Tom Cruise Influences Major Casting Decision! You Won’t Believe This Kid!

“When I read the script, I cried. And I’m not usually one to cry. I’m more the type of guy who gets a lump in his throat and tries hard not to let it out,” shared John Boyega during a GQ interview around the time of the casting announcement for Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, in which he portrayed the character FN-2187, also known as Finn. While one could certainly sense his excitement at the time, what he didn’t know was that he partly had Tom Cruise to thank for his role, albeit indirectly.

So, what is the connection between Tom Cruise and the Star Wars franchise? Initially, there seems to be none, as the actor-producer has never been officially linked to it.

“You absolutely have to watch this kid!”

During a recent panel at the Emerald City Comic Con (via Popverse), John Boyega discussed his role in the new Star Wars trilogy, explaining that his participation was partly thanks to his film Attack The Block, which J.J. Abrams had enjoyed.

“I’m thankful to Tom Cruise, who was a fan of Attack the Block. He was working on Mission Impossible at the time with J.J. Abrams. Tom told J.J., ‘You absolutely have to watch this kid in Attack the Block!’ J.J. watched it, and one thing led to another, and four or five years later, I was in the movie,” Boyega recounted.

Cruise and Abrams had previously collaborated on Mission: Impossible III in 2006, and Abrams has since remained a producer for subsequent Mission: Impossible films. One can imagine that Abrams took Cruise’s enthusiastic recommendation seriously, especially given that starting a new trilogy was a significant event accompanied by considerable pressure to introduce new characters. It was certainly a gamble that wasn’t guaranteed to pay off.