The arrival of the Star Wars sequels promised a revival of one of cinema’s most beloved sagas. Instead, they became some of the franchise’s most polarizing entries. Now, years after their conclusion, John Boyega — who portrayed Finn — has outlined how he would have steered the story in a dramatically different direction.
When Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, anticipation for a new trilogy soared. The studio quickly launched into The Force Awakens (2015), directed by J.J. Abrams, followed by Rian Johnson's divisive The Last Jedi (2017), and a return to Abrams with The Rise of Skywalker (2019). The creative shuffle resulted in a tonal imbalance that many viewers felt never matched the cohesiveness of George Lucas’s original six films.
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Finn and the Sequels’ Lost Momentum
For Boyega, this imbalance was personal. His character Finn was introduced with enormous potential — a stormtrooper who breaks free from the First Order to join the Resistance.
His journey seemed poised to explore moral conflict, identity, and even a connection to the Force. But later films left him sidelined, reduced to comic beats or tangential subplots.
Fans noticed the decline. Finn’s hinted Force sensitivity was never developed, and his relationship with Rey (Daisy Ridley) often positioned him as a supporting player rather than a co-lead. His chemistry with Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) inspired speculation of a more complex bond, though that thread was never pursued.
This neglect extended beyond Finn.
Audiences were frustrated by the treatment of legacy heroes. Han Solo’s death and Luke Skywalker’s disillusionment (with which Mark Hamill has also taken issue) were viewed as missteps, and the trilogy never reunited Han, Luke, and Leia onscreen — a missing moment that became a lasting sore spot for longtime fans.
Boyega’s Vision for a Different Saga
Boyega has never been shy about addressing his frustrations. He has criticized both his diminished role and the wider industry’s racial dynamics. “They're okay with us playing the best friend, but once we touch their heroes, once we lead, once we trailblaze, it's like, ‘Oh my God, it's just a bit too much! They're pandering,'” he said in the documentary Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Men in Hollywood.
He added: “Lemme tell ya, Star Wars always had the vibe of being in the most whitest, elite space. It's a franchise that's so white that a Black person existing in [it] was something.”
Speaking at Florida Supercon 2025, Boyega unveiled how he would have reimagined the sequels if given creative control. “If I was a producer on Star Wars from the beginning,” he said, “You would have had a whole completely different thing.”
His blueprint began with honoring the icons. “First of all, we’re not getting rid of Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, all these people. We're not doing that. The first thing we're going to do is fulfill their story, fulfill their legacy. We're going to make a good moment of handing on the baton.”
The next priority was balance. “Our new characters will not be OP-ed [overpowered] in these movies,” Boyega explained. “They won't just grab stuff and know what to do with it. No. You've got to struggle like every other character in this franchise. I'd do that.”
As for narrative sources, Boyega looked beyond the screen. “I'd look to the Old Republic stories,” he said. “And see what we can add to the continuation of that. I would definitely want to see Force Unleashed stories in there. I would try to expand the Star Wars universe as much as possible while respecting the lore. If we're expanding the lore, we have to do it within the respective boundaries that stay true.”
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Perhaps his sharpest revision involved Luke Skywalker’s arc.
“Luke Skywalker wouldn't be disappearing on a rock,” he declared. “Hell no. Standing there, and he's, like, a projector? I would want to give those characters way more way more.”
For Boyega, this alternative trilogy would have preserved the legacy of the originals while introducing new heroes through gradual, earned progression — not instant mastery. His vision has resonated with fans still debating how the sequels might have played out differently.
Though Boyega has distanced himself from returning to the franchise, his remarks arrive as Lucasfilm explores the saga’s future. Daisy Ridley is slated to reprise Rey in a forthcoming standalone film (if it ever gets off the ground), while The Mandalorian & Grogu is set for release in May. Whether Boyega’s blueprint ever influences the series remains unlikely, but his words keep the conversation alive about how Star Wars could have evolved under a steadier hand.
What do you wish Disney had done differently with the Star Wars sequel trilogy?
