John Boyega

Last updated

John Boyega
John Boyega by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Boyega at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con
Born
John Adedayo Bamidele Adegboyega

(1992-03-17) 17 March 1992 (age 32)
London, England
Occupations
  • Actor
  • producer
Years active2011–present

John Adedayo Bamidele Adegboyega (born 17 March 1992), known professionally as John Boyega, is a British actor and producer. He first rose to prominence in Britain for his role as a teenage gang leader in the comedy horror film Attack the Block (2011), and had his international breakthrough playing Finn in the Star Wars sequel trilogy films The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019). He received the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2016, and the Trophée Chopard at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.

Contents

Boyega portrayed Leroy Logan in Red, White and Blue , as part of Steve McQueen's anthology series Small Axe (2020), for which he won a Golden Globe Award. [1] He has since starred in the historical action film The Woman King (2022) and the mystery film They Cloned Tyrone (2023).

Early life

Boyega was born in the Camberwell district of London and grew up in Peckham. His parents, Abigail (a carer) and Samson Adegboyega (a Pentecostal minister) are both of Yoruba descent. [2] He has two older sisters. [3]

His first acting role was playing a leopard in a play at Oliver Goldsmith Primary School. [4] [5] While in another play there at age nine, he was noticed by Teresa Early, the artistic director of Theatre Peckham, a learning theatre for young people who live in south London. He spent his time there outside school hours from ages nine to fourteen. There was a rumour that his father wanted Boyega to become a minister, but John denied this in an interview with Sam Sanders on Fresh Air. He said that his father supported his theatrical interests. [6] [7] [8] [9] John and his sister Grace were some of the last people to see Damilola Taylor alive: they were friends of his and the Boyegas helped look after him. [10]

In 2003, Boyega began his secondary education at Westminster City School, where he was in various school productions. [11] From 2008 to 2010, he attended South Thames College at the college's Wandsworth campus to study for a National Diploma in Performing Arts. [12] His activities there included playing the title role in the college's production of Othello . [13] He enrolled at the University of Greenwich to study for a BA in film studies and media writing, [14] but dropped out to focus on his acting career. [7] He trained with the Identity School of Acting in London, and became a patron of its Los Angeles branch when it opened in 2018. [15]

Career

Sundance Film Festival, 2014: John Boyega (2nd from the left) with Josh Wiggins, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Sharon Swart (from left to right) Josh Wiggins (Hellion), John Boyega (Imperial Dreams), Kodi Smit-McPhee (Young Ones) and Sharon Swart (12026188424).jpg
Sundance Film Festival, 2014: John Boyega (2nd from the left) with Josh Wiggins, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Sharon Swart (from left to right)

Boyega trained at the Identity School of Acting in Hackney, [16] and appeared in Six Parties at the National Theatre and Category B at the Tricycle Theatre prior to being offered a role in the 2011 film Attack the Block . [17] [18] In September 2011, HBO announced that Boyega had been cast in the boxing drama pilot Da Brick, loosely based on Mike Tyson's life. Boyega was expected to play Donnie, who is released from a juvenile detention centre on his 18th birthday and begins to examine what it means to be a man. The pilot, written by John Ridley, [19] was not picked up by HBO. [20] Also in 2011, Boyega acted in the film Junkhearts as Jamal, a drug dealer who finds some guns and tries to sell them.

Boyega was chosen by Fionnuala Halligan of Screen International as one of the "UK Stars of Tomorrow 2011" and appeared with two other actors on the cover of the magazine's July 2011 edition. [21] In March 2012, he was cast in the film adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's book Half of a Yellow Sun . [22] On 29 April 2014, it was confirmed that Boyega was cast as a major character in Star Wars: The Force Awakens . [23] It was later revealed that he would play Finn, a stormtrooper for the First Order, who, after witnessing their cruelty, leaves the military power and joins the fight against them. The film was released on 18 December 2015. The film and Boyega's performance was acclaimed from critics and audiences. [24] [25]

