FINDING FAME CAN SEEM AWFULLY like acquiring Midas’ touch, what with all its trappings from a loss of privacy to increased public scrutiny. John Boyega should be intimately familiar with this – despite landing his first major acting gig starring in Joe Cornish’s cult hit Attack the Block in 2011, his meteoric rise to fame came only four years later with the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which saw him playing Finn, a stormtrooper-turned-rebel.
Directed by JJ Abrams, The Force Awakens marked the start of the franchise’s sequel trilogy, which extended the main Star Wars saga with “episodes” seven to nine. It was a critical and commercial success, and established Boyega as a leading man who could hold his own – even in large-scale Hollywood-esque productions. With that came superstardom, of course, but there was still more to come.
Boyega reprised his role in the film’s 2017 sequel The Last Jedi. It was well-received by critics and audiences, but saw backlash from parts of the Star Wars fan base, which levelled criticism – vitriol, even – at director Rian Johnson’s treatment of the material. Much was made of how the plot points that Abrams had left behind for him to expand upon were seemingly disregarded, and newly introduced characters such as Rose Tico, played by Kelly Marie Tran.
Despite this, The Last Jedi confirmed Boyega’s status as a Hollywood star while cementing his legacy in the Star Wars universe via his character, Finn. Its ending also set the stage for The Rise of Skywalker, which will mark Boyega’s third outing in the series and the conclusion to the Star Wars saga – at least for now. The movie will be released worldwide in December this year.
This story is from the Issue 154 edition of August Man SG.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Issue 154 edition of August Man SG.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Forces Of Nature
Two strategically released pieces in Grand Seiko’s Watches and Wonders Geneva repertoire of novelties promise an exciting future for the Japanese Manufacture.
Let A Thousand Flowers Bloom
Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition invokes Japan’s cherry blossom festival exquisitely.
A NATIONAL TREASURE
THE AVERAGE SINGAPOREAN REMEMBERS DR. ONG KENG SEN FOR DIRECTING THE POPULAR 1996 LOCAL FILM ARMY DAZE, BUT THE CULTURAL MEDALLION LAUREATE IS NOW PLAYING A HUGE PART IN FACILITATING OUR SOCIETY’S MATURATION IN ARTS, CULTURE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
With Delicious Precision
THE MADE OF MAKERS CAMPAIGN by Jaeger-LeCoultre is a groundbreaking new campaign in which the Manufacture collaborates with artists and artisans from outside the world of watchmaking.
LIFE, THE UNIVERSE AND EVERYTHING WITH PROFESSOR BRIAN COX
Augustman met Professor Brian Cox at Watches and Wonders Geneva as he presented the new IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser Eternal Calendar. Existentialist questions around time and existence followed in our exclusive interview.
AN EYE FOR ICON
THE SYNONYM FOR ‘CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATION OF ARCHIVAL EMBLEMS’ MIGHT VERY WELL BE KIM JONES.
THE KEEPER OF MEMORIES
A conversation with French master perfumer Daphné Bugey details what exactly makes fragrances so powerful. Layered between each olfactive note is a memory tucked within.
FROM SHANGHAI WITH LOVE
Junior The Pocket Bar invokes the nocturnal glamour and grit of 1930s Shanghai with its latest iteration.
Much Preferred
Prefer is putting forward a very strong case for a bean-free coffee revolution.
A CENTURY OF CRAFTSMANSHIP
Celebrating a legacy of luxury with Wes Anderson’s cinematic flair, Montblanc rediscovers the timeless elegance of its iconic Meisterstück fountain pen.