star Wars led to that decision, and he specifically remembered a moment involving an argument about lightsaber colors. 

The Star Wars actor first earned the name of producer on Pacific Rim: Uprising before also executive producing the based-on-a-true story drama Breaking and the upcoming Attack The Block sequel. In a conversation with Black Panther’s Letitia Wright (per Variety) regarding how he got into producing, John Boyega said this: 

While starring in the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, now available to stream with a Disney+ subscription, he noticed he was interested in having a producer’s job, which on the set of the blockbuster films would allow him to make major creative decisions. It’s one thing to show up and read your lines, but Boyega wants to be part of the deeper conversations filmmakers make about movies that really matter past his own decisions for his particular character. 

John Boyega has been open in the past about his bigger wishes for the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, such as a stormtrooper rebellion, which he believes the movies should have had, along with Luke’s character being fleshed out before his death. Fans are also understandably mad regarding Finn’s story in the trilogy since he was sidelined as the movies went on. Boyega was not necessarily satisfied either, and shared that he had “honest” conversations with Disney after the fact to perhaps help the next round of people. 

John Boyega’s most recent project to come out was being part of The Woman King cast, where he played King Ghezo alongside the likes of Viola Davis and Lashana Lynch. Next up, he’ll star in a science-fiction comedy called They Cloned Tyrone with Jamie Foxx, Kiefer Sutherland and Teyonah Parris, as well a sci-fi thriller called The Test.

Despite Star Wars falling short in terms of bringing to life John Boyega’s Finn in a way fans and the actor would have liked, the actor gained a lot from the role. He became a household name and learned that he’d like to work behind the scenes, in addition to being an actor. No wonder so many actors are getting into producing these days; it allows them more ownership over their projects!

CinemaBlend sat down with the cast of “The Woman King” including Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, John Boyega, and Director Gina Prince-Bythewood. They discuss how Viola Davis acted as a mentor on- and off-screen, training for their epic fight sequences, how the pandemic affected filming, and much more! 

Video Chapters: 

0:00 Intro

0:30 Viola Davis explains the meaning behind Nanisca’s scars

2:20 Director Gina Prince-Bythewood explains how COVID disrupted production

3:35 The cast explains how Viola Davis acted as a mentor to them on this production

5:46 Director Gina Prince-Bythewood sheds like on Thuso Mbedu’s casting process

7:17 The cast shares insight to the fight choreography and the moment Nanisca blocks a bullet with her machete

10:04 Why Director Gina Prince-Bythewood wanted to have this film release directly to theatres 

This has certainly been a year for some awesome movies. We’ve had Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Jordan Peele’s latest horror, Nope, the terrifying Barbarian, and now we’re going to continue with some awesome releases for the whole world to see. The latest film as part of the 2022 movie release schedule that everyone is talking about is The Woman King, featuring a cast that is seriously the stuff of dreams. 

We have stars like Viola Davis, John Boyega, and more as part of this epic historical drama that tells the real story of the all-female warrior unit called the Agojie, whose main job was to protect the kingdom of Dahomey in Africa when colonizers wished to overtake it. If you’re wondering where you might have seen The Woman King cast before, look no further, because I’m positive these faces are quite familiar to you. 

Viola Davis (General Nanisca)

The star of The Woman King, Viola Davis, has truly been all over. In her latest film, she plays General Nanisca, a bad-ass in her own right and someone that I’m sure everyone wants to become, because wow, did Davis train like crazy for her role in this film. However, she has been featured in many other movies and TV shows, so it wouldn’t be that much of a surprise if you have seen her prior to The Woman King. 

Her biggest roles in film include Fences, The Help, Doubt, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, four films that garnered her Academy Award nominations, with one win for her portrayal in Fences. Some of her other biggest films that you might have seen her in include The Suicide Squad franchise, where she appeared as Amanda Waller in both films, Beautiful Creatures, Widows, Get On Up (alongside Chadwick Boseman), and more. She is also set to appear in the upcoming Black Adam, as well as The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. 

Davis has also appeared in television. One of her biggest roles was starring as Annalise Keating as part of the How To Get Away With Murder cast, but she’s also appeared in shows such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Scandal, and was a part of The First Lady cast, where she portrayed Michelle Obama. Truly, a brilliant actress. 

Thuso Mbedu (Nawi)

Next up on the list, we have Nawi in The Woman King, who is portrayed by Thuso Mbedu. Fun fact, this is actually Mbedu’s first film that she has ever been in, and what a way to start off her film career, alongside Viola Davis. But, Thuso Mbedu has done plenty in television prior to her role in the historical epic. 

She had a supporting role in the TV series, Scandal, as well as a lead role in Is’Thunzi and a recurring role in Shuga. Most recently, in 2021, she had a lead role in the amazing Amazon miniseries, The Underground Railroad, which was truly amazing and a show you should definitely check out if you haven’t seen it. I highly recommend it. 

Lashana Lynch (Izogie)

Moving on, we now take a look at Izogie, another warrior in The Woman King, who is played by Lashana Lynch. Prior to her role in The Woman King, Lynch appeared in several films and movies. 

One of her latest was actually portraying Maria Rambeau in both Captain Marvel and in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. She also portrayed Nomi in the No Time to Die cast, as well as being in Brotherhood, Powder Room, and Fast Girls. 

Lynch has also had several roles in television, with a recurring role in the series Bulletproof, as well as starring in Still Star-Crossed, and had a recurring role on Crims. 

Sheila Atim (Amenza)

Next up, we take a look at Amenza, yet another amazing warrior in The Woman King, and she is portrayed by Sheila Atim. Like her co-star, Thuso Mbedu, she also had a starring role in the Amazon miniseries, The Underground Railroad, prior to her role in the historical epic, but has done plenty of other awesome projects, as well. 

In terms of movies, she starred in the Halle Berry film, Bruised, on Netflix, and also appeared in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. She also had a part in 2022’s Disney+ version of Pinocchio. On television, she had a recurring role in both Harlots and Bounty Hunters, and was in The Feed, The Pale Horse, and The Irregulars. 

Hero Fiennes Tiffin (Santo Ferreira)

We have a colonizer here in The Woman King, named Santo Ferreira, and he is portrayed by Hero Fiennes Tiffin. If that middle name sounds familiar, it’s because Tiffin is actually the nephew of the well-regarded actor, Ralph Fiennes, and he even got the chance to portray young Tom Riddle (a.k.a. Voldemort) in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

However, you might know that name from somewhere else, as Tiffin is also the star of the popular Netflix young-adult romantic movie franchise, After. Other than that, he also had a part in the action-thriller film, The Silencing. He also had a role in two TV shows called Safe and Cleaning Up. 