In 2017, Boyega starred in Detroit , Kathryn Bigelow's film about the 1967 Detroit riots, [26] and reprised his role as Finn in Star Wars: The Last Jedi . [27]

In January 2016, Boyega formed his own production company, UpperRoom Entertainment Limited. His company co-produced (with Legendary Entertainment [28] ) 2018's Pacific Rim: Uprising , the sequel to the 2013 movie Pacific Rim, in which he played the lead role of Jake Pentecost. [29] In 2019 he teased his new collaboration with Writer/Director Sebastian Thiel, [30] with whom he is developing a series based on their childhood experiences, with Boyega producing. [31] In November 2018 it was announced that he would star with Letitia Wright in a novel adaption of Hold Back the Stars. [32] He has also been cast in Steve McQueen's miniseries Small Axe . [33]

Boyega once again reprised his role as Finn in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019). In an interview on Good Morning America , he revealed that he had inadvertently left his script in a hotel room during filming. When it surfaced on eBay, it was bought by a Lucasfilm employee to prevent it from being leaked. [34] In response to a tweet suggesting he should play the DC Comics character Static in a live-action role, Boyega said he would be too old for the role, and that he would be interested in seeing a newcomer receive it. He did, however, express interest in playing the DC character Red Hood. [35]

In the 2020 and 2021 editions of the Powerlist , Boyega was listed in the Top 100 of the most influential people in the UK of African/African-Caribbean descent. [36] [37] He was cited as one of the Top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine in 2020. [38] More recently, his production company UpperRoom made a first-look deal with VIS Kids. [39] While filming the Netflix film Rebel Ridge , he unexpectedly walked out mid-production due to family issues. [40] In 2022, Boyega was the lead in Abi Damaris Corbin's second feature film, Breaking , which premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival under its original title, 892, [41] as well as Gina Prince-Bythewood's historical epic The Woman King alongside Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, and Lashana Lynch. [42] Boyega next starred in Netflix's science-fiction comedy They Cloned Tyrone , playing the titular character and multiple other characters. [43]

In May 2021, it was announced that he would reteam with Joe Cornish in a sequel for Attack the Block . [44]

Activism and advocacy

A wax figure of Boyega at Madame Tussauds, London John Boyega Madame Tussauds London.jpg
A wax figure of Boyega at Madame Tussauds, London

Boyega showed solidarity[ clarification needed ] with George Floyd, Sandra Bland, Trayvon Martin, and Stephen Lawrence during a speech at a Black Lives Matter rally in Hyde Park, London. [45] His gesture was supported by a number of celebrities, and Lucasfilm also reiterated their support for Boyega and the Black Lives Matter movement. [46] [47] [48]

In a 2020 interview with British GQ , Boyega openly criticised Disney for sidelining his character Finn in the Star Wars sequel trilogy: "[W]hat I would say to Disney is do not bring out a black character, market them to be much more important in the franchise than they are and then have them pushed to the side. It's not good. I'll say it straight up." [3] [49] [50]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2011 Attack the Block Moses
Junkhearts Jamal
2013 Half of a Yellow Sun Ugwu
2014 Imperial Dreams Bambi
2015 Star Wars: The Force Awakens FN-2187 / Finn
2017 The Circle Ty
Detroit Melvin Dismukes
Star Wars: The Last Jedi Finn
2018 Pacific Rim Uprising Jake PentecostAlso producer
2019 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Finn
2021 Naked Singularity Casi [51] [52]
2022 Breaking Brian Brown-EasleyAlso producer
The Woman King King Ghezo
2023 They Cloned Tyrone Fontaine

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011Da BrickDonniePilot
Becoming Human Danny Curtis4 episodes
Law & Order: UK Jamal ClarksonEpisode: "Survivor's Guilt"
2012My MurderShakilus TownsendTelevision film
2013 The Whale William Bond
2014 24: Live Another Day Chris Tanner4 episodes
2015 Major Lazer BlkmrktVoice role; 10 episodes
Saturday Night Live HimselfSegment: "Star Wars Auditions"
2016 Tinkershrimp & Dutch DutchVoice role; 5 episodes [53]
2017–2018 Star Wars Forces of Destiny FinnVoice role; 2 episodes [54]
2018 Watership Down BigwigVoice role; 4 episodes
2019SerengetiNarratorVoice role; 5 episodes [55]
2020 Small Axe Leroy Logan Episode: "Red, White and Blue"
2023World War II: From the FrontlinesNarratorVoice Role; 6 episodes [56]

