John Boyega On the First Time He Held a Lightsaber

John Boyega might be the luckiest guy alive. The extremely talented 23-year-old British actor was plucked out of relative obscurity and placed in the middle of the biggest movie franchise, well, ever. (Previously, he did a terrific British sci-fi comedy and the pilot for an HBO boxing series helmed by Spike Lee.) As the mysterious Finn in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, he’s not only tasked with anchoring a giant movie franchise that everyone loves, but he also has to reintroduce a franchise that is continuing a story from over 30 years earlier.

But if the pressure is getting to Boyega, he’s certainly hiding it well.

We sat down with the actor in a cavernous room inside the Los Angeles Convention Center. Instead of taking a break for lunch, he decided to eat during our interview. And it wasn’t because he was trying to sneak out early. Instead, you got the impression that he was so excited to be talking about the movie that he has repeatedly referred to as “a dream come true,” that he didn’t want to stop. And that kind of infectious energy is rare and powerful. At one point he talked about Star Wars: The Force Awakens giving people happiness and hope when they need it most and you could tell how much he meant it. This isn’t just a role for him; it’s everything.

All of this made it even more fun to talk to the actor, about what the audition process was like, what he was thinking when he picked up a lightsaber for the first time, and what it was like to return to the character (if only for a moment) for the new version of Star Tours at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

It seems like everyone in Hollywood auditioned for this movie. But you got it. What was that process like?

It was seven months long. It was grueling. I learned a lot about myself in the process. And it was something that was hard to take in. I felt it hard to believe that I was part of a process that could potentially change my life. So the opportunities that were in front of me … it was shocking to feel like I was attempting to be a part of something so huge. And it finally worked out. I was so happy.

And you were being courted for other movies at the same time, right?

Yes, there were other movies that were asking what was going on. I got a random phone call from Zack Snyder. But Star Wars was looming. But they wouldn’t tell us whether or not they were going to offer us the part. And there were these other projects and I had a deadline for sealing the deal. So I actually took a risk in pulling out of these other projects and waiting for Star Wars. Thankfully, it all worked out. That would have been messed up. We would be having a different conversation: “So John, why are you in Jamaica selling lemons?”

Was the shoot a lot of fun?

It exceeded my expectations. Coming up as an actor and mostly doing independent films, most of the people tend to give you a little clue as to what it’s like working with a studio. And I’m sure you’ve heard the studio myths and all of that stuff. I was told that the studio system is quite choppy and fast, and an actor from an indie and theater background wouldn’t get to stretch their skills. But the process was both artistically valuable and at the same time a lot of fun. I was really surprised by that and thankful that that was the case.

What was going through your mind the first time you picked up a lightsaber?

I was very happy, mate. I was losing it. I picked up the lightsaber and was having hand-to-hand combat with Kylo Ren. So that was me, as a child, going up against someone but you’re playing with real effects, with snow and forest. And me and Adam had so much time to get to know the choreography so by the time we got on set, we just got to it. It was amazing.

Have you seen the movie?

Yes.

And what was your reaction?

I was numb.

That’s what Oscar said too.

Yeah, for the first hour it was an out-of-body experience. You don’t know how to fathom the fact that you’re about to see a Star Wars movie and you’re about to see the whole thing. And it was fantastic. Now that I’ve seen it by myself, I can own that and now I get to see it with family and friends in eight days. Seriously. This movie is the dopeness. It’s crazy good. I can’t wait for everyone to see it so I don’t sound like a crazy person.

Is it fun for you that everyone is getting to see it at the same time?

Oh it’s very cool. It’s hard to think that everyone from around the world, from different backgrounds, are going to sit down and watch the movie that I’m starring in. It’s fun to think that they’re going to enjoy it. I know people are going to get freaked out in a good way.

The other super cool thing right now is the fact that you’re in Star Tours!

I am in Star Tours! Kids, hold onto your milkshakes, keep your hands and feet inside at all times … but without the accent.

Have you been on it?

I’ve been to Disneyland about three times. I’ve rinsed it out. I’m in Disneyland so much that Mickey Mouse asks me, “Why are you still here?” So being in Star Tours is quite surreal. I haven’t had the chance to go on the new version. If I’d had time on this trip, I would have gone out just to go on it. I want to see how it looks.

Did you shoot that when you were shooting the movie?

No, I shot it just a few months ago.

Was it fun getting back to the character?

Oh it was so much fun, just for a quick second. I loved it.

There’s a moment in one of the trailers where you let out a very Luke Skywalker-esque woo-hoo when you’re firing the gun.

What’s so funny about those woo-hoos is that I wasn’t directed to do those. I was like, “You know what, J.J.? If I’m going to be shooting from the Millennium Falcon and I get off a shot, I’m going to let out a woo-hoo.” It’s a crazy experience to have so much fun and to be able to be a boy again. My dad had a big black leather chair in the middle of the room and I used to go on it like I was in the Falcon or I was in a TIE fighter, just shooting. It moves to the side. And to be in the real torrents on the Falcon was pretty great.

Was that your favorite set?

What, the Falcon? It’s hard to call it my favorite, but it was pretty incredible.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens arrives in a galaxy near you on December 18.