John Boyega (King Ghezo)

Last but not least, we have John Boyega, who plays King Ghezo in The Woman King. Boyega's is certainly a name that became widely known during the 2010s, as he portrayed Finn in the Star Wars sequel franchise and became a household name, but he’s done plenty of other work, as well. 

His first major role was in the sci-fi film, Attack the Block, but he’s appeared in other movies in major roles such as Imperial Dreams, Detroit, and Breaking. He also appeared in The Circle and Naked Singularity. Boyega had a voice role on television in Major Lazor and appeared in the anthology series, Small Axe, for which he won a Golden Globe award. 

This cast is truly stacked to the brim with talent and it’s no wonder that you might have seen them all over the place, from movies to television. And, after a movie as amazing as The Woman King, it’ll only be a matter of time before we start to see them in many other projects. I, for one, can’t wait to see what is next for all these actors.  

Over the years, we’ve seen many movies centered on military units faced with a mission of life or death to go to war over, but never like The Woman King. The upcoming 2022 movie sees Viola Davis leading her first flick since 2018’s Widows as the general of a West African kingdom in the 19th century with an all-female unit of warriors. Before you check out The Woman King in theaters this month, here’s what you need to know about the stunning epic. 

The Woman King premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9 to rave reviews from critics thus far. The movie is set to be released only in theaters on September 16, including IMAX screens. Whether you’re on the fence about whether to check it out or just want to learn more about it we’ve got all the quick details to know:  

The Historical Events The Woman King Is Based On

The Woman King is based on a true story. The movie follows a young woman named Nawi (played by Thuso Mbebu) living in the kingdom of Dahomey (present day Benin) who refuses to marry a man and is then dropped off at the palace doors to become one of its women warriors, called the Agojie. 

The Agojie was an all-female military regiment that existed from the 1600s to 1904, and often called Amazons by Europeans who encountered them, as a comparison to the Amazons in Greek mythology, who were also warriors. Agojie women were recruited as young as eight years old from the king’s many wives, voluntarily or by their husbands or fathers due to their behavior. In The Woman King, you’ll see the recruitment process, their training and them going into battle along with a discussion of the problems and woes these women faced at the time. 

It’s An Incredibly Epic, Emotional And Empowering Story

While it’s always helpful to have a bit more background, you can go into The Woman King knowing nothing about the Agojie and enjoy yourself. The PG-13 movie is not one of those historical snooze fests. It’s very crowd pleasing thanks to its very epic production on all fronts, between its fight choreography, engaging storyline and empowering character arcs that are easy to become invested in and watch develop on screen. At the same time, The Woman King allows the audience to learn about life in the 1800s, in the time of the slave trade, from a West African perspective and as Viola Davis' and her Agojie sisters endure and overcome what comes with their unique position in their kingdom. Overall, it makes for an emotional, yet satisfying and exciting moviegoing experience. 

The Woman King Is Just Over Two Hours

The Woman King’s runtime stands at two hours and six minutes, but it moves and flies by. It’s not an easy movie to find a place for a bathroom break, so plan accordingly. That being said, the story is relatively easy to follow. It’s a big popcorn movie with incredible visuals, so plan your viewing accordingly.  

It’s Directed By The Old Guard’s Gina Prince-Bythewood 

The upcoming film is helmed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, and is her follow up to the 2020 Netflix action hit, The Old Guard. Prior to that film, the director began her career with 2000’s Love & Basketball before also making The Secret Life of Bees and Beyond The Lights. Prince-Bythewood is a groundbreaking Black female director who continues to open doors for representation, especially by making movies starring Black women that stand the test of time. 

Viola Davis, Lashana Lynch And John Boyega Star In The Movie 

Lastly, the cast on The Woman King is incredible. Aside from Viola Davis bringing it down with another amazing performance, you’ll see Captain Marvel and No Time To Die’s Lashana Lynch and and The Underground Railroad’s Sheila Atim as Agojie, Star Wars’ John Boyega as the kingdom’s ruler and even After star Hero Fiennes Tiffin as a key Portuguese trader. The actress who we’ll really be talking about after The Woman King is its secret star, Thuso Mbebu as Nawi, who is the young woman who we follow as she becomes a key warrior through unusual methods.

The Woman King is in theaters on September 16. It’s a rare release we’ll be rooting for at the box office and maybe even for 2023’s Oscar season.  

Viola Davis is an unbelievable acting talent, who is only one Grammy away from becoming an EGOT. While she’s worked in various mediums and genres, she’s become a bonafide action star with her latest movie, which recently had its world premiere. And Viola Davis is a force of nature in The Woman King’s epic, original story.

The Woman King is directed by Love & Basketball filmmaker Gina Prince-Bythewood, and features an outstanding ensemble cast. But chief among them is Viola Davis, who plays protagonist General Nanisca as well as being a producer on the epic blockbuster. I had the privilege of seeing the world premiere of The Woman King at the Toronto International Film Festival, with the enthusiastic audience cheering for various satisfying moments throughout its 126-minute runtime. 

This new epic drama is set in 19th century Africa, and centers around the kingdom of Dahomey. Ruled by King Ghezo (played by John Boyega), the kingdom is in the midst of a conflict with another, larger one called the Oyo Empire. Viola Davis plays the general of the king’s all-female group of warriors called the Agojie, which is the King’s not-so secret weapon during that conflict. In addition to fighting, she’s also training a new generation of Agojie, including Thuso Mbedu as Naw. The story is something wholly original, which isn’t always the case with modern movie projects.

Given the movie’s concept, there are some truly epic battle sequences throughout The Woman King. The opening battle shows how deadly the Agojie are, who are fiercely strong and use teamwork and intense training to get the upper hand. Viola Davis is obviously no exception, with the 57 year-old actress doing a ton of fight choreography and weapon work. Davis looked absolutely ripped as Nanisca, truly selling how powerful her character and her own body are. The How to Get Away with Murder actress was quoted talking about this transformation, saying:

And badass she is, as are the other actresses that make up the movie’s cast. Captain Marvel and No Time to Die’s Lashana Lynch is perhaps the biggest scene stealer in the ensemble, bringing heart, humor, and physicality to her role as Izogie. Another stand out is John Boyega who, while he doesn’t get into the action and fight scenes, completely sells each scene– cracking the premiere audience up with every small grunt or facial expression.

While Viola Davis obviously does a ton of physical work in The Woman King, she also (unsurprisingly) sells the hell out of her scene work. Her portrayal of Nanisca is layered, with the audience and other characters slowly earning their way into her backstory. Davis is one of the most celebrated actresses of our generation for a reason, and she helps to anchor the epic story in her emotionality. So while she might be a bonafide action star at this point, the Oscar winner never lets the work of the physical get in the way of telling the larger story. And I have to wonder if Davis will get more action roles as a result of this truly epic performance. 

