Tom Holland recalls his disastrous audition for the role of Finn in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. The actor might have beaten out thousands of other hopefuls for the chance to play Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but that wasn’t his only attempt at starring in a long-running franchise.
When attempting to find a suitable performer for the character, director J.J. Abrams intentionally sought out more unknown actors. He made this distinction because he didn’t want viewers to have too many previous associations with the actors before their foray into Star Wars. Having impressed Abrams with his debut in the sci-fi film Attack the Block, John Boyega was invited to audition for Finn. At the end of a process that lasted for seven months, Boyega was cast in the trilogy. But he isn’t the only British actor to try out for the role.
In an interview with Backstage, Holland was asked if he could give some insight into some of his auditions that went horribly wrong. The actor readily brought up his experience trying out for the Star Wars sequel trilogy and vying for Finn. Though it seems like the process started smoothly enough, with Holland getting the chance to continue for a few rounds of auditions, the future Spider-Man star admits that it ultimately wasn’t his best moment. You can read Holland’s quote below:
I’ve had quite a few. I’ve read the wrong lines at the wrong audition before. I remember my audition for Star Wars, I was like four or five auditions in, and I think I was auditioning for John Boyega’s role. I remember doing this scene with this lady, bless her, and she was just a drone. So I was doing all of this, like, “We gotta get back to the ship!” And she was going, “Bleep, bloop bloop, bleep bloop.” I just couldn’t stop laughing. I found it so funny. And I felt really bad, because she was trying really hard to be a convincing android or drone or whatever they’re called. Yeah, I obviously didn’t get the part. That wasn’t my best moment.
While it would have been interesting to see how different Holland’s career would be if he got the part, and who might have ended up as the MCU’s Peter Parker, as a result, it’s hard to argue with the impact that Boyega has made with his portrayal of Finn. The actor received plenty of praise for his performance, with audiences and critics particularly recognizing the levity and the realism he brought to the stormtrooper. Boyega’s tenure is also notable for the racism he experienced by some fans of the Star Wars franchise and the disappointment over how his character’s arc played out throughout the trilogy. In September 2019, Boyega criticized how the films favored white actors while other actors of color were sidelined. Boyega’s frank assessments earned strong support, with arguments resurfacing that Star Wars had failed Finn.
In Holland's case, it’s likely the actor wouldn’t have been gotten to portray significant roles in both franchises around the same time, but it’s hardly a loss. Since making his debut in Captain America: Civil War, before branching off into two solo movies, Holland has accomplished the difficulty of making Peter Parker his own. Despite many adaptations across several mediums, his take on Peter feels distinct. And, in any case, Holland’s botched audition for the Star Wars sequels serves as a reminder that even notably terrible experiences are not necessarily indicative of future success.
Source: Backstage