Finn actor John Boyega has revealed an alternate scene from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker that would have officially made his character exactly who he was meant to be: a Jedi. Throughout The Rise of Skywalker, it’s often teased that Finn is trying to tell Rey he has Force powers, or at least some semblance of Force sensitivity. In an alternate scene, however, Finn would have been much more direct.
Speaking at the John Boyega: The Force of Talent panel at C2E2 2025 (Popverse), Boyega revealed that there were a few takes during the quicksand sequence on Pasaana in which he wholeheartedly yelled out “I’m a Jedi!” to Rey. This has, of course, been supplanted by the takes of Finn wanting to tell Rey something, but being unable to. According to Boyega, this change had mostly to do with the fact that there was too much material to cover in too little time.
John Boyega: Rise of Skywalker, I had a brilliant time. But I knew because of the structure change from The Last Jedi, it was really tough on J.J. to come back and tie everything together. And I know he was well supported, and everybody wanted to make sure that the narrative came to a complete end in the right way possible.
I was just supportive of whatever J.J. wanted to do, being as we had so much history from The Force Awakens. And some of the narrative about Finn that was established in The Force Awakens were picked back up by J.J. in The Rise of Skywalker. And it’s hard to do it. It’s hard to establish Rey and then establish another Jedi. You have to split things up with the time that you’re given. But I appreciate the little things that J.J. was doing in there. I mean, I did try to tell Rey before I went down. There was a couple takes where I just said it, ‘[shouts] I’m a Jedi.’ There was a couple, but it was good to tease it.
I wanted to say it when they’re going down into the quicksand. But, I appreciate J.J. for putting those Easter eggs in there and trying to expand. So, if there is ever a revisit of Finn, there is stuff to play with.
What Finn’s Missing Jedi Scene Means For Star Wars
It Could Have Been A Very Powerful Moment
While Boyega’s words make it seem all the more understandable that this alternate scene ultimately didn’t pan out, it is still a huge shame for Star Wars. This story would have benefited greatly from having the two main protagonists of Star Wars: The Force Awakens both become Jedi together, almost as if the Force brought them together for that very same reason of discovering who they are and what their true potential is.
Star Wars has long since been fairly criticized for not fully pursuing this Jedi path for Finn, and by keeping this moment between Finn and Rey, it’s likely they could have avoided such a reception. Of course, it does make sense that the story struggled to find room for it; it’s only a shame that this is what had to be cut for the sake of everything else. There’s no doubt Boyega would have made Finn a very compelling Jedi character.
There Was So Much Missed Potential With Finn’s Character
Both Finn & John Boyega Deserved Better
This is just one of the many examples of missed potential that occurred with Finn’s character after The Force Awakens. There’s such power in the idea of a former stormtrooper, one recruited against his own will, becoming a Jedi, especially alongside a companion like Rey, who’s also discovering her own Jedi potential. Star Wars: The Last Jedi steered away from this largely with its storyline, and thus much of Finn’s potential remained exactly that: potential.
Overall, it’s simply a shame that we didn’t get more discovery of Finn’s character, especially where his Force sensitivity is concerned. Boyega doesn’t have any hard feelings about it, as he instead commends J.J. Abrams for doing what he could to give Finn any sort of Jedi story alongside Rey’s own, but there’s no denying that it would have been a very powerful moment in The Rise of Skywalker if this alternate scene had stayed.
Source: Popverse