Stage

YearTitleRoleTheatreRef.
2009Six PartiesBen National Theatre, London [57]
Category BReece Kiln Theatre, London [58]
Seize the DaySam [59]
2009Detaining JusticeGuard / Passer-by [60]
2017 Woyzeck Woyzeck The Old Vic, London[ citation needed ]

Podcasts

YearTitleRoleNotes
2021Tomorrow's MonstersJack LockeAlso producer

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2015 Disney Infinity 3.0 FinnVoice
2016 Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens
2017 Star Wars Battlefront II

Theme park attractions

YearTitleRoleNotes
2015 Star Tours – The Adventures Continue FinnScene added for seasonal Season of the Force promotion
2019 Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Disney's Hollywood Studios
2020 Disneyland

Awards and recognition

YearAwardCategoryProjectResultRef.
2011 Black Reel Award Best Actor Attack the Block Won
Best Breakthrough Performance Nominated
Best Ensemble Nominated
British Independent Film Awards Most Promising Newcomer Nominated
Empire Award Best Male Newcomer Nominated
Evening Standard British Film Awards Most Promising Newcomer Nominated
London Film Critics' Circle Young British Performer of the Year Nominated
2015 British Academy Film Award Rising Star Award HimselfWon [61]
2015 Empire Award Best Male Newcomer Star Wars: The Force Awakens Won [62]
Georgia Film Critics Association Best EnsembleNominated [63]
MTV Movie Awards Best Breakthrough Performance Nominated
Best Action Performance Nominated
Best Ensemble Nominated
Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Movie Actor Nominated [64]
Saturn Award Best Actor Nominated [65] [66]
2017 Empire Award Best Actor Star Wars: The Last Jedi Nominated
Teen Choice Award Best Movie Actor – Sci-Fi/Fantasy Nominated
2020 Critics' Choice Television Award Best Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie Small Axe Won
Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actor – Television Won
London Film Critics' Circle British/Irish Actor of the Year Nominated
Satellite Awards Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Film Nominated

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Lucas</span> American filmmaker (born 1944)

George Walton Lucas Jr. is an American filmmaker and philanthropist. He created the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises and founded Lucasfilm, LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic and THX. He served as chairman of Lucasfilm before selling it to The Walt Disney Company in 2012. Nominated for four Academy Awards, he is considered to be one of the most significant figures of the 20th-century New Hollywood movement, and a pioneer of the modern blockbuster. Despite this, he has remained an independent filmmaker away from Hollywood for most of his career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucasfilm</span> American film and television production company

Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC is an American film and television production company founded by filmmaker George Lucas in 1971 in San Rafael, California, and later moved to San Francisco in 2005. It has been a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Studios since 2012 and is best known for creating and producing the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises, as well as its leadership in developing special effects, sound, and computer animation for films.

Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) is an American motion picture visual effects company and computer animation studio that was founded on May 26, 1975 by George Lucas. It is a division of the film production company Lucasfilm, which Lucas founded, and was created when he began production on the original Star Wars, now the fourth episode of the Skywalker Saga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. J. Abrams</span> American filmmaker (born 1966)

Jeffrey Jacob Abrams is an American filmmaker and composer. He is best known for his works in the genres of action, drama, and science fiction. Abrams wrote and produced such films as Regarding Henry (1991), Forever Young (1992), Armageddon (1998), Cloverfield (2008), Star Trek (2009), Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019). Abrams' films have grossed over $4 billion worldwide, making him the ninth-highest-grossing film director of all time.

