As the first new ‘Star Wars’ film in a decade – and the first to take place after ‘Return of the Jedi’ – ‘The Force Awakens’ introduced any number of questions into fan conversation following its release in 2015. Those questions have connected to everything from Rey’s parentage to Kylo Ren’s backstory. Some, we know, will be answered this week when ‘The Last Jedi’ arrives in theaters while others will inevitably have to wait for ‘Episode IX’ or future tie-in novels.
Thankfully, at least one of the most compelling (and unexpected) questions raised by ‘The Force Awakens’ will be answered in ‘The Last Jedi’, namely: “Just what is the deal with Finn and Poe?” Well, in mere days we will have our answer. And that’s not just wishful thinking on my part, that’s coming straight from the Stormtrooper himself, John Boyega:
“I’ve watched the film and I will confirm, that will be confirmed in ‘The Last Jedi’ – you will know exactly which way it’s going. Seriously, you’ll know, by the time you watch it, you’ll know.”
Whether or not the filmmakers’ intent was to portray a budding LGBTQ romance between the Resistance pilot and former Stormtrooper, there’s no denying that the chemistry between the two is electric, and the idea of pairing the two off quickly took on a life of its own. Of course, Boyega’s statement says nothing about “which way” the relationship is going. This is in keeping with what you might call a tradition at Lucasfilm, in which everyone from Boyega to studio president Kathleen Kennedy has played coy, teasing the idea but stopping short of offering confirming one way or the other.
But regardless of whether or not Finn and Poe are destined to ride into the sunset at the conclusion of the sequel trilogy, Lucasfilm is nonetheless dedicated to improving LGBTQ representation in ‘Star Wars’. In point of fact, Admiral Holdo (played by Laura Dern in ‘The Last Jedi’) was implied in the novel ‘Leia: Princess of Alderaan’ to be… let’s just say “open minded” in her sexuality, though it remains to be seen how she will be depicted in the film.
Directed by Rian Johnson, ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ is due to arrive in theaters on December 15, 2017. The film stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Anthony Daniels, Domhnall Gleeson, and Gwendoline Christie.
