Whats On TV: The Force is With John Boyega

From Peckham to The Old Vic, John Boyega’s meteoric rise to stardom is lighting up both screen and stage.

Born in Camberwell, Boyega grew up on a council estate in Peckham and started acting at an early age before eventually attending Theatre Peckham, South Thames College and University of Greenwich to study theatre. In 2016 he won the EE Rising Star Bafta over suitably prolific nominees such as Dakota Johnson and Brie Larson. That was just a year after his first Star Wars film and 12 months before his next Star Wars instalment. Boyega will not be leaving centre-stage anytime soon, and we certainly don’t want him to!

Boyega’s first major gig was in Joe Cornish’s 2011 alien thriller “Attack the Block”, in which a group of teenagers defend their “block” from sinister extra-terrestrials. But it was the return of the Star Wars franchise in 2015 that saw Boyega rise from little-known British actor to intergalactic icon.

His lead role in the latest Star Wars film sees him cast as a new character named Finn, a storm trooper turned resistance fighter. He is now filming the next Jedi film “Star Wars: The Last Jedi“, which will be released this December and will see Boyega continue his role of Finn.

It must be an actor’s dream to be part of a franchise such as Star Wars, with both Daniel Craig and Simon Pegg choosing to play minor cameo parts just to be a part of the production. Star Wars may have given Boyega a chance to enjoy a lifetime of incredible roles alongside acclaimed directors such as Star Wars’ very own JJ Abrams, who is likely to recast Boyega time and time again.

In a step back to his hometown and beginnings on stage, Boyega has been cast as the lead role of Jack Thorne’s new play “Woyzeck” at the Old Vic Theatre. Thorne’s previous works include “This is England” and the play “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”. Boyega’s latest role is a far cry from the intergalactic spectacle of Star Wars. He plays a young soldier in Berlin during the Cold War who, alongside his wife Marie played by Sarah Greene, navigates poverty, parenthood and ultimately madness.

Boyega’s ability to shift seamlessly between screen and stage makes him one of the few stand-out British talents of the moment. Woyzeck runs until June 24 at the Old Vic Theatre.

In addition to Boyega’s varying acting accolades, he recently started his own production company, Upperroom Entertainment Limited, through which he will co-produce the film “Pacific Rim: Uprising”. He will also play the film’s main role. It seems Boyega is in high demand and with his talent and insatiable (hyper)drive, that’s unlikely to change any time soon. John Boyega really is a force to be reckoned with.

 

by Ella Neish

The post Whats On TV: The Force is With John Boyega appeared first on Felix Magazine.