Tom Cruise Secretly Shaped Star Wars—John Boyega Reveals How!

Tom Cruise may not have appeared in any Star Wars movies, but it turns out the Mission: Impossible star played a pivotal role in launching John Boyega into the galaxy far, far away. Boyega, who famously portrayed Finn in the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, recently shared an intriguing story about how Cruise helped him land his breakout role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

During a panel at Emerald City Comic Con, Boyega spoke about his casting journey, crediting Cruise for recommending him to Star Wars director J.J. Abrams. “I’m thankful to Tom Cruise, who loved Attack the Block,” Boyega said, per Popverse. “He was editing Mission: Impossible at the time with J.J. Abrams. Tom told J.J., ‘You’ve got to watch this kid in Attack the Block.’” It was this endorsement that led Abrams to check out Boyega’s performance in the 2011 cult classic.

Attack the Block, a sci-fi comedy-thriller set in South London, was Boyega’s feature film debut. Directed by Joe Cornish, the movie follows a group of teenagers who must defend their neighborhood from an alien invasion. Boyega played Moses, the leader of the group, and his powerful performance quickly garnered attention. Even though his role as Finn would soon become his most famous, Attack the Block remains a key milestone in Boyega’s career, showcasing his natural charisma and depth as an actor.

Cruise’s recommendation clearly had a lasting impact. A few years later, Boyega received the life-changing call to join the Star Wars universe, ultimately being cast as Finn in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015). His performance as the First Order deserter turned Resistance fighter marked the beginning of a new era for the Star Wars franchise, and Boyega quickly became a fan favorite.

While Boyega’s career has expanded since then—seeing him star in films like Pacific Rim: Uprising, The Woman King, and They Cloned Tyrone—Attack the Block remains a significant part of his acting legacy. The film’s grounded approach to alien invasion, focusing on how an inner-city community bands together in the face of a crisis, has continued to resonate with audiences. The film was also a breakthrough moment for director Joe Cornish, who would go on to co-write Ant-Man for Marvel and develop Lockwood & Co. for Netflix.

Getting the stamp of approval from a megastar like Tom Cruise on his first major film was impressive in itself, but the connection ultimately led Boyega to Star Wars, making it an even more remarkable story.

As for a return to the Star Wars universe, there’s no official word on Boyega’s potential involvement in upcoming projects, especially with Daisy Ridley already signed on for a return. Regardless of what’s next, though, Boyega’s journey into Star Wars—which began with a recommendation from none other than Ethan Hunt himself—is a tale that will undoubtedly remain one of the most unique origin stories in Hollywood.