John Boyega’s Finn was one of the most exciting new characters introduced in The Force Awakens. A stormtrooper who defected from the First Order, Finn seemed destined for a major arc. But according to Boyega and leaked scripts, the original plans for his character were far more ambitious than what audiences ultimately saw.
Finn as a Jedi
Boyega has said he believed Finn was meant to be Force-sensitive. “I thought they were planning dual Jedis,” he explained, noting that he even filmed takes shouting, “I’m a Jedi.” This storyline was teased but never fully confirmed, leaving fans wondering what could have been.
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Colin Trevorrow’s Episode IX Vision
Before J.J. Abrams returned to direct The Rise of Skywalker, Colin Trevorrow was set to helm Episode IX. His script, Duel of the Fates, gave Finn a central role. Instead of being sidelined, Finn would have led a citizens’ uprising on Coruscant, rallying stormtroopers to remove their helmets and join the rebellion. Concept art showed Finn waving a blue flag, symbolizing hope and resistance. Boyega himself said, “That would have been sick! That would have been dope, man, hands down.”
Boyega’s Criticism of Disney
In later interviews, Boyega criticized Disney for sidelining Finn after marketing him as a major figure. He argued that Black characters deserve the same depth and representation as other leads. “Do not bring out a Black character, market them to be much more important in the franchise than they are, and then have them pushed to the side,” he said.
He pointed out that much of the nuance went to Daisy Ridley’s Rey and Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren, while Finn’s potential was left unrealized. Boyega later met with Disney for what he described as an “honest and transparent conversation.”
Will Finn’s Story Continue?
Fans still hope Finn’s full story might be told in future Star Wars projects. Boyega once suggested he’d be open to an animated series, though he later said he was “good off it” and content with Episodes VII–IX as his complete journey.
With Lucasfilm developing new films, including a Rey-led project about rebuilding the Jedi Order, there’s speculation Finn could return. For now, Boyega appears focused on other work, leaving Finn’s unrealized arc as one of the saga’s biggest “what-ifs.”
