Those holding out hope for a romance between Finn and Poe in The Rise of Skywalker would do well to let that one go, as both John Boyega and Oscar Issac have shut the notion down. While the two characters do indeed share a special bond, it’s going to remain a platonic one, at least for now. But director J.J. Abrams hints that LGBTQ representation will be folded into the movie elsewhere.
The cast and filmmakers have been making the press rounds to promote the finale of the Skywalker saga as of late. During a recent press day, John Boyega and Oscar Issac were asked to address the possibility of their relationship heading in a romantic direction. Issac, who plays Poe Dameron, had this to say.
“Personally, I kind of hoped and wished that maybe that would’ve been taken further in the other films, but I don’t have control. It seemed like a natural progression, but sadly enough it’s a time when people are too afraid, I think, of… I don’t know what… But if they would’ve been boyfriends, that would have been fun.”
Poe and Finn met early on in The Force Awakens. Finn, then FN-2187, rescued Poe from captivity and they made their escape to Jakku. They’ve since continued to fight closely as members of the Resistance. John Boyega, who plays Poe, made similar comments.
“They’ve always had a quite loving and open relationship in which it wouldn’t be too weird if it went beyond it. But at the same time, they are just platonic at the moment.”
Certain fans have championed the idea of a Finn and Poe romance ever since The Force Awakens. Director J.J. Abrams didn’t feel that was the right way to go. However, the filmmaker did hint that LGBTQ representation could make its way into Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker via other characters. Here’s what Abrams had to say.
“That relationship to me is a far deeper one than a romantic one. It is a deep bond that these two have, not just because of the trial by fire in which they met, but also because of their willingness to be as intimate as they are, as afraid as they, as unsure as they are, and still be bold, and still be daring and brave. And in the case of the LGBTQ community, it was important to me that people who go to see this movie feel that they’re being represented in the film.”
But what does that mean exactly? How will the LGBTQ community be represented in the movie? When asked to expand upon the idea, specifically whether or not there is an LGBTQ character in the movie, Abrams played it coy, but certainly didn’t rule anything out.
“I will say I’m giving away nothing about what happens in the movie. But I did just say what I just said.”
That would probably put Vegas odds on an LGBTQ character, or characters, showing up. Feel free to speculate wildly as to who it might be, because without further information, it’s tough to make an educated guess on the matter. Star Wars: The Rise of Skwyalker is set to hit theaters on December 20. This news comes to us via Variety.
