A rogue Storm Trooper straight outta south-east London, this guy’s intergalactic rise has
seen him become one of the world’s most exciting acting talents.
Welcome to WatchMojo UK and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 5 things
you might not have known about John Boyega!
For this list, we’ve gathered the best and most significant slices of trivia about the
“Star Wars” star, and ranked those which you may not have previously encountered.
Given John’s childhood, it’s somewhat surprising that he’s even an actor at all.
He grew up in Peckham on an infamous London estate, and was surrounded by violent crime
as a kid.
But Boyega steered clear of the gangs himself, realising he wanted to act at an early age.
His first role was as a leopard in a school play, but the gigs have grown considerably
bigger since then.
His Hollywood career isn’t exactly what his parents had had in mind, though.
His father is a Pentecostal minister, and John might’ve followed in his footsteps.
But the acting bug was too much, and his family helped him to succeed.
Throughout the build-up for “The Force Awakens” in 2015, a running theme was John’s all-out
excitement for the film.
A fanboy before being cast as Finn, he was clearly living the dream.
He often relates the story about how his dad was none-the-wiser when he broke the news
to him, but our favourite anecdote concerns John’s first look at the script, and his
emotional reaction to it.
Speaking to GQ, he revealed that his first read-through was a teary affair.
We’re betting it was the Han Solo scene which set him off!
He may be a major player in one of the biggest film franchises on the planet, but Boyega’s
got his eyes on the MCU, too.
The actor is a big admirer of the comic colossus, and fans have continually called for John
to be inducted into the series.
Even he has suggested he’d like a crack at the Black Panther, but that was before
Chadwick Boseman was cast.
Nevertheless, considering the links between Lucasfilm, Marvel and Disney, Boyega’s probably
a good bet for a superhero role of some sort – or maybe he’ll voice the next Animated
Classic?
Or Robert Downey Jr., at least.
Providing another link between the ‘galaxy far, far away’ and the Marvel Cinematic
Universe, RDJ took Boyega under his wing in 2015, just as “Star Wars” hype was reaching
stratospheric levels – and now they’re best mates.
Of course, Downey Jr. has seen most of what the movie industry can throw at you, and Boyega
often cites his buddy’s wisdom as a major help in his early career.
We’re sure their relationship is a lot less one-sided than Tony Stark and Spider-Man’s,
but it makes for a funny mental image nonetheless.
While John was plucked from relative obscurity for “The Force Awakens”, and has since
gone on to lead Kathryn Bigelow’s acclaimed drama “Detroit”, he might’ve headed
in a different direction had auditions for “Kingsman: The Secret Service” gone his
way.
Boyega was very narrowly pipped to play Eggsy by Taron Egerton, a rejection which left the
way clear for the ultimate silver lining, “Star Wars”.
John also almost starred in a Spike Lee series as a Mike Tyson-inspired character, before
HBO pulled the plug on the pilot.
Oh, what could’ve been.