The Woman King will arrive in theaters on September 16th. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

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Ever since his breakthrough performance as Finn in the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, John Boyega has been a massive star, being cast in projects left and right. However before he was an A-lister, he starred in the 2011 critically acclaimed film Attack The Block. The film has risen in prominence over the years and become a cult favorite, and now Boyega will be returning to his old stomping ground with Attack The Block 2.

While speaking to Collider, the Star Wars alum expressed his love for Attack the Block and shared an update on how development for the sequel is progressing. Giving fans a long-awaited status report, the British actor said: 

It's great to hear that the development process is going so well and that and we will receive the anticipated sequel in the near future. Boyega offered more details regarding the story and the characters Attack the Block 2 will follow, saying:

I don’t know about you, but this film seems like it's going to be an absolute blast. With John Boyega’s popularity skyrocketing since the first film, and fantastic source material to build off of, we may have a surprise hit on our hands. Director Joe Cornish as been discussing Attack the Block 2 ideas with Boyega for years now, so there’s clearly a lot of time and effort being put into this project. For those unfamiliar, Attack The Block was a low budget British film about a teenage street gang who face an alien invasion on a council estate in South London on Guy Fawkes Night.

Ever since the conclusion of his Star Wars tenure, Boyega has been quite busy pursuing smaller projects outside the blockbuster franchise realm. The Detroit star will be appearing alongside Viola Davis in The Woman King, project Boyega is very much excited about. He will also be starring alongside Jaime Foxx in a pulpy comedy titled They Cloned Tyrone for Netflix. The film looks incredibly stylish and fun from the first-look photos provided by Foxx. 

Boyega has been vocal regarding his mixed experience as a centerpiece for the Star Wars sequel films. Given his choices recently, he has much more of an interest in more personal projects, like Attack The Block 2. I’m glad Boyega has found a career avenue he is comfortable with and will serve him best as an actor. 

While we wait for more updates regarding this long awaited sequel, you can stream Attack The Block with a Starz subscription. You can also revisit some of his other performances, including those within the Star Wars franchise, which is streaming on Disney+, or his Golden Globe nominated mini-series Small Axe, streaming exclusively for Amazon Prime Video subscribers. 

You know you’re doing something right when audiences start comparing you to Denzel Washington. But if anybody is worthy of the comparison, it’s Star Wars alum John Boyega. Boyega has been giving stellar performances since his breakthrough role in Attack on the Block. So, viewers were bound to see a bit of Washington in the Star Wars star. The film and TV actor heard the online comparisons and finally responded to them.

His performance in the thriller Breaking hasn’t squelched the similarities between the two actors as audiences have compared his performance to Denzel Washington’s performance in 2002’s John Q. The comparison began making so much noise that “John is Denzel” began trending online. While John Boyega has been aware of the online banter, he downplayed fans seeing him as the two-time Oscar winner’s successor. Boyega mentioned to Yahoo! that he doesn’t necessarily believe he’s gotten there just yet. In his words:

As Boyega mentioned, he’s still early in his career and has more great roles to reach the status of Denzel Washington. But being compared to Washington is still flattering for any rising actor making a name for themselves. The Small Axe actor wants to put in the time and effort to build a filmography similar to the Tragedy of Macbeth icon before his name and Washington are mentioned in the same sentence.

But it appeared John Boyega may be approaching Washington territory with his new film. His co-star Nicole Beharie said the energy and work he brought to the set “made her job easier.” Even Breaking co-writer Kwame Kwei-Armah couldn’t help but sing Boyega’s praises as he recalled knowing the 30-year-old actor “was gonna be brilliant” as frustrated veteran Brian Brown Easley. But his final performance even surprised Kwei-Armah once he got on set.

Of course, Denzel Washington has been the bar for rising actors. Not just John Boyega but MCU star Michael B. Jordan and his son John David Washington have faced those comparisons since making a name for themselves in Hollywood. Even Oscar winner Will Smith called Washington a mentor after receiving a sweet note as they competed this past award season for Best Actor. But the two-time Oscar winner is all about paying it forward if he sees something in young actors, as he was responsible for Elvis star Austin Butler landing the title role, and Top Gun: Maverick star Glen Powell taking a chance on a Hollywood career.

But John Boyega seems to be on a run of critical acclaim after his Golden Globe-winning role in Small Axe. The Star Wars star is receiving notices for Breaking as critics singled him out as the film’s best performance. The true-life thriller is currently in movie theaters. He will be seen next in the historical epic The Woman King as King Ghezo as seen in the badass trailer. The film will arrive in theaters on September 16. If you want to see what else is coming out, our 2022 movie schedule will help you keep track of new releases.

John Boyega was part of the Star Wars sequel trilogy from 2015 to 2019 as Finn, a stormtrooper turned Resistance fighter. While Finn showed a lot of promise in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, his character got sidelined to focus more on Rey’s story – and Boyega is now expressing what he wished happened during the sequel trilogy.

Fans to this day are still mad over how Finn’s story turned out during the sequel trilogy. His story first developed in Star Wars: The Force Awakens as a stormtrooper who was taken away from his family as a baby and sold to the First Order only to escape and be part of the Resistance movement. But then in the next two movies, he was reduced to more of a sidekick role. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Boyega spoke about what he would have liked to see in sequel trilogy and what he was iffy about. Said the actor,

It is true that all of these characters spent a lot of the most recent Star Wars trilogy separated instead of being together fighting against a common enemy. When Han Solo died at the end of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, he never got the chance to reunite with Luke Skywalker, who chose to live in exile after Solo’s son turned to the Dark Side. While Rey got plenty of time to bond with the iconic trio, Finn really only had snippet moments with them.

The 30-year-old actor also told Vanity Fair that he wished the original characters had more time to pass the baton to the new characters. He makes a good point considering the original characters died in each movie with the order of Han, Luke, and then Leia (due to Carrie Fisher's untimely death). 

Despite the British actor’s lost battle of fighting for more Finn in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, he still considered himself a massive Star Wars fan. He expressed to Vanity Fair that he still watches the Star Wars spinoff series The Mandalorian and Obi-Wan Kenobi. As for if he’d ever return to play Finn again, he said it would only be in if co-stars Daisy Ridley and Oscar Isaac would come back too. But until then, Boyega considers himself Star Wars retired. 

While the Star Wars sequel trilogy was a great way for John Boyega to make a name for himself in the entertainment world, his post-Star Wars life has been a great one. He has three films coming out this year including the Sundance thriller Breaking about the true story of a former Marine Corps veteran who robs a bank after the Department of Veterans Affairs stops sending him disability checks. Fans will see him play King Ghezo in the historical epic The Woman King on September 16, and the Netflix drama They Cloned Tyrone coming sometime this year. 

