'Star Wars: Episode VIII' News, Plot Rumors: John Boyega Fuels Rumors of a Finn-Poe Romance in 'Episode VIII'
Rumors are swirling about a possible same-sex romance in "Star Wars: Episode VIII," the upcoming second film in the Star Wars sequel trilogy.
In recent years, Hollywood appears to have been moving in leaps and bounds in terms of diversity and the portrayal of LGBT characters and relationships. The new blockbuster hit "Deadpool" (2016) featured a pansexual lead character, staying true to the Marvel Comics character on which the film was based. "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," the biggest movie of 2015, saw a black man and a white woman in the lead roles, and films such as "Carol" (2015) and "The Danish Girl" (2015) put LGBT issues and relationships in the spotlight.
As such, it comes as no surprise that there is currently a lot of chatter about having a same-sex romance in "Star Wars: Episode VIII," the upcoming second film in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Although some maintain that Disney would never risk losing ticket sales in such large, conservative countries as Russia and China, it should be noted that "Deadpool," which had a pansexual titular character, broke box office records in Russia, and the Chinese box office only amounted to about $125 million of "The Force Awaken's" more than $2 billion worldwide gross.
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If these populous nations aren't hindrances after all, could a same-sex romance then be a possibility for "Star Wars: Episode VIII?"
"The Force Awakens" actor John Boyega, who will reprise his role as reformed First Order stormtrooper Finn in "Episode VIII," recently fuelled rumors of a possible romance between his character and that of fellow "The Force Awakens" actor Oscar Isaac. Isaac, who will also reprise his role as Resistance X-Wing fighter pilot Poe Dameron in the upcoming film, is rescued by Finn in "The Force Awakens," and, as Isaac previously said, "their fates are forever intertwined."
"What's so funny, I posted a video the other day of myself working out, skipping, and in the background Oscar is just like, 'Yeah baby go on!' and people just went crazy," Boyega recently told Radio Times.
"But now I'm learning what Mark Hamill said before, when he didn't know that Darth Vader was Luke's father: you never know what they're going to pull. I'm looking at the director Rian [Johnson] closely so he can get me involved early, so I can prepare myself," he explained. "So who knows?"
"Star Wars: Episode VIII" lands in cinemas on Dec. 15, 2017.
