What If Michael B. Jordan Had Played Finn in ‘Star Wars’ Instead of Jon Boyega?

Fan casting, which is when fans choose an actor they would like to see play a role, are sometimes more exciting than actual casting. In the case of Finn from the most recent Star Wars trilogy, fans had some thoughts about who could play the role besides John Boyega. While there’s no slight against Boyega because he did fantastic in his role as Finn, some people would have loved to see Michael B. Jordan in that role. 

Michael B. Jordan is a rising star

Michael B. Jordan first started making a name for himself in television. Jordan had roles in Friday Night Lights and in Parenthood, then landed the role of Pretty Boy Flizzy in The Boondocks. From there, he started making it big on the silver screen. 

Jordan landed the role of Adonis Johnson in Creed, which was followed by a sequel. A third movie has been announced. He also starred in Fruitvale Station and 2015’s Fantastic Four. He went from playing a hero in Fantastic Four to a villain in Black Panther. As Erik Killmonger, he has become one of the most sympathetic villains in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He reprised that role in Marvel’s What If…? series. He was also in Space Jam: A New Legacy, and has four upcoming films that are either filming or have been announced. Jordan is definitely not resting on his laurels. 

Why would he be a good fit for Finn?

According to Screenrant, Jordan could highlight some of the harsher and darker parts of Finn’s personality and backstory. As a former stormtrooper who was stripped of all identity, up to and including his own name, the character of Finn does have a chip on his shoulder regarding the empire. There’s also a very real fear of the empire, too. 

Since Jordan excels with such complicated and complex characters, Screenrant says that he could bring a bit of an edge to Finn that we didn’t get to see with Boyega’s portrayal. It’s nothing against Boyega, by any means, but Jordan’s way of playing those types of characters brings intensity. It would have been a slightly different, more intense, and edgier version of Finn, and it could have been interesting.

We already know that Jordan could do it. He’s played complex characters with chips on their shoulders before, and made audiences root for the villain in a superhero movie. It may have been fun to see him bring that same intensity to Star Wars.

Jordan has played complex characters

Jordan has a reputation for playing complex characters, and being able to bring them to life. Whether the character is a hero or a villain, or just a regular guy, Jordan has been able to make both critics and audiences take notice of his roles. 

Perhaps his most famous role is that of Erik Killmonger. Killmonger’s motivations behind taking control of the throne of Wakanda were so understandable that it was hard to root against him during the climactic fight between Killmonger and Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa. 

Jordan has also played heroes. He’s done stints as a dystopian book burner, a lawyer, a superhero, and a transit officer who was shot in the line of duty. His role of Adonis in the Creed movies is another one that is approaching iconic. As a continuation of the Rocky series of movies, Adonis is a young boxer trying to make things better for himself and his family. Jordan brings an authenticity to the role.

As an actor who has played so many different types of characters and brought them all to life, it’s no wonder that people want to see him more.