Even after the dusty wake of Star Wars Celebration 2023 has settled, the speculation train never stops running in that galaxy far, far away. Some new rumors swirling around supposedly reputable sources now suggest an even bigger returning roster for at least one of the upcoming highly-anticipated Star Wars films announced during the event. But is it too good to be true?
After the official announcement of Rey returning in an upcoming Star Wars movie, fans immediately began wondering what else they could expect. A popular theory quickly spread that Adam Driver may join Daisy Ridley's Rey in the film. Given how it will reportedly be about building a new Jedi Order, it wouldn't be that farfetched to think of seeing Driver's Ben Solo as a Force ghost or something. But that's not the latest in hopeful gossip.
In a recent episode of the podcast titled The Hot Mic With Jeff and John, critic John Rocha and reporter Jeff Sneider discussed the upcoming Star Wars film and what they've reportedly heard from their contacts in the industry. According to Rocha, Ridley isn't the only star of the sequel trilogy coming back for the new movie. "John Boyega will be coming back for this movie," he claimed. "That's what I'm hearing from a couple of my sources and trusted people." Sneider then jumped in to confirm that it goes with what he's heard, claiming it's "all but certain."
Rocha went on to vouch for his sources, saying they've accurately leaked upcoming lists of DC movies to him in the past before elaborating on what he's heard. "This person is telling me that [Lucasfilm President] Kathleen Kennedy and John Boyega had a conversation, buried the hatchet," he continued. "So once that was smoothed over, then negotiations started to happen." He then mentioned a previous interview Boyega did regarding Star Wars, in which he seemed to have become less critical of the franchise than before.
It would be incredible to discover that Boyega is returning to Star Wars. As mixed of a reception as the sequel trilogy got overall, he and Ridley were among the most universally praised aspects of them. He has even said that he'd be willing to return to Star Wars on the condition that Kennedy and J.J. Abrams are involved. Of course, given the response to The Rise of Skywalker, which Abrams directed, that might be a sticky situation.
Once again, however, this is entirely a rumor. While Rocha, Sneider, and their sources may be respected in the industry, there is still no official confirmation supporting this claim. So as wonderful as it would be to see Boyega as Finn finally coming into his own as a Force user (not bad for a former stormtrooper), Star Wars fans must keep that grain of salt on hand while they wait for something more concrete.