JOHN BOYEGA
Activism In A Galaxy Not So Far Away
This week, we want to profile a star who is not only an incredibly talented actor but a fantastic person: John Boyega. You probably know him best as Finn, the Stormtrooper who deserted the First Order and became a significant player in the Resistance in the latest Star Wars trilogy. He also has other exceptional credits. Born in the Peckham district of London to Nigerian parents, Boyega got his start in the 2011 British sci-fi horror-comedy, Attack the Block. Boyega was nominated for multiple awards for the project and that put him on the path to stardom. After landing the role of Finn, he was cast in Kathryn Bigelow‘s Detroit and Steven S. DeKnight’s Pacific Rim: Uprising.
Boyega currently has two projects in the works. The first is a film adaptation of the book Naked Singularity. Boyega will star in the Chase Palmer-helmed film alongside Olivia Cooke, Bill Skarsgård, Ed Skrein and Tim Blake Nelson. Next is Small Axe, a miniseries created and directed by Steve McQueen, which will air on BBC One in the UK and Amazon Prime in the US. Few details have been released about the miniseries, but Boyega will star alongside Letitia Wright.
It’s not just acting that makes us respect him. Boyega is a prominent voice in the Black Lives Matter protests in London. On June 3rd, at a protest in London’s Hyde Park, Boyega delivered a compelling speech, concluding that he was willing to risk his career for this vital cause. After his speech, power players in the industry expressed unwavering support for the actor. Filmmakers Jordan Peele, J.J. Abrams, Edgar Wright and Olivia Wilde are among his supporters. Lucasfilm also reiterated its support.
We at PROVOKR are looking forward to seeing Boyega’s career continue to flourish.
