REPORT: Lucasfilm Wants Finn Back in ‘Star Wars’ as Rey Movie Faces Problems

A galaxy far, far away is still trying to find its next direction – but the answer might lie with one of its former stars.

Lucasfilm returns to theaters later this month with The Mandalorian and Grogu, the company’s first theatrical Star Wars release since The Rise of Skywalker in 2019. The film arrives after years of abandoned projects, creative reshuffles, and a growing dependence on Disney+.

The studio spent much of the last five years expanding the franchise through streaming. Shows like The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, and Andor kept the brand alive between theatrical releases, but Disney has struggled to establish a clear big-screen plan following the divisive sequel trilogy.

Now, attention is shifting back toward characters many fans assumed Lucasfilm had left behind.

According to insider Daniel Richtman, Lucasfilm has reportedly held talks with sequel trilogy star John Boyega about returning as Finn in a future Star Wars project.

No specific production has been attached to the discussions.

The report comes as uncertainty continues to surround multiple upcoming Star Wars films, including the still-developing Rey-focused movie starring Daisy Ridley.

Lucasfilm Reconsiders the Sequel Trilogy

When Disney announced the Rey project at Star Wars Celebration in 2023, Lucasfilm positioned the film as the next major chapter of the franchise. The movie is set after the events of The Rise of Skywalker and reportedly follows Rey rebuilding the Jedi Order.

Since then, however, the project has faced repeated turbulence.

Multiple writers have reportedly cycled through the film, and Lucasfilm has yet to publicly confirm a production start date. The movie also remains absent from Disney’s immediate theatrical release schedule, despite repeated reassurances that development is continuing.

At the same time, concerns have emerged around The Mandalorian and Grogu.

Early box office tracking has suggested the film could open below expectations for a theatrical Star Wars release. Some analysts have warned it may struggle to match even Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), which became Lucasfilm’s first major box office disappointment.

Fans have also questioned the movie’s marketing campaign. Early teasers drew criticism online, with some viewers arguing the footage resembled a Disney+ advertisement more than a theatrical blockbuster.

Rumors have additionally suggested Lucasfilm may move away from the larger MandoVerse storyline if the film underperforms, potentially impacting a previously planned crossover event movie.

Against that backdrop, revisiting Finn could offer Lucasfilm another route forward.

Boyega himself recently fueled speculation during an appearance at MEGACON Orlando. When one fan shouted, “Get Dave [Filoni] on the phone,” the actor responded: “I actually have, actually.”

Simon Kinberg is currently developing another Star Wars trilogy, leading to speculation that Finn could potentially appear there. Others have pointed toward the Rey movie as a possible landing spot for the character.

John Boyega Never Hid His Frustrations

Finn was introduced in The Force Awakens as one of the sequel trilogy’s most promising new characters.

A Stormtrooper abandoning the First Order immediately gave the franchise a perspective it had rarely explored onscreen. Many fans expected Lucasfilm to build a larger story around Finn’s defection, his morality, and his hinted Force sensitivity.

Instead, the character’s role steadily shrank across the trilogy.

The Last Jedi paired Finn with Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran) for the divisive Canto Bight storyline, while The Rise of Skywalker repeatedly teased major revelations about Finn without fully delivering on them.

Over the years, Boyega has openly criticized how Lucasfilm handled both the character and the trilogy’s actors of color.

“What I would say to Disney is 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,” Boyega told British GQ in 2020. “It’s not good. I’ll say it straight up.”

The actor also accused the franchise of failing to properly support characters like Finn and Rose compared to Rey and Kylo Ren.

However, he has since said that he is willing to return – provided it’s alongside former co-star Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron), with whom many had hoped to see Finn form a romantic relationship.

Would you like to see John Boyega return as Finn?