John Boyega may have his complaints about Star Wars, but he is still a massive part of the beloved franchise. You can see him play Finn in the Star Wars sequel trilogy with a Disney+ subscription.

Actors like Star Wars' John Boyega have never had a problem speaking their minds. After all, this is the same actor who wasn’t afraid to follow his heart by giving a passionate speech in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. While his Star Wars character, Finn, would fight his enemies with a lightsaber, Boyega in real-life was fighting the toxic fandom in 280 characters or less on Twitter. He eventually took a break from social media, but recently the 30-year-old returned to the platform, and is using his words to promoting his upcoming movie with Viola Davis.

After taking a break for over eight months, John Boyega returned to Twitter on July 5th for a very special reason. He announced on Twitter that the trailer for his new movie with Viola Davis, The Woman King, would be premiering the next day.

John Boyega was very active on the social media platform up until October 2021. During that time, he fought through varying frustrations with Star Wars fans on social media. There seems to always be something that fans of the popular franchise have something to say about the British actor's time in Star Wars-- including the time he was fighting Reylo shippers. Fans weren’t exactly happy with him when he joked around about who his character’s friend, Rey, “eventually lays the pipe [with].” But the Detroit actor did not take things in silence. He had no problem engaging with the fandom on Twitter by telling them to “fack off.” Hey, you don’t mess with an actor who’s gotten some training using a lightsaber.

This wouldn’t be John Boyega’s first brush with criticism. When he made his debut as Finn in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, he suffered backlash for being a black man in a leading role. The racial element of certain fan critiques also led his co-star Kelly Marie Tran to exit social media completely. 

The actor isn't the first Star Wars star to take a break from social media, as Daisy Ridley also tried something similar, but it's nice to see him back for promotion for The Woman King! He also excitedly tweeted the trailer of his upcoming historical epic film:

The Woman King is based on the true story of the all-female military regiment, the Dahomey Amazons. Viola Davis stars as General Nanisca who comes into conflict with the French army aiming to overtake their kingdom. It makes sense why Boyega would be excited about the opportunity to portray the real-life king of one of the most powerful states of Africa during the 18th and 19th centuries. Based on the The Woman King trailer, it looks like fans of Black Panther and the Wonder Woman movies will love this new action-packed flick as we see Amazonian Woman kicking ass as they defend their kingdom. 

While John Boyega may have moved on from the Star Wars franchise, we can expect to see great upcoming projects from him going forward. Be sure to watch the actor and Viola Davis in The Woman King in theaters on September 16th.

This fall will be an incredibly exciting time for Hero Fiennes Tiffin. The actor’s last movie as Hardin in the After movies, After Ever Happy is premiering, and he’s one of the stars of the The Woman King, which features Viola Davis, Lashana Lynch and John Boyega. With this, September will arguably be the biggest month of his career yet. As we wait to learn more about his role in the movie, the 24-year-old burgeoning star gushed about his "amazing" experience filming the historical epic. 

The Woman King is director Gina Prince-Bythewood’s first film since helming 2020’s The Old Guard for Netflix. It's based on true events that took place in The Kingdom of Dahomey, one of the most powerful states of Africa during the 18th and 19th centuries. The movie stars Viola Davis as Nanisca, the general of an all-female military unit the comes into conflict with the French army. Hero Fiennes Tiffin spoke about the 2022 movie release, saying:

CinemaBlend interviewed Hero Fiennes Tiffin for his latest movie, First Love, a job that he said he was “reluctant” to take initially because he’s become so well known for romances due to his work on After. But because the new movie featured a completely different character than Hardin and featured an approach to the genre that he thought was fresh, he took on the role. 

The rising star seems to be at a place in his career where he’s been looking to “diversify” his portfolio, and The Woman King not only allowed him to do some work within another genre but also collaborate with some seriously talented A-list stars. The actor went on to discuss his filming experience, providing details about the work schedule he was on:

It’ll be exciting to see Hero Fiennes Tiffin branch out following his stint as a hot-headed college student in four After movies. The After films allowed the actor to become part of a massive fan community alongside co-star Josephine Langford, as they adapted the best-selling romance franchise for the screen. The actor sounds super pumped to show audiences the different acting muscles he can flex when The Woman King, and I can't wait to see what he offers and how manages to play off Viola Davis and the incredibly talented group of actors Gina Prince-Bythewood has assembled.

After Ever Happy hits theaters on September 7th and will conclude the main After franchise. The story will continue via spinoffs original author Anna Todd is not part of, though Hero Fiennes Tiffin and Josephine Langford are confirmed to be done playing their characters. Also, The Woman King, one of many big fall movies heading to theaters this year, is officially set for release on September 16.  

A little over two years have passed since John Boyega’s last time in the Star Wars franchise as fan-favorite character Finn, and we haven’t had much of a chance to see what the next chapter of the 29-year-old actor’s career goes from here. Following the The Rise of Skywalker, Boyega has since starred in a couple things here and there, but his latest project really shows that this actor can lead a completely powerful dramatic performance. 

CinemaBlend was among the 2022 Sundance Film Festival’s virtual audience in attendance for the first showing of 892, and I now feel as though the best may be yet to come out of John Boyega. The independent film that is part of the festival’s U.S. Dramatic Competition sees Boyega embody real-life U.S. Marine veteran Brian Easley and tells his tragic story as a tense thriller. 

892 recounts the true events that happened in the Atlanta suburbs in 2017 when Brian Easley showed up to a Wells Fargo bank one morning and claimed he had a bomb in his backpack. Easley took two clerks hostage as he asked authorities to return to him his monthly disability check from the Department of Veteran Affairs he depended on, but by some error was not placed into his account. 

The father of a young daughter and a veteran who had separated from the service with an honorable discharge back in 2005 began to panic that he would be on the streets. Brian Easley took that course of action at the bank in the hopes he would just get the money back Veteran Affairs made him jump from hoop to hoop simply to get it all cleared up. John Boyega has a lot of emotional weight to carry in 892, and not only is it completely different from anything we’ve seen him in, it also introduces a side of the actor that could spawn into a seriously awesome career. 

John Boyega has been fiercely honest as he’s gained popularity as an actor. After The Rise of Skywalker led to some disappointment for fans, especially in terms of Finn’s ambiguous fate, he’s been vocal about his own thoughts about the franchise, along with sharing that starring in a franchise made him feel like he was in “luxury jail” and how he's wanted to flex different muscles as an actor. Finn was a fun-loving character, but his 892 really shows that Boyega can very much walk the walk with other types of roles. 

Of course, it’s hard to forget the moment in June 2020 when John Boyega got up during a London Black Lives Matter protest and delivered an impassioned speech to a crowd. He famously said that he didn’t know if he’d have a career after speaking out about social justice, but “fuck that.” The viral video led to a number of major filmmakers to speak up in support of his efforts. The forthcoming 892 is a great indication of Boyega’s career being an exciting one to look forward to. While you wait for the film’s wide release, check out some other John Boyega movies to watch. 

