'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Star John Boyega Talks His Character Finn And Being The New Lead Of The Franchise

With “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” drawing ever closer to theaters, the main question on everyone’s mind (other than “where is Luke Skywalker?”), is how the new cast of characters will fit into the pre-existing mythology of the franchise. Among the most prominent newcomers is actor John Boyega, who plays the blue lightsaber-wielding former Stormtrooper named Finn.

Although the trailers and teasers for “Episode 7” haven’t really revealed anything in the way of the film’s plot, given his archetypical good guy weapon of choice in the film’s latest trailer, many fans have correctly assumed that he will be the new star of the upcoming revamped trilogy. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the 23-year-old actor revealed what it was like to discover he was the new head honcho in the “Star Wars” universe and what fans can expect from his character.

“What has always interested me, and what has interested a lot of people, are the characters that are unlikely. The characters that don't necessarily fit or match the status quo. Finn isn't a guy you would expect to be involved in this story. The fact that he's a Stormtrooper. We don't [usually] go into [Stormtroopers'] pasts or lives much: how the dynamics work for them, how they were recruited — we don't ever really see much about the past there. It was interesting to me to have that kind of character.”

It seems that Finn isn’t going to be the typical everyman that Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) once was in the original trilogy of films. He’ll essentially start out as a bad guy, having been recruited to the Stormtroopers of the mysterious First Order when the film opens. However, given what has been seen in the latest trailer as well as his newly released character photo, Boyega’s Finn will somehow learn the ways of the force and even take on the film’s principal bad guy, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), in what promises to be a pretty epic lightsaber fight.

Although the character may be taking his cue from the Skywalker character, the actor revealed to CNET that he’s significantly more inspired by his other original trilogy co-star, Harrison Ford as Han Solo. Speaking to the outlet, the actor confessed that one of his favorite scenes in the franchise is when the roguish figure comically destroys an intercom while attempting to free Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) after his attempts to fake his way through the conversation go awry.

“The scene where Han Solo and Luke have gone to rescue Princess Leia and they’re in the control room [on the Death Star]. There’s a moment where Harrison is talking into the intercom. There’s a little exchange [with a Stormtrooper] and he shoos the intercom. I love that moment. It’s just hilarious and funny.”

Unfortunately, fans are going to have to wait until “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” hits theaters on Dec. 18 to find out for sure which cue from the original trilogy shaped the character of Finn -- not to mention the mystery of who wins the lightsaber fight.