The Star Wars sequel trilogy arrived with enormous expectations, but its legacy remains sharply divided. For many longtime fans, the Disney era lacked the narrative clarity and emotional weight that defined George Lucas’s original films. Now, one of the saga’s central stars is offering his own perspective on how things could have unfolded differently.
The franchise’s three installments — The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019) — were directed by two different filmmakers, leading to a patchwork of creative decisions. Critics often point to abrupt tonal shifts, uneven character development, and unresolved storylines as reasons the trilogy struggled to satisfy audiences.
Nowhere was this more apparent than with Finn, portrayed by John Boyega. Introduced as a stormtrooper who defects from the First Order, his storyline suggested a layered exploration of morality and identity. Yet, as the sequels progressed, Finn’s narrative became increasingly secondary, with his character reduced to comic relief or side quests rather than a central driver of the Resistance’s struggle.
A Missed Opportunity for Finn
Finn’s sidelining struck a nerve with fans who saw him as one of the saga’s most promising new characters. Early hints at his connection to the Force were never expanded, leaving viewers with a sense of missed potential. Even his chemistry with Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) — a relationship many fans hoped would blossom into something more — was left unexplored.
“They’ve always had a quite loving and open relationship in which it wouldn’t be too weird if it went beyond it,” Boyega said in 2019 (via Variety). That possibility was never realized, frustrating those who wanted to see Star Wars embrace deeper representation.
Meanwhile, Rey’s journey divided audiences. Many welcomed her as a groundbreaking heroine, but others criticized her rapid rise as a Jedi. Her swift mastery of the Force often seemed at odds with Finn’s underdeveloped arc, creating an imbalance in how the trilogy distributed its character focus.
Criticism also extended to the handling of the franchise’s legacy figures. Han Solo’s death, Luke Skywalker’s disillusionment (which also disappointed Mark Hamill), and the lack of meaningful reunion between the original trio left many with the sense that the sequels missed key opportunities to honor their history.
Boyega’s Alternative Sequel Vision
Boyega has never hidden his frustrations. Over the years, he has voiced concerns about being sidelined and has openly addressed the franchise’s racial dynamics.
“They’re okay with us playing the best friend, but once we touch their heroes, once we lead, once we trailblaze, it’s like, ‘Oh my God, it’s just a bit too much! They’re pandering,'” he said in the documentary Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Men in Hollywood. He added: “Lemme tell ya, Star Wars always had the vibe of being in the most whitest, elite space. It’s a franchise that’s so white that a Black person existing in [it] was something.”
Speaking at Florida Supercon 2025, Boyega revealed exactly how he would have approached the sequels. “If I was a producer on Star Wars from the beginning,” he told an audience member, “You would have had a whole completely different thing.”
A New Path For Luke, Leia, and Han
His first priority, he said, would have been preserving and fulfilling the arcs of legacy heroes. “First of all, we’re not getting rid of Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, all these people. We’re not doing that. The first thing we’re going to do is fulfill their story, fulfill their legacy. We’re going to make a good moment of handing on the baton.”
Boyega also took issue with how quickly new characters gained power. “Our new characters will not be OP’d [overpowered] in these movies,” he said. “They won’t just grab stuff and know what to do with it. No. You’ve got to struggle like every other character in this franchise. I’d do that.”
When it comes to storytelling, Boyega’s inspiration would come from fan-favorite lore. “I’d look to the Old Republic stories,” he explained. “And see what we can add to the continuation of that. I would definitely want to see Force Unleashed stories in there. I would try to expand the Star Wars universe as much as possible while respecting the lore.”
His most striking revision involved Luke Skywalker’s fate. “Luke Skywalker wouldn’t be disappearing on a rock,” he said. “Hell no. Standing there, and he’s, like, a projector? I would want to give those characters way more way more.”
Whether Disney or Lucasfilm will ever revisit Boyega’s ideas remains uncertain. Daisy Ridley is already slated to return as Rey in an upcoming standalone film (if it ever actually happens), while The Mandalorian & Grogu is set to premiere in 2026. Still, Boyega’s reimagined blueprint has sparked renewed debate among fans about what might have been — and whether a different hand on the creative wheel could have changed the trilogy’s fate.
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