John Boyega recently revealed how Tom Cruise was responsible for his Star Wars casting. The 34-year-old reportedly impressed the Mission: Impossible star with his acting long before his big break.
In a recent statement, Boyega said he crossed paths with Cruise and director J.J. Abrams while working on a Mission: Impossible project. Praising his acting skills in Attack the Block, the Hollywood superstar made a strong case for Boyega’s casting.
He said, per Rebel Scum Con, “And Tom Cruise stopped and said, dude, I watched you in Attack the Block. I’m there, like, where do you go from there? And I go, yeah, thank you, Mr. Cruise, Tom Cruise, sir, yeah, thank you. And he goes, no, you’re really good. And he turns to J.J., and he goes, you have to put him in something.”
Boyega further added, “Months later, I got a call and said, you’ve got your first audition for a space movie to audition for the role of Boy One.”
Just months after this conversation, Boyega indeed got a call for an audition. Approached for a role in the space movie, he played the character of Finn, which brought John Boyega to the limelight.
How Finn became the breakthrough role he’d been chasing
The Attack the Block star admitted that he was struggling in his career when he brushed shoulders with Cruise. His only recognized role until then was as Moses in Attack the Block, released in 2011. Boyega said, “…Imagine you’re just from London, you’ve got like $400 in your account, you can’t afford the Airbnb cost for the next day…”
After landing the role of Finn in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), the English actor came into the spotlight. As fans saw Finn break away from the First Order and form an alliance with Poe and Ray, Boyega’s portrayal was praised by critics and fans alike.
The actor also reprised his iconic role in The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. As his acting career took flight, Boyega clinched major accolades, including the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2016.
