While a lot of fans considered Star Wars: The Force Awakens to be somewhat of a remake of the original 1977 film — with familiar character arcs, locations, and dichotomies shaping the narrative — it was a hugely successful reintroduction to the franchise and its mythology, for both lifelong fans and newer generations alike. Much of the charm came not only from J.J. Abrams’ direction and strict adherence to practical effects, classical filmmaking, and charming tonal sensibilities but from the cast, itself. Now that we’ve all come to know and love Daisy Ridley’s Rey and John Boyega’s Finn, we want to see them overcome the dark side of the Force together — not only by fighting for the same side but by being on screen together (something The Last Jedi arguably couldn’t warrant). Fortunately, it looks like we’ll get our wishes with the third and final entry into the rebooted franchise, Star Wars: Episode IX.
According to Slashfilm, John Boyega confirmed that his character will be reunited with Ridley’s in the upcoming trilogy-capper at ‘Awesome Con’ in Washington D.C. yesterday. “I haven’t read the script for Episode 9,” said Boyega. “But Daisy did shoot me a text saying, ‘Oh my gosh, I just heard from J.J. (Abrams), and we’re back together.’ That’s what I’m really excited about, is Finn and Rey back together again.”
If you know anything about classical storytelling — like the kind found in the original Star Wars trilogy — this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. While our group of heroes met in the first film, the arc of an engaging and compelling adventure requires them to be in peril — and disband — in the halfway point of the overall story, so that they can cathartically reunite in the third act. As The Force Awakens mirrored its original counterpart, it seems, a lot of this new trilogy as a whole mirrors the original, as well. Of course, not everything is as clear to us yet — or even those involved in production, themselves — like why Boyega’s character had a sudden change of heart in the first film.
“One question I’ve always had as an actor being involved in Star Wars is why Finn decided to defect in the first place,” said Boyega. “I still don’t understand. I would love to know more, to go into his life as a Stormtrooper.” While chances are relatively low that Disney’s story group will focus on that particular aspect of our new beloved band of heroes in the upcoming installment, chances are high it’ll be a largely satisfying conclusion, to a solid modern Star Wars trilogy.