John Boyega is a verifiable Star Wars expert. The London native starred as Finn in the third Star Wars trilogy, so it’s safe to assume he knows a thing or two about the galaxy far, far away. With such an impressive background, it’s only natural that Boyega would have a favorite installment in the Star Wars series - but the answer might surprise his fans. 

In a recent interview with Comic Book Resources, John Boyega looked back at his experience starring in the latest Star Wars trilogy. The former Stormtrooper even revealed his favorite Star Wars film, although the answer may not be what fans would expect. He said: 

Some may assume that John Boyega’s favorite Star Wars movie would be a film that he appeared in, such as The Force Awakens or The Rise of Skywalker. Return of the Jedi, however, has a unique viewpoint that seems to resonate with John Boyega. The film is the culmination of the epic saga that began with A New Hope and delves deeper into the characters’ motivations. Main hero Luke Skywalker is elevated from an orphaned farmboy to the inheritor of the Jedi legacy. 

Maybe it’s not so surprising that John Boyega loves Return of the Jedi. Finn’s journey in The Force Awakens is actually quite reminiscent of Luke’s transformation. After all, they were both young men that discovered a powerful Force sensitivity and a destiny that led to the destruction of the Empire. 

Relive the excitement and funky sci-fi sound effects of Star Wars by streaming all three movies in the original trilogy on Disney+. The streaming service also hosts John Boyega’s performance as Finn in The Force Awakens and the hit series The Mandalorian. 

There are few movie franchises quite as massive and beloved as Star Wars. Landing a role in the galaxy far, far away is the dream job for many, but it can also be a double-edged sword. Since The Rise of Skywalker was released, Finn actor John Boyega has been honest regarding the downside to playing the former Stormtrooper. And he doesn’t understand why he can’t complain about Star Wars when Robert Pattinson regularly does the same thing with Twilight.

Major franchises come with their own complications for stars, including fan criticism and a lack of private life. While the public is seemingly delighted when Robert Pattinson pokes fun at his Twilight past, John Boyega doesn’t feel that same ability from the Star Wars community. He recently spoke to the reaction he got from the public, saying:

Well, he’s got a point. Plenty of actors have reflected on their less-than-ideal time working on major franchises. Just look at John Boyega’s co-star Oscar Isaac, who has been open about how miserable it was to film X-Men: Apocalypse. Regardless, the response to his words versus that of Twilight alum Robert Pattinson is quite different.

John Boyega’s comments to The Times helps to show what it’s really like working within the world of Star Wars. Or more specifically, what it’s like once you step out of the Millennium Falcon and back into the real world. Boyega made plenty of headlines about the difficulties he faced while playing Finn in the last three movies. He even worried that using his platform for social justice might end his career.

Later in that same interview, John Boyega was asked about how Disney did or did not react to the various public comments he’d made about Star Wars. He previously confirmed that he had a great conversation with Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy about his experience. But as far as the House of  Mouse goes:

There you have it. Sounds like while John Boyega may have faced some online critics as a result of his post-Star Wars talk, received no pushback from Disney itself. Could this mean that he might return as Finn sometime in the future? Only time will tell.

What John Boyega Previously Said About His Star Wars Experience. 

A while after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hit theaters, John Boyega began opening up about his experience working within the galaxy far, far away. He shared harrowing stories of racial backlash from the fans that came from his original casting in The Force Awakens. It was an experience that ultimately sullied his time as Finn, despite putting a spirited performance into each installment of the sequel trilogy.

John Boyega has also criticized the way his character was handled in the trilogy. He felt Finn was sidelined after Star Wars: The Force Awakens seemingly confirmed that he was Force sensitive. Boyega would go on to advocate for more from his character, although we ultimately never got to see him as a Jedi. He also went so far as to call franchise work “luxury jail”, as the scheduling prevents actors from taking on another projects. 

The Star Wars franchise continues to grow with shows on Disney+, as well as the developing movie installments. Be sure to check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

Next month will mark two years since Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was released in theaters and wrapped up the Skywalker Saga. While the Sequel Trilogy brought in longtime favorites like Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Leia Organa, it was Daisy Ridley’s Rey, John Boyega’s Finn and Oscar Isaac’s Poe Dameron who served as the main protagonists during this era of Star Wars history. Between them and folks like Kylo Ren, BB-8 and Rose Tico (to name just a few), generations both old and new had plenty of new characters to add to their list of favorites. So could we see any of these particular Star Wars characters again someday? According to Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, that’s the plan.

While speaking about the Star Wars franchise’s Disney+ offerings, including the soon-to-arrive The Book of Boba Fett and Ewan McGregor’s return to a galaxy far, far away in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, Kathleen Kennedy informed Empire that more stories starring Sequel Trilogy players are in consideration. In her words: 

While it stands to reason that more Star Wars novels and comic books are likely on the way to spotlight this group of characters, Kathleen Kennedy makes it sound like these individuals could also appear in live-action again. Assuming that does indeed happen, the question is at what point in their lives would this happen. Although Daisy Ridley and John Boyega have been open to the possibility of respectively reprising Rey and Finn someday, they’re also busy actors, so it would surely be more complicated to fit a return to Star Wars into their schedule. Then there’s also Oscar Isaac, who not only also keep busy with various professional endeavors (including playing the MCU’s Moon Knight), but also didn’t sound too keen last year on playing Poe Dameron again.

Still, it’s easy enough to imagine a scenario where Lucasfilm throws enough money at these three actors to entice them back. There have already been some comics released showing what happened to Rey, Finn and Poe immediately after The Rise of Skywalker, but nothing beats actually getting to see them back on screen. But Kathleen Kennedy’s comment doesn’t necessarily mean these characters will star in more movies. Perhaps Lucasfilm is instead considering giving us younger incarnations of Rey, Finn, Poe and more since Star Wars shows on Disney+ like The Mandalorian and Ahsoka are set in the post-Return of the Jedi, pre-The Force Awakens era.

Naturally once more specifics are passed on, we here at CinemaBlend will let you know. For now, keep checking back with us for all the biggest updates on upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows.

John Boyega made headlines when he dropped out of shooting the Netflix film Rebel Ridge earlier this month. According to Netflix’s original statement, John Boyega had left due “for family reasons.” Stuff happens and circumstances can always change, so no one thought too hard about it. However, new sources are saying there was more to the situation than Netflix let on.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, John Boyega’s exit from Rebel Ridge reportedly happened with little to no advance notice. The movie had already gone into production when the star packed his bags. Sources say that John Boyega seemed to have left without cause or motivation. The sources were not specifically named, but THR claims that they were individuals closely associated with Rebel Ridge.

