John Boyega is set to return to the role that launched him into the spotlight, and it’ll be a great moment for his career. Boyega is a 33-year-old British actor who made his acting debut in 2011 when he played a character named Danny Curtis in four episodes of the TV series Becoming Human. Four years later, he made his debut as Finn in Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens. This was a huge move for the actor, as he went from starring in smaller projects to leading one of the biggest movies of all time.

The Force Awakens ended up making over $2 billion worldwide, positioning it among the top 10 highest-grossing movies of all time. It is also the highest-grossing movie at the domestic box office, ranking above impressive тιтles like Avatar and Avengers: Endgame. Returning as Finn in the two sequels to The Force Awakens, Star Wars ate up most of Boyega’s time for a few years, but he still managed to take on some additional parts in movies like The Circle and Detroit. His career has continued to get more interesting post-Star Wars.

John Boyega Has Been Careful Choosing Projects After Star Wars

And Hollywood’s Been Missing Out On A Movie Star

Once some actors hit big, it can be tempting for them to keep expanding their franchise portfolio. This is seen with stars like Chris Hemsworth, who started out his career in Star Trek, then expanded to the MCU, and has since joined franchises such as Transformers, Men in Black, and Ghostbusters. Boyega has not taken such a path, and his decisions have been very intentional. In a recent interview with Happy Sad Confused, Boyega mentioned that he is not interested in working in the MCU right now. Boyega’s full quote can be found below:

I think they’re very busy. There ain’t no room for me, I’ll be real. I can’t wait to watch it. I think with Marvel and everything, after Endgame I was like, “Wow, how’re they gonna expand the universe after saving the universe.” So I think that just as an audience watcher. You know, I have sat down with Kevin Feige, I’ve been over to those guys. But I’m just going to enjoy it for now. Because there’s a lot going on. But I’m looking forward to watching it.

The most telling thing about this quote is, as per Boyega himself, he has entertained the idea of joining the MCU, but hasn’t done so. All on its own, this hints at a strong determination on his part to be intentional in his choices. Even as he climbs to A-list status, he has not taken the easy path. In the same interview, the actor mentioned his post-Star Wars career, and how the franchise has opened up the door for him to work on “projects with other stars where [he] could learn and grow on these projects.”

For Boyega, these opportunities have manifested themselves in working on a wider array of projects, many of which exist outside typical franchise work. In 2023, he acted alongside Jamie Foxx in Netflix’s They Cloned Tyrone, a well-reviewed but underseen dark comedy sci-fi thriller. The actor has also closed in on more behind-the-scenes work, serving as a producer for Pacific Rim Uprising and Breaking. While this is great for the diversification of Boyega’s career, it means that Hollywood is pᴀssing on an extremely promising star, but this could change soon.

Attack The Block 2 Is In Active Development & Getting Close To Being Ready

It’ll Return Boyega To The Role That Kicked Off His Career

Long before Star Wars, Boyega made his feature film debut with a British sci-fi movie called Attack the Block. Directed by Joe Cornish, the movie centered around teenagers in a South London gang who must protect their block when it suddenly comes under siege by aliens. The film featured Boyega in the lead role, and, at 19 years old, helped put him on the map and give him enough leverage to eventually land the Star Wars role. In 2021, it was announced that Attack the Block 2 was in development.

The sequel got even more exciting news earlier this week, when Boyega spoke about the status of the film on Happy Sad Confused. The actor ᴀssured audiences that Attack the Block 2 is definitely still happening, and that he had read a script already. The actor even mentioned that writer-director Cornish has done “a phenomenal job on his draft,” and “the story is crazy.” Based on that, it seems like Boyega could make a triumphant return to the role that made him famous sooner rather than later. Boyega’s full quote can be found below:

I’ve read it, man. It’s cool, bro. It’s cool. Yeah, I’ve read it. Joe Cornish has done a phenomenal job on his draft. And we’re just cooking it to make it right for everyone. And we obviously need more money for those aliens. We want it to look real good for that 2026 crowd. But for us it’s just about developing the story, and making sure Moses and the rest of the characters that we have left are fully hashed out before bringing it out and going to shoot. But I’m very pᴀssionate and very willing that we will shoot Attack the Block 2. It will happen.

You’re going to have to see, but the story is crazy. I’ve got to get in the gym, Jesus.

John Boyega Proved He Had Movie-Star Charisma Back In 2011

And Playing Moses Again Should Help Everyone Remember

While Finn is Boyega’s most notable role, Attack the Block was the part that really proved that he had what it takes to be a movie star. As a teen in the sci-fi movie, Boyega showed that he could handle compelling character moments and create empathy for a person who is initially presented as more villainous. This crafted a dynamic character that audiences eventually root for. There is a reason that this part gave him good exposure, even if Hollywood has failed to fully recognize this star’s potential in the 14 years since this huge debut.

Returning to the character of Moses, however, should be a good reminder of everything that makes Boyega a compelling leading man. If Attack the Block 2 is successful, it will be Boyega‘s first hit franchise that is truly his. He played a key role in the revived Star Wars trilogy, but those are still movies that really focus on Rey and the characters from yesteryear. As such, Attack the Block 2 is a great opportunity for him to exhibit the same charisma in a more matured version of the character, and perhaps compel him to get more starring roles in the future.

Source: Happy Sad Confused