John Boyega calls out Star Wars franchise for being ¡®so white,¡¯ sidelining black leads

John Boyega is done playing nice when it comes to Star Wars. The British actor, who played Finn in the sequel trilogy, has once again called out the franchise for being overwhelmingly white and resistant to change. Speaking in the Apple TV+ documentary Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Men in Hollywood, Boyega did not hold back, stating that Star Wars has always felt like a space designed for white actors.

John Boyega calls out Star Wars franchise and its fans | Credit: X

John Boyega calls out Star Wars franchise and its fans

According to Boyega, the franchise¡¯s attempt at inclusivity has been nothing more than a sprinkle of diversity¡ªfar from the meaningful representation it pretends to have. He pointed out that when fans try to justify Star Wars¡¯ diversity by mentioning characters like Lando Calrissian or Samuel L. Jackson¡¯s Mace Windu, it feels like counting chocolate chips in cookie dough¡ªbarely there and definitely not enough.

John Boyega shares his experience of working in Star Wars

But that was just the beginning. Boyega reflected on his own experience, highlighting how Star Wars audiences had no problem with Black actors playing sidekicks, but when they are placed in lead roles, the backlash is immediate. His words struck a chord, especially given the online harassment he endured when he was first cast as Finn.

John Boyega calls out Star Wars franchise and its fans | Credit: X

Not the first time for John Boyega

This is not the first time Boyega has called out Disney for failing to properly develop non-white characters. Back in 2020, he accused the studio of hyping up his character in the marketing, only to push him to the sidelines in the actual films. He argued that while Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver¡¯s characters were given depth and nuance, both he and Kelly Marie Tran were left with little to work with.

Boyega revealed that his criticisms eventually led to a conversation with a Disney executive, where he had a "transparent" discussion about his experience. While the studio explained their perspective, Boyega stood firm, hoping his openness would help pave the way for future Black actors and filmmakers in Hollywood.

As Star Wars continues to expand with new projects, one question remains: has the franchise truly learned its lesson, or is meaningful representation still a galaxy far, far away?