REPORT: John Boyega and Oscar Isaac Set Tough Terms for Any ‘Star Wars’ Comeback

John Boyega has never hidden his frustration with the way Star Wars treated Finn. Years after the sequel trilogy ended, his comments continue to shape discussions around representation, sidelined characters, and the franchise’s handling of its own stars. Now, the actor has made clear what a return would actually require.

His latest remarks arrive as Lucasfilm faces ongoing uncertainty across its film slate, with several announced projects — including Daisy Ridley’s planned Rey film — still without release dates.

Boyega, who once described his trilogy experience as a cautionary tale, is now defining the circumstances under which he would consider stepping back into the role.

Those conditions speak directly to the issues he raised during and after the trilogy’s release. They also underline how much the portrayal of Finn still matters to audiences who felt the character never received the arc he was promised.

John Boyega’s Conditions Begin With the Trilogy’s Past

Boyega’s criticism of the studio remains among the most direct statements made by a main-cast Star Wars actor. “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,” he told GQ in 2020. “It’s not good. I’ll say it straight up.”

He continued by pointing to the creative imbalance within the trilogy. “You guys knew what to do with Daisy Ridley, you knew what to do with Adam Driver,” he said. “But when it came to Kelly Marie Tran [Rose], when it came to John Boyega, you know f**k all. … They gave all the nuance to Adam Driver, all the nuance to Daisy Ridley. Let’s be honest. Daisy knows this. Adam knows this. Everybody knows. I’m not exposing anything.”

Boyega said he later had a productive conversation with Disney about those concerns. But he has remained firm that any future appearance must avoid repeating past mistakes.

At Liverpool Comic Con, he listed three requirements.

First, it must be a film — not a Disney+ project. Second, it must feature Poe Dameron and Chewbacca. The Finn–Poe partnership, he said, only works theatrically. “Me and Oscar are very stubborn, and we believe the bromance should only be on the big screen,” Boyega explained.

The final condition is simple: it needs to be “a great script.”

That bar is high. Lucasfilm has struggled to advance multiple films, including Ridley’s standalone project. Boyega added that he has no inside information, saying, “Trust me, I’m like the Tom Holland of ‘Star Wars.’ Once I know something, I’ll let you know.”

Meanwhile, Adam Driver revealed that a script for The Hunt for Ben Solo – a new standalone film set after his character’s sacrifice in Rise of Skywalker – was rejected by Disney leadership. “They didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive,” Driver told the Associated Press. “And that was that.” Star Wars fans responded with a grassroots protest campaign, including a plane that flew over Disney Studios reading “SAVE #THEHUNTFORBENSOLO.”

Oscar Isaac Adds His Own Requirement

Isaac’s involvement is central to Boyega’s terms, but the actor recently introduced a hurdle of his own. Speaking to GQ after Disney temporarily suspended Jimmy Kimmel amid pressure from the Trump administration, Isaac said he would need reassurance about the company’s direction before returning.

“I’d be open to it, although right now I’m not so open to working with Disney,” Isaac said. “But if they can kinda figure it out and, you know, not succumb to fascism, that would be great … if that happens, then yeah, I’d be open to having a conversation about a galaxy far away. Or any number of other things.”

That stance complicates the possibility of a Finn-led film, especially since Boyega insists the characters must appear together.

For now, Boyega hasn’t closed the door. He has simply defined the path forward — one that requires the right scale, the right collaborators, and a script that delivers what Finn never received the first time.

If Lucasfilm can meet those expectations, the galaxy far, far away may see Finn again.

Would you like to see John Boyega as Finn again?