John Boyega

John Boyega Calls On 'Star Wars' Fans To Stop Trolling The Cast

By Ed Biggs in Movies / TV / Theatre on 13 June 2018

Boyega's words came after Kelly Marie Tran quit Instagram because of sexist and racist abuse.

Star Wars actor John Boyega has urged fans of the movie franchise to stop harassing members of the film’s cast over social media.

The 26 year old star, who played Finn in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, took to Twitter to upbraid some of the popular film series’ more outspoken fans, just days after two of its female stars, Kelly Marie Tran and Daisy Ridley, both quit Instagram after becoming fed up with the constant trolling and online abuse they received.

“If you don't like Star Wars or the characters, understand that there are decisions makers [sic] and harassing the actors/actresses will do nothing,” Boyega tweeted on Tuesday evening (June 12th). “You're not entitled to politeness when your approach is rude. Even if you paid for a ticket!”

Continue reading: John Boyega Calls On 'Star Wars' Fans To Stop Trolling The Cast

John Boyega Could Be Joining The Marvel Cinematic Universe

By Daniel Falconer in Movies / TV / Theatre on 01 April 2018

John Boyega

John Boyega has hinted he could become a superhero within the Marvel Cinematic Universe at some point down the road.

Already a part of the Disney family thanks to his role in the new 'Star Wars' episodic series, John Boyega could be set to expand on his work for the company. Having made a huge name for himself in the entertainment business, he's one of the hottest actors of the modern day, bringing in legions of fans for whatever movie he may star in next.

John Boyega may be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Currently fronting the new 'Pacific Rim' movie 'Uprising', he's on the promotional trail for that movie, but that hasn't stopped him from talking about other potential projects.

Continue reading: John Boyega Could Be Joining The Marvel Cinematic Universe

John Boyega Supports Inclusion Riders

By Ed Biggs in Movies / TV / Theatre on 16 March 2018

John Boyega Frances McDormand

Boyega was speaking at a screening of 'Pacific Rim: Uprising'.

John Boyega has come out in support of the prospect of inclusion riders becoming standard practice in the film industry, saying that he thinks they’re “fantastic”.

Inclusion riders have come under the spotlight in the weeks since the Oscars, when Best Actress winner Frances McDormand used her acceptance speech to call on the industry to adopt them regularly. They are clauses in an actor’s contract that demand that projects have a diverse cast and crew.

The British actor, one of the most famous stars under 30 in the world as a result of his recurring role in the new Star Wars films, was speaking at a screening of Pacific Rim: Uprising this week.

Continue reading: John Boyega Supports Inclusion Riders

Star Wars Actors React With Derision To 'Men-Only' Fan Edit Of 'The Last Jedi'

By Ed Biggs in Movies / TV / Theatre on 17 January 2018

Star Wars Rian Johnson John Boyega

A 46-minute version of 'The Last Jedi', with all the female characters excluded or heavily edited, appeared earlier this month on a file-sharing site. It's not very good.

Star Wars actors John Boyega and Mark Hammill have reacted with incredulity and derision at a fan’s rather pathetic attempt to re-edit The Last Jedi with its female characters removed.

An angry fan of the franchise took the time to create a “men-only” version of The Last Jedi on file-sharing site Pirate Bay, reducing its running time to just 46 minutes, lopping out nearly two hours of material in response to what he (obviously a he) regarded as the over-population of the latest movie’s plot by female characters.

Laura Dern’s character of Admiral Holdo was cut out of the film entirely, with Daisy Ridley’s Rey and Kelly Marie Tran’s Rose Tico both having their roles drastically reduced. Even the late Carrie Fisher didn’t escape unscathed, edited down so that Princess Leia no longer “scolds, questions nor demotes” the rebel fighter pilot Poe Dameron.

Continue reading: Star Wars Actors React With Derision To 'Men-Only' Fan Edit Of 'The Last Jedi'

A New Generation Faces Extinction In 'Pacific Rim: Uprising'

The monstrous alien bioweapon Kaiju returns in the forthcoming sequel to 'Pacific Rim', and a new generation of heroes led by John Boyega as Jake Pentecost must band together to save humanity with a new and improved Jaeger defence program. 'Pacific Rim: Uprising', directed by Steven S. DeKnight, is coming next Spring.

Set ten years after the Battle of the Breach, 'Pacific Rim: Uprising' sees humanity face an unexpected new Kaiju threat. The war between mankind and their Anteverse adversaries is far from over, but in the last decade the Pan Pacific Defense Corps (PPDC) have developed their Jaeger program to be the most powerful defence force the world has ever seen.

Enlisted into the new army of Jaeger pilots with the supervision of the now deceased General Stacker Pentecost's adoptive daughter Mako Mori, played by Rinko Kikuchi, is Jake Pentecost; a former pilot and Stacker's biological son; and 15-year-old hacker Amara Namani. They are joined by Jake's personal rival Nate Lambert, but they must learn to set aside their differences and work together to have any chance of saving humankind from extinction.

Continue: A New Generation Faces Extinction In 'Pacific Rim: Uprising'

Star Wars: The Last Jedi - Video Interviews

Interviews with Star Wars: The Last Jedi Cast

'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' is finally upon us, and with it comes a returning cast of Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and others, as well as new additions to the cast such as Kelly Marie Tran and Laura Dern.

