John Boyega has always been a Star Wars fan. There was a new word used to describe his excitement at joining the galaxy with each interview he gave during The Force Awakens‘ press tour.
Things have become tainted in the time since, with Boyega’s character heading in a different direction than many hoped and him candidly opening up about his experience within the franchise. All of that in mind, though, Boyega is still no less of a Star Wars fan today than he was then.
At the film premiere of Jordan Peele’s NOPE, The Wrap asked Boyega whether he’s kept up with the latest Star Wars show, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and if he had any thoughts on it. Not only was Boyega a day one viewer, saying, “Of course I’ve watched them! Oh yeah, I watched them first day they came out,” he really enjoyed what the show had to offer too.
Boyega elaborated,
"I think it was fun, it was good to see Ewan [McGregor]. It was good to see, you know, our guy Anakin — well, my guy Anakin, MY guy, back. For him to have more nuance and have more story as well, was just, for me, just phenomenal just to see."
I love Boyega’s commentary on Anakin. As much criticism as Hayden Christensen received in the prequels, Boyega rightfully states that Anakin has always been a favorite of those who grew up with him. Born in 1992, Boyega is no exception. He fittingly sums up that viewpoint and clearly loves how Kenobi showed another side of Anakin’s character, too.
His thoughts align with why he described Return of the Jedi as his favorite Star Wars movie. In an excerpt from the book Star Wars: The Galaxy’s Greatest Heroes — a collection of features that grants an inside look at how many iconic characters came to the screen — Boyega discussed how that film places Luke Skywalker, and many others, at unfamiliar places in their lives.
"Return of the Jedi is my favorite film, because you find Luke Skywalker at a very vulnerable time … In the first film he was learning who he is and learning about this special world that’s out there that he never knew about … it’s the establishment of each character at a different point in their lives. You see the whole story from a different point of view."
Kenobi drops the titular character into that same dark spot while showing a more personal side of Vader in his prime. Not to mention there’s a younger Leia, too. All of that combines to make Kenobi something very familiar yet remarkably different at the same time.
It’s refreshing to see that in spite of all that has happened, Boyega still has the ability to find the same joy with Star Wars as he held upon entering the franchise . Now, we just have to find out wha the thinks of The Mandalorian, and if the same will reign true with Andor.