Several Hollywood directors have shared their support for John Boyega and say they would love to work with him after Boyega's speech at a Black Lives Matter protest in London. Boyega is best known for playing Finn, a stormtrooper who defects from the First Order and joins the Rebellion, in Disney's Star Wars sequel trilogy. After making his debut in 2015's The Force Awakens, Boyega received critical acclaim for his performance. Last year's The Rise of Skywalker marked his final movie as Finn. Boyega has also appeared in films like Attack the Block, Pacific Rim Uprising, and Detroit.
On Wednesday, Boyega attended a Black Lives Matter protest in London and gave an emotional and powerful speech. In said speech, Boyega admitted, "I don’t know if I’m going to have a career after this, but f-ck that!" These protests are being held in response to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after a white police offer pinned Floyd to the ground with a knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Floyd's death has set off a string of protests across the globe, with numerous celebrities and corporations lending their support to the movement. Boyega's speech came after he denounced racists on social media just last week.
Numerous directors have begun to share their support for Boyega on social media following his confession that his comments might cost him his career. Jordan Peele said, "We got you, John," while Matthew A. Cherry posted a message calling on non-black creators to support Boyega. Cherry's tweet garnered replies from directors such as Duncan Jones, Phil Lord, Edgar Wright (who worked with Boyega on Attack the Block), and Cathy Yan. You can see all the messages in the space below.
Boyega has always been quick to speak honestly about what he feels, and he's even done so in regards to how Finn's arc was handled in the Star Wars films. His support of Black Lives Matter comes at a crucial time when many people are expecting celebrities to take a clear stance. Several have taking various steps, whether by attending a protest (as in the case of Riverdale's Cole Sprouse) or donating money (as Boyega's The Rise of Skywalker director JJ Abrams did).
This is certainly a tense and emotional time as people await proper justice for Floyd. Many, like Boyega, are hoping real change can come from this present moment. It is comforting to see so many people voice their support for Boyega; safe to say, he has a lot of fans who would be eager to see him in future films and television shows. One big question for when this moment passes: Who will be the first to hire him?
Source: Jordan Peele, Matthew A. Cherry, Duncan Jones, Phil Lord, Edgar Wright, Cathy Yan