So what actually happened? It’s difficult to say. John Boyega’s production company UpperRoom is working with Netflix on Rebel Ridge, so it doesn’t seem likely that he would up and leave with no reason. Sources close to the production have stated otherwise, but since they’re anonymous, the claims can’t be fully corroborated.

It’s interesting to note that The Hollywood Reporter mentions John Boyega had previously raised some concerns about Rebel Ridge, “from the script to his accommodations.” The star of the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy hasn’t shied away from voicing his opinions in the past, so it’s possible that he felt that his thoughts were being shunted to the side. And if John Boyega’s own company was co-producing the film, it stands to reason that he would be a bit miffed.

Netflix had previously announced that it would continue to work with UpperRoom beyond Rebel Ridge, and so far no statements to the contrary have been released. In a notice regarding the new claims and UpperRoom, John Boyega’s UK talent agent, Femi Oguns, said the following:

It seems that Netflix has not cut ties with UpperRoom, so there can’t be that much bad blood. This is fortunate for John Boyega, since his departure effectively halted work on Rebel Ridge. The film, which will be directed by Green Room vet Jeremy Saulhier, had been delayed before due to COVID-19, and had only started up production again on May 3, 2021. Netflix said that the production would return from hiatus next year (presumably with a new lead).

Whatever the reason for John Boyega’s departure, we can only hope that everyone involved is moving forward as best they can. John Boyega is a terrific actor, and I wish him the best of luck with whatever projects he chooses in the future. (The Attack the Block sequel, anyone?)

When it comes to diverse representation in Hollywood, while there’s a sharper focus on it as of late, the industry is still heavily skewed for white male roles. Earlier this year, it was announced that Warner Bros is developing a Superman project with Black Panther comic book writer Ta-Nehisi Coates opening the door for our first Black Superman, Calvin Ellis. Star Wars’ John Boyega has some great ideas for who should fill the role.

John Boyega is an awesome pick right there for Calvin Ellis. But while speaking in The Hollywood Reporter’s roundtable, the 29-year-old actor threw out two inspired names who he’d like to see take on the Kryptonian. In Boyega’s words:

So we have Regé, as in Regé-Jean Page of Bridgerton, and Jonathan Majors of HBO’s recent hit Lovecraft Country. He was in the same virtual interview as them both when he made the comments, but they are truly awesome picks for Calvin Ellis. Let’s break that down for a moment:

Regé-Jean Page As Superman

It’s been a huge moment for Regé-Jean Page right now coming off the heat of this holiday season’s big hit Bridgerton. Since he played his role as the Duke, the actor has gone on to be cast alongside Avengers’ Chris Evans and Ryan Gosling in The Gray Man, and the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons movie. Given the actor’s status, it seems only a matter of time until Page takes on some sort of comic book role. It isn’t tough to wrap our heads around him taking on Calvin Ellis and his Bridgerton fans will follow him anywhere.

Jonathan Majors As Superman

John Boyega's other idea is Jonathan Majors, who has also been having a huge year in between his memorable roles in Lovecraft Country, Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods and his upcoming villain role in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Majors has already found his way into the comic book world by way of the MCU, but we’d take him in the DCEU as well as Calvin Harris. I’d argue Majors is actually the better pick for Calvin Ellis of the two – but, I burn for you too, Regé!

It’s a fun conversation to be had prior to audiences potentially getting the first Black Superman sometime in the future. J.J. Abrams is producing the project Ta-Nehisi Coates is writing the screenplay for. And it’s still unclear if Henry Cavill’s Superman will be reprising his role, but since Calvin Ellis is from another side of the multiverse, there is room for both Supermans on the big screen.

Aside from these ideas, Michael B. Jordan has often been in the mix regarding the role, and The Good Place’s William Jackson Harper has also been in the rumor mill as well. Do you agree with John Boyega? Who would you like to see take on Calvin Ellis? Vote in our poll below.

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John Boyega has been down in Louisiana the past month shooting his latest film, the Jeremy Saulnier-directed Rebel Ridge, but according to new reports his work on the movie is coming to an abrupt end. For what have been cited as “family reasons," Boyega has had to leave the production, and now Netflix is on the hunt to find a replacement for him.

This news is breaking via Deadline, which has received official word of the development in the making of the new film. According to a spokesperson for the streaming service, the pause button is going to be hit on the production while the filmmakers find a new performer to take on John Boyega's role. The Star Wars actor is departing an ensemble that also includes AnnaSophia Robb, James Cromwell, Don Johnson, Emory Cohen, Zsane Jhe, Al Vicente, and James Badge Dale.

Written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier as his follow-up to 2018's Hold The Dark (also a Netflix release), Rebel Ridge is project that has been keeping plot details very hush-hush, but genre wise it is said to be a mix of thriller, action movie, and dark comedy, and thematically it is said to '[explore] systemic American injustices." The statement from Netflix says that the company is "[looking] forward to continuing [their] partnership with John Boyega’s UpperRoom Productions," which presumably means that Boyega will remain a producer on the project following his departure. The production was originally planning to start principal photography last spring, but it had to be delayed due to the pandemic. According to the trade, the first day of production was on May 3. Saulnier's previous films include the thrillers Blue Ruin, and Green Room, and he also directed two episodes of True Detective Season 3.

Rebel Ridge is one of two Netflix projects that John Boyega has had in the works, the other being the sci-fi comedy They Cloned Tyrone – which is currently in post-production and co-stars Jamie Foxx and Teyonah Parris. An official release date has not been announced, but it will presumably be out before the end of the year, and the streaming service remains committed to its release.

Looking ahead, it was recently announced that John Boyega is now set to reteam with writer/director Joe Cornish for a sequel to Attack The Block, a project that will see him reprise what was his breakout role, and he is also attached to star in Gavin Hood's upcoming sci-fi drama The Test and Charles and Thomas Guard's action thriller Borderland. It's currently unclear how this news could impact those projects.

This is clearly not an ideal circumstance for anyone involved, and hopefully everything turns out ok. We here at CinemaBlend extend our best wishes to John Boyega as he handles his personal business.

Disney and Lucasfilm are currently crafting the next era of Star Wars following a grand finale to the Skywalker Saga in late 2019 with The Rise of Skywalker. Although the studios seem to have closed the book on the main characters from the Sequel Trilogy, including Daisy Ridley’s Rey, Oscar Isaac’s Poe and John Boyega’s Finn, we can’t exactly be convinced of complete finality forever. Han Solo, Luke and Leia certainly came back over 30 years after Return of the Jedi, so who’s to say the same couldn't happen with these newer leads?