<i>Star Wars: The Force Awakens</i> 2015 film by J. J. Abrams

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a 2015 American epic space opera film co-produced, co-written, and directed by J. J. Abrams. The sequel to Return of the Jedi (1983), it is the seventh film in the "Skywalker Saga". Set thirty years after Return of the Jedi, The Force Awakens follows Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron, and Han Solo's search for Luke Skywalker and their fight in the Resistance, led by General Leia Organa and veterans of the Rebel Alliance, against Kylo Ren and the First Order, a successor to the Galactic Empire. The ensemble cast includes Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Max von Sydow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taron Egerton</span> Welsh actor (born 1989)

Taron Egerton is a Welsh actor. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he performed in stage plays. Egerton gained recognition for his starring role as Gary "Eggsy" Unwin, a spy, in the action comedy films Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) and Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017).

<i>Pacific Rim Uprising</i> 2018 film by Steven S. DeKnight

Pacific Rim Uprising is a 2018 American science fiction monster film directed by Steven S. DeKnight, and written by DeKnight, Emily Carmichael, Kira Snyder and T.S. Nowlin. It is the sequel to the 2013 film Pacific Rim, and second installment in the Pacific Rim franchise. Guillermo del Toro, director of the first movie, serves as a producer; while production studios Legendary Pictures and Double Dare You Productions developed the movie. The sequel stars John Boyega, as well as Scott Eastwood, Cailee Spaeny in her film debut, Jing Tian, Adria Arjona and Zhang Jin, with Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day, and Burn Gorman returning from the original film. The film takes place in 2035, ten years after the events of the first film. The story follows Jake Pentecost, who is given one last chance to live up to his father's legacy after Kaiju, giant sea monsters, are unleashed back into the world and aim to destroy it.

<i>Star Wars: The Last Jedi</i> 2017 film by Rian Johnson

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is a 2017 American epic space opera film written and directed by Rian Johnson. Produced by Lucasfilm and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the second installment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, following The Force Awakens (2015), and the eighth episode of the nine-part "Skywalker saga". The film's ensemble cast includes Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Lupita Nyong'o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern, and Benicio del Toro. The Last Jedi follows Rey as she seeks the aid of Luke Skywalker in hopes of turning the tide for the Resistance in the fight against Kylo Ren and the First Order while General Leia Organa, Finn, and Poe Dameron attempt to escape a First Order attack on the dwindling Resistance fleet. The film features the first posthumous film performance by Fisher, who died in December 2016, and the film is dedicated to her memory.

<i>Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker</i> 2019 film by J. J. Abrams

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is a 2019 American epic space opera film produced, co-written, and directed by J. J. Abrams. Produced by Lucasfilm and Abrams's production company Bad Robot, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the third installment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, following The Force Awakens (2015) and The Last Jedi (2017), and the final episode of the nine-part "Skywalker saga". Its ensemble cast includes Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Anthony Daniels, Naomi Ackie, Domhnall Gleeson, Richard E. Grant, Lupita Nyong'o, Keri Russell, Joonas Suotamo, Kelly Marie Tran, Ian McDiarmid, and Billy Dee Williams. Set after The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker follows Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron as they lead the remnants of the Resistance in a final stand against Supreme Leader Kylo Ren and the First Order, who are allied by the resurrected Sith Lord, Emperor Palpatine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kylo Ren</span> Star Wars character

Kylo Ren is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise. He was introduced in The Force Awakens (2015), the first film of the sequel trilogy. He subsequently appeared in The Last Jedi (2017) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019). He also appears in the animated series Star Wars Resistance (2018–2020), and the television specials The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special (2020) and Lego Star Wars: Terrifying Tales (2021). Ren is portrayed by Adam Driver in all three sequel trilogy films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Mitchell</span> American actor

Jason Mitchell is an American actor. Mitchell started his career acting in minor roles in films such as the action-thriller Contraband (2012), and the neo-noir Broken City (2013). He is best known for portraying rapper Eazy-E in the 2015 biopic Straight Outta Compton. The film is considered his career breakthrough, for which he received numerous award nominations including the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture. Mitchell has also appeared in the Key and Peele comedy film Keanu (2016), the Netflix film Barry (2016), James Franco's The Disaster Artist (2017), and the blockbuster Kong: Skull Island (2017). He has also appeared in critically acclaimed film such as Kathryn Bigelow's crime drama Detroit (2017), Dee Rees' historical drama Mudbound (2017) and Janicza Bravo's black comedy Zola (2021).

