John Boyega Thought Finn and Rey Would Become Jedi Rivals

At Fan Expo Boston, John Boyega shared surprising insight into what he once believed would be Finn’s destiny in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Speaking during a Q&A panel, the actor revealed that while filming The Force Awakens, he expected Finn to emerge not just as a Jedi, but as one half of a dramatic rivalry with Rey (Daisy Ridley), culminating in a showdown between two young Force-wielders.

“I think I assumed he was Force-sensitive from The Force Awakens script, or at least by the time I got to the end of it,” Boyega explained. “I thought they were planning dual Jedis. I actually thought that they would Obi-Wan and Darth Vader us a bit—that we would turn against each other or something along those lines.”

Indeed, J.J. Abrams’s 2015 film featured subtle hints that Finn could be connected to the Force, from his instinctive choices on Jakku to his brief but significant duel with Kylo Ren. Yet as the trilogy unfolded, the story shifted. Rey’s path became defined by her connection—and eventual clash—with Kylo Ren, while Finn’s arc moved away from Jedi training toward leadership within the Resistance.

The Last Jedi leaned heavily into Finn’s growth as a reluctant hero who chose to stay and fight, largely abandoning any suggestion of Force sensitivity. When Abrams returned for The Rise of Skywalker, there were attempts to reinstate elements of Finn’s connection to the Force, most notably in the mysterious subplot about “what he never told Rey.” Ultimately, however, this storyline was left incomplete, with only hints and deleted material pointing toward Finn’s hidden destiny.

Since then, canon-adjacent material—such as LEGO specials—has teased a future where Finn embraces the Force. With Daisy Ridley set to reprise her role in the upcoming New Jedi Order film and Simon Kinberg reportedly developing a post-sequel trilogy, Boyega’s comments reignite speculation: could Finn finally step into the role of Jedi that Boyega once expected, perhaps even alongside—or against—Rey?

For now, Boyega’s reflections offer a fascinating glimpse into what might have been: a rivalry between two heroes whose friendship once defined the future of the galaxy.