the Star wars The franchise has faced some challenges in recent years, largely related to portraying various characters in the sequel trilogy – Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015), Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017), and Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019).
Credit: Lucasfilm / Disney
Related: Rian Johnson’s ‘Star Wars’ Trilogy Seems To Be Dropped Out
First, Rose Tico actress Kelly Marie Tran noted that she quit social media and sought therapy as a result of Rian Johnson. The Last Jedi backlash:
“I think we met [Tran and Jannah actress, Naomi Ackie] and immediately, sort of, we came to an agreement and we kind of talked about all the difficulties of being people who didn’t grow up in privileged backgrounds, very new to this industry. , what it meant, what we would be dealing with. And I think the most important thing that came out of that was to make sure that you don’t become isolated or silent about the things you are dealing with.
Next, lead character actor John Boyega – who played ex-stormtrooper Finn in the main trio of the final Skywalker Saga trilogy alongside Daisy Ridley (Rey) and Oscar Isaac (Resistance pilot Poe Dameron) – talked about feeling left out as a black character in Star wars.
Among his many statements, Boyega shared:
“What I would say to Disney is don’t bring out a black character, market them to be a lot more important in the franchise than they are, and then push them to the side. It’s not good. I will say it directly. You get involved in projects and you are not necessarily going to like everything… ”
Credit: EW / Lucasfilm
Related: Liam Neeson Says He Would Return To ‘Star Wars’ Then Retires Quickly
Now, Star wars faces backlash on social media following a Tweet shared on the franchise’s official Twitter account this afternoon. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute of the Day reads:
“There comes a time when one has to take a position that is neither secure, neither political, nor popular, but he must take it because his conscience tells him that she is right. -Martin Luther King jr.
Today, we pay tribute to Dr King and celebrate his legacy. The Lucasfilm family is committed to the fight for justice and equality in all corners of the galaxy. Each of us makes the dream come true!
“There comes a time when one has to take a position that is neither secure, neither political, nor popular, but he must take it because his conscience tells him that she is right. -Martin Luther King jr. pic.twitter.com/BHxhQvkoBU
Almost immediately, social media users began posting replies, citing the alleged treatment of Tran and Boyega throughout their journey. Star wars tenures.
Twitter user K-2SO Nguyen wrote with passion:
watch kelly marie tran character on the sidelines to appease racist and misogynistic Star Wars fans instead of standing up for her or shielding her from the undeserved vitriol she’s got
watch kelly marie tran character on the sidelines to appease racist and misogynistic Star Wars fans instead of defending her or shielding her from the undeserved vitriol she got https://t.co/f9aSjwoP59
A Twitter user by the name of Mucc shared these thoughts:
You have reduced the character of John Boyega in TROS. You made Kelly Marie Tran’s character a secondary character out of fear of TLJ’s reactions. Even hated, George Lucas would never downplay the role of a character. Please reflect your words and actions.
You have scaled down the character of John Boyega in TROS. You made Kelly Marie Tran’s character a secondary character out of fear of TLJ’s reactions. Even hated, George Lucas would never downplay the role of a character. Please reflect your words and actions.
YAV1N4 referred to the ongoing controversy over Gina Carano in an article:
i hope john boyega, kelly marie tran, oscar isaac, etc. laugh about it in a group chat. and this is especially unnecessary when you are still employed by gina carano.
Carano, who plays the new republic Marshal Cara Dune in Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni The Mandalorian saga has become known for its controversial Tweets concerning both political and social issues. Social media users were divided, with the hashtags #IStandWithGinaCarano, #WeLoveCaraDune, and #FireGinaCarano all trending at different times.
i hope john boyega, kelly marie tran, oscar isaac, etc. laugh about it in a group chat. and this is particularly unnecessary when you are still employed by gina carano.
Related: Jon Favreau Reportedly Stopped Disney From Firing ‘Mandalorian’ Star Gina Carano
To learn more about what’s being said on Twitter, just search for “Star warsOn the social media website.
Regardless of your personal feelings about Kelly Marie Tran, John Boyega, and even Gina Carano, this is clearly a burning issue for Star wars fans on social media. Original trilogy stars like Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian) and Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) didn’t weigh in on today’s backlash, though both are extremely active on social media.
Despite today’s controversy, the future is still bright if you are Star wars fan, thanks in large part to a certain Mandalorian bounty hunter and his little foundling, Grogu. The Mandalorian united Star wars fans as much as the consecutive trilogy has divided them.
Credit: Lucasfilm
Related: ‘The Mandalorian’ Season 3: Everything We Actually Know
Also, from Hamill’s recent lightsaber wielding cameo as a young Luke Skywalker in The Mandalorian Season 2 finale with the promise of several new series – including, presumably, the introduction of fan-favorite Grand Admiral Thrawn in live-action in Mandalorian spin off Ahsoka – there is much to look forward to.
In addition to three Mandalorian spinoffs and seven other confirmed Disney + shows, three new films are set to release in the Star wars canon over the next few years.
What do you think of the backlash from Star wars the team receives for its MLK message?