There’s still clearly interest in the continuation of the storylines established in The Rise of Skywalker over a year after its conclusion. A clip of John Boyega sharing his thoughts on returning to Finn one day recently made its rounds online from a 2020 interview with none other than CinemaBlend’s ReelBlend co-host Jake Hamilton. Here’s what Boyega said about going back to play Finn at the time:

John Boyega and Jake Hamilton caught up just in time for Star Wars Day 2020 at the height of quarantine. During the interview, Hamilton asked the actor if he’d be interested in continuing his role in Star Wars thirty years down the line following starring in the recent trilogy. Boyega shared how much he “loved” the experience despite feeling some disappointment he has been public about, along with saying this:

One major criticism that has been part of the conversation following The Rise of Skywalker is the weaving storyline of its characters and rumored retcon of storylines between J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson’s own visions in their movies. John Boyega’s own experience became cloudy when his character was left with an open-ended conclusion. We never learned on screen what Finn needed to tell Rey, and the actor became vocal about being yet another sidelined BIPOC character.

Sure, J.J. Abrams clarified following the release of The Rise of Skywalker that it was indeed about his connections to the Force, but it’s kind of a bummer that John Boyega’s character did not get a complete arc in the trilogy itself. For the moment, Boyega and his cast-mates are stepping away from the franchise to play different characters, such as Boyega's coming return to Attack the Block, but years from now. we could him returning to flesh out the loose ends for a continuation of some sort.

Until then, there’s a lot to look forward to in terms of a galaxy far, far away. Check out what Star Wars movies and TV shows are coming in the near future here on CinemaBlend.

Star Wars’ John Boyega knows what it’s like to be the face of representation within a cinematic universe. While he didn’t get as much shine in the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy as expected, he does admire another Disney brand for its treatment of BIPOCs. The Star Wars actor commended Marvel for elevating BIPOC stories in its projects.

Being a part of the House of Mouse, it’s only right that John Boyega would admire Marvel's efforts. It’s no surprise given the MCU’s push for inclusion and representation in its projects. The Star Wars star praised the MCU for focusing on character and storytelling in their blockbuster films, saying:

In his Fresh Air interview, John Boyega delved more into Marvel’s handling of BIPOC characters within the cinematic universe. Boyega heaped praise on one MCU project in particular - Disney+'s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. He said this about the MCU’s BIPOC representation within the miniseries:

As he pointed out, Marvel has done a respectable job elevating characters and stories, especially those of BIPOCs. John Boyega has been using his voice to spotlight better representation on the big and small screen. And from the looks of Boyega’s work, he is walking the walk.

But John Boyega isn’t afraid to speak up about representation in Hollywood, especially after his experience on the Star Wars films. He has recounted on many occasions the backlash his character Finn received from the Star Wars fanbase. He even spoke with Disney executives about the Star Wars issue, which left the actor dissatisfied. Just last year, Boyega gained headlines for his emotional message at a Black Lives Matter protest in the U.K. This led to an outpouring of support from Hollywood, as well as some new projects. So the Small Axe star knows how important representation is.

It isn’t just John Boyega who’s a champion for BIPOC representation either; his fans are too. Disney did throw its support behind the Star Wars actor on social media. Mel Milton, who created the portrait that the Mouse House commissioned, broke down how important the actor’s presence was within the iconic film series. So no matter how much backlash Boyega received, Finn’s appearance in the last trilogy was needed and wanted.

From his work on Small Axe to the upcoming Attack the Block sequel, John Boyega has used his voice to elevate representation in the film and television industry. Here’s to hoping the British actor will eventually be brought into the MCU.

As you may remember, 2011 was a rather awesome year for movies, and as a result there are a lot of excellent titles celebrating their 10th anniversary this year. But while most of those films are simply inspiring look back interviews and social media watch parties, the fantastic cult classic Attack The Block has announced something much better: a sequel with the original director, Joe Cornish, and original star, John Boyega, attached.

News of this development comes to us from Deadline, and the timing of the announcement very nearly matches up directly with the release date of Attack The Block in the UK back in 2011 (it's four days late, but we can easily forgive that). While there aren't any plot details available, the movie will presumably be set at least a decade after the events of the first movie, as John Boyega will be back in the lead role of Moses. Joe Cornish, who made his debut as a writer/director with the original, is currently working on the script.

In an official statement about the development of Attack The Block 2, John Boyega said,

While Attack The Block wasn't John Boyega's first professional acting gig, it was certainly the film that first earned him a big fat spotlight. The movie first premiered at 2011's SXSW Film Festival and was an instant hit, and while it didn't ultimately do a lot of business when it got a domestic release, the buzz surrounding the sci-fi adventure has allowed it to find an audience in the years since.

The original film centers on a group of teenagers who find themselves as the front line of defense against an alien invasion in South London. The end of the movie sees the main characters arrested and held responsible for the chaos in their neighborhood, and it will be interesting to see both the aftermath, and what kind of new crisis the heroes will face. In addition to John Boyega, Attack The Block also stars Jodie Whittaker, Alex Esmail, Luke Treadaway, and Nick Frost. (We'll have to wait and see who else in the cast winds up reprising their respective roles).

If you now have a hankering to watch the excellent 2011 sci-fi movie, Attack The Block is now available streaming on Tubi, as well as on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital. Hopefully it won't be too long before we get more updates about Attack The Block 2 and information regarding its production and release.

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John Boyega is at the height of his career. The Star Wars movies may have made him a household name, but his talent and passion have made him an actor with career longevity. In recent years, we have seen Boyega diversify his profile, appearing in everything from big-budget action films to art house indie flicks and critically acclaimed series. John Boyega is definitely one to watch.

If you’re a fan of Boyega, or just looking to explore more of his film and TV credits, then, luckily for you, the vast universe of streaming services has plenty of John Boyega projects to watch on various platforms. Let’s take a look at some of the John Boyega TV shows and movies currently available to stream.

The Star Wars Movies, Episodes 7-8 (Disney+)

Star Wars fans were first introduced to Finn (John Boyega) in episode 7, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Finn is an ex-stormtrooper who meets Rey (Daisy Ridley) and becomes part of the Resistance. Star Wars: The Force Awakens establishes Finn, Rey, and eventually Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) as the new Star Wars movies' lead trio. Throughout the course of the trilogy, we see them grow and become stronger fighters and people. John Boyega appears in three Star Wars movies, The Force Awakens, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

This new trilogy has had mixed reviews from die-hard Star Wars fans and casual viewers, but these films helped shape Boyega’s career. They got his name to the masses and offered him a platform that allows him to speak his mind and take on more diverse projects which suit his talents. Also, if you're without that emotional attachment, or just enjoy a fun galaxy adventure film, then the new Star Wars movies may be worth your time. Boyega’s time in this universe seems done, but you never know whether or not he might appear in any upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows.