In this series of interviews, the actors - alongside director Rian Johnson - open up about their roles in this fantastic franchise, the extraordinary sets and scenaries they were placed in during filming, and just what it's like to be part of such a well-loved world.

'The experience has been inexplicable, I don't know that I can give it a definition', says newcomer Kelly Marie Tran, who plays Rose Tico in Episode VIII. 'I feel so many emotions all the time and I'm just trying to be really present.'

Continue reading: Star Wars: The Last Jedi - Video Interviews

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Review

Extraordinary

After the thunderous reception for J.J. Abrams' Episode VII: The Force Awakens two years ago, writer-director Rian Johnson had a lot to live up to with Episode VIII. And he delivers more than anyone expected: a lucid, entertaining film that operates on four distinct planes, deepens all of its characters, enriches the mythology and constantly surprises the audience with twists and turns. It's a little overwhelming, a nonstop two and a half hours of action and intensity without any time to catch your breath. But there's also a steady stream of sharp humour to help keep things in perspective.

Visual effects were always a huge part of Star Wars movies, and The Last Jedi is no exception to using innovative technologies that made the whole experience possible.

The story picks up straight away, as the First Order led by Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) presses its advantage to wipe out the rebellion for good. Snoke is playing his apprentice Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) off against General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) for maximum effect as they launch an attack. Rebel General Leia (Carrie Fisher) is trying to protect her scrappy army, with pilot Poe (Oscar Isaac) trying against the odds to find a way to get them to safety. He sends rebel hero Finn (John Boyega) and mechanic Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) on a mission to track down a hacker who can give them a chance against the First Order. Meanwhile, Rey (Daisy Ridley) has tracked down Leia's brother, jaded Jedi master Luke (Mark Hamill), who is trying to teach her hard truths about the Force.

Continue reading: Star Wars: The Last Jedi Review

John Boyega On How 'Star Wars' Changed His Life 'Just A Tad'

By Holly Williams in Movies / TV / Theatre on 13 December 2017

John Boyega Star Wars

He returns as Finn in the new film 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi'.

'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' is set to hit theatres this weekend, and star John Boyega reflects on how his life has changed since becoming a part of such a major cinematic legacy. After all, it was only two years ago that he was a small-time TV actor.

John Boyega at the premiere for 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi'

The 25-year-old returns as Finn in 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi'; the second installment of the new trilogy, following 2015's 'The Force Awakens' which was John's break-out role in his acting career. The fame is still something he's trying to get used to, but he's certainly grateful about what it's brought him.

Continue reading: John Boyega On How 'Star Wars' Changed His Life 'Just A Tad'

Detroit Review

Extraordinary

After The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty, Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal reteam to tell a true story from half a century ago, finding unnerving present-day resonance in the details. Using exhaustive research, they recount the events surrounding the Detroit riots for the first time, with characters who feel achingly real. It's so impeccably assembled that it carries a strong punch to the gut.

It kicked off in July 1967 when white police raided a peaceful party, brutally arresting the blacks in attendance. People hit the streets in protest, and the officials cracked down. Caught up in this, aspiring Motown singer Larry (Algee Smith) and his pal Fred (Jacob Latimore) take refuge in the Algiers Motel, where they meet some other men (including Anthony Mackie and Jason Mitchell) and two white girls (Hannah Murray and Kaitlyn Dever). Thinking they heard shots fired, local cop Krauss (Will Poulter) and his partners (Jack Reynor and Ben O'Toole) charge in, lining everyone up and menacing them brutally. Caught in the middle, security guard Melvin (John Boyega) tries to diffuse the situation without further aggravating these viciously bigoted policemen.

The film opens with a lucid prologue tracing the roots of America's racial tensions in the continued segregation between inner-cities and suburbs, creating a police state with whites marginalising blacks. Bigelow's direction and Boal's script then recount events journalistically, throwing the audience right into the situation without character back-stories. This makes everything feel urgent and dangerous, a situation in which absolutely anything can happen. So when it leads to murder, we're deeply horrified.

Continue reading: Detroit Review

'Detroit' Director Kathryn Bigelow Says Talking About Race Is "More Vital Than Ever"

By Ed Biggs in Movies / TV / Theatre on 18 August 2017

Kathryn Bigelow John Boyega Will Poulter

Bigelow and 'Detroit' stars John Boyega and Will Poulter talked about the recent events in Charlottesville.

Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow says that talking about the issue of race in America is “more vital than ever”, after headline-grabbing events in Charlottesville last weekend.

The 65 year old filmmaker spoke on the eve of the release of her new movie Detroit, which stars John Boyega and Will Poulter and tells the events of the Detroit rebellion in July 1967, that was triggered by heavy-handed policing of the city’s black population.

Bigelow wants to meet racism “head-on”, telling The Guardian that “to do nothing is not an option”.

Continue reading: 'Detroit' Director Kathryn Bigelow Says Talking About Race Is "More Vital Than Ever"

John Boyega at the BFI London Film Festival premiere of Queen Of Katwe. London, United Kingdom - Sunday 9th October 2016