Rey (<i>Star Wars</i>) Fictional character from Star Wars

Rey is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise. She was created by Lawrence Kasdan, J. J. Abrams, and Michael Arndt for The Force Awakens (2015), the first installment of the sequel film trilogy, and is primarily portrayed by Daisy Ridley. Rey also appears in the film's sequels, The Last Jedi (2017) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019), and related Star Wars media.

Finn (<i>Star Wars</i>) Star Wars character

Finn is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise. He first appeared in the 2015 film The Force Awakens as a First Order stormtrooper. Disturbed by the Order's cruelty during his first combat mission, he flees and joins forces with the Resistance pilot Poe Dameron and the scavenger Rey. Finn is portrayed by John Boyega in The Force Awakens,The Last Jedi (2017) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019). Boyega won the BAFTA Rising Star Award for his performance in The Force Awakens. He was also nominated for a Saturn Award for the same performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Letitia Wright</span> Guyanese actress (born 1993)

Letitia Michelle Wright is a Guyanese-British actress. She began her career with guest roles in the television series Top Boy, Coming Up, Chasing Shadows, Humans, Doctor Who, and Black Mirror. For the latter, she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. She then had her breakthrough for her role in the 2015 film Urban Hymn, for which the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) named Wright among the 2015 group of BAFTA Breakthrough Brits.

<i>Solo: A Star Wars Story</i> 2018 film by Ron Howard

Solo: A Star Wars Story is a 2018 American space Western film centering on the Star Wars character Han Solo. Directed by Ron Howard, produced by Lucasfilm, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the second Star Wars anthology film, following Rogue One (2016). Alden Ehrenreich stars as Solo, with Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandiwe Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Joonas Suotamo, and Paul Bettany. The film tells the origin story of Han Solo and Chewbacca, who join a heist within the criminal underworld ten years prior to the events of A New Hope.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damson Idris</span> British actor (born 1991)

Damson Alade-Bo Idris is an English actor. He is best known for starring on John Singleton's crime drama Snowfall, which debuted 5 July 2017 on FX and ended in 2023 after six seasons. He played the co-lead in Netflix's 2021 sci-fi action film Outside the Wire.

The Mandalorian is an American space Western television series created by Jon Favreau for the streaming service Disney+. It is the first live-action series in the Star Wars franchise and begins five years after the events of the film Return of the Jedi (1983). It follows a lone bounty hunter who protects a Force-sensitive child, Grogu, from remnant Imperial forces.

<i>Rebel Ridge</i> 2024 film by Jeremy Saulnier

Rebel Ridge is a 2024 American crime action thriller film written, produced, directed and edited by Jeremy Saulnier. The film stars Aaron Pierre as Terry Richmond, a former Marine who has the funds needed to post bail for his cousin unjustly seized via civil forfeiture by a small town's corrupt police force. Don Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, David Denman, Emory Cohen, Steve Zissis, Zsané Jhé, Dana Lee, and James Cromwell also appear in the film.

<i>They Cloned Tyrone</i> 2023 film by Juel Taylor

They Cloned Tyrone is a 2023 American science fiction comedy mystery film directed by Juel Taylor, in his feature film directorial debut, from a screenplay he wrote with Tony Rettenmaier. It stars John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, and Jamie Foxx as an unlikely trio uncovering a shadow government cloning conspiracy. David Alan Grier and Kiefer Sutherland also appear in supporting roles.