Stream the Star Wars movies on Disney+

Small Axe (Amazon Prime)

Small Axe is Steve McQueen’s anthology series about the lives of West Indian immigrants living in London in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Each story is distinct and depicts both fictional and true-life events. John Boyega is the main character in Episode 3, Red, White, and Blue. It’s based on the real-life of Leroy Logan, who joined the police academy to become a London cop at a time when racial tensions were at an all-time high. He’s also one of the first black police officers in the area.

Small Axe is a series definitely worth your time, and Red, White, and Blue is an interesting look at the struggle Logan faced trying to make a difference in his community and bring about change at a time when so many were resistant to it. John Boyega’s role in Small Axe earned him a Golden Globe award and showcased his immense talent as an actor.

Stream Small Axe on Amazon Prime.

Detroit (Tubi)

Detroit is a drama directed by Kathryn Bigelow. It depicts the Detroit Riots of 1967, and focuses on one event during it, the Algiers Motel incident, where the police held a group of black men and two white women hostage while looking for weapons and a suspected shooter. The night becomes increasingly more violent as the police abuse, murder, and mentally and emotionally torture these people. John Boyega plays Melvin Dismukes, a security officer who helps the police keep these men detained. Detroit’s cast also includes Will Poulter, Algee Smith, Jacob Latimore, Kaitlyn Dever, Hannah Murray, and Anthony Mackie.

Detroit is one of those movies that’s haunting, first because it’s based on true events, and second because Bigelow creates this atmosphere that is intense, emotional, and unforgettable. Boyega gives one of his best performances in Detroit as you feel his anxiety, even while being both frustrated by and sympathizing with him for being in this situation that is mainly beyond his control. Detroit is a gripping film that more people definitely need to watch.

Stream Detroit on Tubi.

The Circle (Amazon Prime)

The Circle stars Emma Watson, Tom Hanks, Karen Gillan, Patton Oswalt, and John Boyega. The film is about Mae (Emma Watson), who goes to work for a high-tech company called the Circle, which basically controls all aspects of people’s lives. At first, Mae is skeptical of the company, but eventually, she starts drinking the Kool-Aid as well. Mae becomes the poster child for the company and it takes a lot for her to finally break free from the Circle.

John Boyega has a small role in the film, but an important one to the story of how the Circle developed. He plays Ty, the creator of True You, one of the Circle’s products, who sees Mae as a potential ally because she seems to see the problems with the Circle. Boyega isn’t in the film as much as other characters, but The Circle has an interesting plot that puts a spotlight on some problems with modern technology.

Stream The Circle on Amazon Prime.

24: Live Another Day (Tubi)

24: Live Another Day is a limited event series that brings back Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland). The series ran for 12-episodes on Fox and took place four years after 24’s original eight-season run. In this one, Jack is trying to stop a drone attack on London that will result in many casualties and the death of President James Heller (William Devane). It follows Jack, the terrorist plotting the attack, and Heller’s staff, crew, and family.

John Boyega only appears in a couple of episodes of 24: Live Another Day. He plays Chris Tanner, a United States airman and drone pilot whose drone is hijacked. Boyega’s Tanner is a pawn in a bigger plan, and Boyega plays that frustration of feeling like there's no real way out well. In general, even if you’re not a huge 24 fan, 24: Live Another Day is a way to dabble in the series without committing to eight seasons. It’s fast-paced and keeps you engaged.

Stream 24: Live Another Day on Tubi

Imperial Dreams (Netflix)

Imperial Dreams follows single father Bambi (John Boyega) as he’s released from prison and returns to his violent, poverty stricken block in Watts, Los Angeles. Bambi tries to leave his old life behind and just raise his son Daytone (Ethan and Justin Coach), but he’s tested at every corner.

Imperial Dreams is a sad but powerful story of how life can beat someone down so much that just surviving it is a major accomplishment. John Boyega is the lead in this film, so it heavily depends on him to succeed or fail, and he gives a great performance. You’re captivated by Bambi’s story and just want him to finally win in life.

Stream Imperial Dreams on Netflix.

Half Of A Yellow Sun (Amazon Prime)

Half of a Yellow Sun is based on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s book of the same name. It’s historical fiction, and follows sisters Olanna (Thandiwe Newton) and Kainene (Anika Noni Rose) as they try to survive during the Nigerian Civil War. Half of a Yellow’s cast includes Chiwetel Ejiofor and Joseph Mawle.

John Boyega has a small role in Half of a Yellow Sun. He plays Olanna and Odenigbo (Ejiofor)’s servant Ugwu. In many ways, Ugwu is an outside observer and constantly sees what happens between Olanna and Odenigbo. He becomes less of a servant and more of a family member as the movie progresses.

Stream Half of a Yellow Sun on Amazon Prime.

Major Lazer (Hulu)

Major Lazer is an FXX adult animated series about a Jamaican DJ and superhero called Major Lazer (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje). Each episode has him fighting some sort of villain, whether vampires or mad scientists. Major Lazer also has two main sidekicks, Penny (Angela Trimbur) and Blkmrkt (John Boyega). The series was created by Diplo and often features original songs.

Some of the guests on Major Lazer were Aziz Ansari, J. K. Simmons, Matt Berry, Charli XCX, and Andy Samberg. This series is one that many have probably missed, especially because it only lasted for one season, but it's oddly entertaining and the music is really good. Boyega’s Blkmrkt isn’t the most vital character to the series, but Major Lazer is so unique that I think it’s worth watching.

Stream Major Lazer on Hulu.

Watership Down (Netflix)

Watership Down is a 4-part miniseries based on Richard Adams’s book of the same name. It follows a group of rabbits who leave their home to find a safer place to live after one of them predicts that danger is coming to their home. The story focuses on their journey and the danger they encounter along the way. Watership Down’s voice cast includes James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult, John Boyega, Ben Kingsley, and many more famous names.

Boyega plays Bigwig. He’s one of the animals who's tough on the outside and hard to get to know. He reluctantly follows Hazel (James McAvoy) but gives him a hard time about everything. Watership Down is a really compelling series that depicts a human journey but with rabbits.

Stream Watership Down on Netflix.

Law And Order: UK (Tubi)

John Boyega appeared in the Law and Order: UK episode “Survivor’s Guilt.” Th episode focuses on the murder of a cop as officials try to track down his killer. Boyega’s character, Jamal Clarkson, turns out to be the one who killed the cop but the story is more complicated than that. Boyega gives a strong performance as Jamal. You sympathize with him and never completely see him as a bad person for what he has done. He’s just as much of a victim as anyone else.

Stream Law and Order: UK on Tubi.

You can next catch John Boyega in Naked Singularity, which premiered at the San Francisco International Film Festival on April 9, 2021.