References

  1. "Golden Globe Awards 2021: Nomadland and Borat win top awards". BBC. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  2. Okoroafor, Cynthia (17 December 2015). "Star Wars opens today, and star Nigerian John Boyega is stealing the spotlight". VENTURES AFRICA. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  3. 1 2 Famurewa, Jimi (2 September 2020). "John Boyega: 'I'm the only cast member whose experience of Star Wars was based on their race'". British GQ . Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  4. "The Attack of John Boyega". Interview . 29 July 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  5. Brown, Emma (28 January 2014). "John Boyega: The Best of Next". Interview. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  6. Palmer, Jim (8 December 2015). "Everything you need to know about John Boyega – from Peckham to Wandsworth to Greenwich to Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens". News Shopper. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  7. 1 2 Turner, Camilla (24 April 2015). "Star Wars: John Boyega, the boy from Peckham who stormed Hollywood". The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on 25 April 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  8. Turner, Camilla (25 April 2015). "Star Wars: Five things you didn't know about John Boyega" . The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  9. "Theatre Peckham". Theatre Peckham. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  10. "Star Wars' John Boyega was one of last people to see Damilola Taylor alive, says father". The Guardian. Press Association. 23 December 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  11. "Memorable OWCs". Old Westminster Citizens' Association. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  12. "From South Thames to Star Wars: college star lands role in a Galaxy Far Far Away". South Thames College. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  13. "Back to college for Star Wars actor". South Thames College. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  14. "The Force is strong with Greenwich". University of Greenwich. 17 December 2015. Archived from the original on 9 September 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  15. Wiseman, Andreas (20 September 2018). "John Boyega, Letitia Wright & Damson Idris Among Patrons Of New LA Drama School". Deadline. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  16. "Hall of Fame". identitydramaschool.com. 2012. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  17. "Attack the Block feature item". dvd365.net. 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  18. Yamato, Jen (1 August 2011). "Attack the Block's John Boyega on Going 'From Hoodie to Hero,' and Taking Hollywood by Storm". Movieline . Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  19. Wightman, Catriona (1 September 2011). "John Boyega to star in Mike Tyson, Spike Lee HBO pilot 'Da Brick' – US TV News". Digital Spy . Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  20. Jeffery, Morgan (14 March 2012). "'Da Brick': HBO passes on Mike Tyson boxing drama – US TV News". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  21. "Stars of Tomorrow 2011". Screen Daily . 30 June 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  22. Pearson, Ben (29 March 2012). "Attack the Block star John Boyega joins Half of a Yellow Sun". Filmonic. Archived from the original on 28 May 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  23. "Star Wars: Episode VII Cast Announced". StarWars.com. 29 April 2014. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  24. Bradshaw, Peter (16 December 2015). "Star Wars: The Force Awakens review – 'a spectacular homecoming'". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  25. McWeeny, Drew (16 December 2015). "Review: J. J. Abrams breathes new life into 'Star Wars' with 'The Force Awakens'". HitFix. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  26. "Twitter / ?". twitter.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  27. Cohen, Sandy (15 December 2017). "John Boyega talks 'Last Jedi,' personal parallels". The Advocate. Associated Press.
  28. @JohnBoyega (6 June 2016). "So happy! My company UpperRoom Productions founded by myself & @MrFemiOguns, will co-produce #PacificRim2 alongside @Legendary" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  29. Fleming, Mike (6 June 2016). "'Star Wars' Star John Boyega Takes Lead In 'Pacific Rim' Sequel". Deadline. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  30. "John Boyega talks Pacific Rim Uprising, the future of Star Wars and his issues with buses". Time Out London. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  31. "Actor John Boyega". Viceland. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  32. Galuppo, Mia (8 November 2018). "John Boyega, Letitia Wright to Star in Sci-Fi Love Story 'Hold Back the Stars'". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 7 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  33. Clarke, Stewart (26 June 2019). "Letitia Wright, John Boyega to Star in Steve McQueen's Series 'Small Axe' (exclusive)". Variety . Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  34. McCarthy, Kelly (27 November 2019). "Actor John Boyega admits 'Star Wars' script on eBay was his". Good Morning America. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  35. Alexander, Susannah (30 August 2020). "Star Wars' John Boyega reveals which DC character he wants to play". Digital Spy . Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  36. Mills, Kelly-Ann (25 October 2019). "Raheem Sterling joins Meghan and Stormzy in top 100 most influential black Brits". mirror. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  37. Lavender, Jane (17 November 2020). "Lewis Hamilton ends incredible year top of influential Black Powerlist 2021". mirror. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  38. "Kenyan Diaspora Madowo named among top 100 most influential Africans". Diaspora Messenger News Media. 7 December 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  39. Ramachandran, Naman (23 February 2021). "John Boyega's UpperRoom Sets First Look Deal With ViacomCBS International's VIS Kids – Global Bulletin". Variety. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  40. Barton, Rebekah (5 June 2021). "'Star Wars' Actor Walks Out of Netflix Series Mid-Production". Inside The Magic. Elite Cafemedia Lifestyle. Retrieved 8 June 2021. Now, Boyega has moved on from Star Wars and has been filming the upcoming Netflix series, Rebel Ridge. However, a wrench has been thrown into the production — Boyega recently walked out mid-production, reportedly due to "family reasons".
  41. Kit, Borys (8 July 2021). "John Boyega to Star in Indie Drama '892' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  42. Kit, Borys (21 September 2021). "ohn Boyega Joins Viola Davis in Historical Drama 'The Woman King' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  43. Ritman, Alex (18 October 2019). "John Boyega to Star in Netflix Sci-Fi Feature 'They Cloned Tyrone' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  44. "John Boyega, Joe Cornish Reteaming for 'Attack the Block' Sequel". The Hollywood Reporter . 17 May 2021.
  45. Commons Librarian (8 July 2024). "Watch Inspiring Activist and Protest Speeches". The Commons Social Change Library. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  46. Ritman, Alex (3 June 2020). "John Boyega Delivers Impassioned Speech at London Black Lives Matter Protest". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on 8 June 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  47. Shoard, Catherin (4 June 2020). "John Boyega's rousing Black Lives Matter speech wins praise and support". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  48. "Lucasfilm Stands with John Boyega". StarWars.com. Lucasfilm. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  49. Carras, Christi (2 September 2020). "John Boyega to Disney: Nonwhite 'Star Wars' characters were 'pushed to the side'". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  50. Komonibo, Ineye (3 September 2020). "John Boyega Is Finally Ready To Talk Star Wars & He's Not Holding Back". Refinery29. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  51. Olivia Cooke Joins John Boyega In Scott Free's 'Naked Singularity'
  52. "After Yang" (PDF). NYC Media & Production. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  53. Sarah Deen (5 January 2016). "John Boyega joins Nickelodeon's Tinkershrimp & Dutch". Metro.co.uk.
  54. Errico, Marcus (3 July 2017). "New Star Wars Cartoon Shorts Debut Online, Bringing Female Heroes in Full Force". Yahoo! . Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  55. "Serengeti". BBC . Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  56. Whitlock, Jesse (23 August 2023). "Netflix Greenlights 'Einstein And The Bomb' & John Boyega-Narrated WWII Doc Series — Edinburgh TV Festival". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  57. "Did the National Theatre's Connections festival change your life?". The Guardian . 16 May 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  58. "Not Black and White: Category B". Kiln Theatre . Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  59. "Not Black and White: Seize the Day". Kiln Theatre . Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  60. "Not Black and White: Detaining Justice". Kiln Theatre . Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  61. BAFTA Editors (5 January 2016). "EE Rising Star Award in 2016". British Academy Film Awards . Retrieved 5 January 2016.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  62. John Nugent (11 March 2016). "Jameson Empire Awards 2016: Star Wars and Mad Max lead the nominations". Empire Awards . Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  63. "Georgia Film Critics Association 2015 Awards". Georgia Film Critics Association. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  64. Lovett, Jamie (18 February 2016). "Kids' Choice Awards: Adele, Justin Bieber, 'Star Wars' Among Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  65. "Saturn Award nominations". Saturn Awards. 24 February 2016.
  66. "Saturn Award nominations on YouTube". Saturn Awards. 24 February 2016. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021.