All of the promos for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker suggest that Reylo fans have plenty to look forward to on December 20. Sadly, it’s not looking like the same can be said for fans who ship Finn and Poe — or “Stormpilot,” as the fandom affectionately calls them.
In an interview with Variety during the Star Wars press junket on Tuesday, Oscar Isaac, who plays Poe Dameron, confirmed that whatever chemistry is between these two characters is not intended to be romantic. That said, Isaac did express disappointment about this, saying it “would have been fun” if the two had wound up as boyfriends in the end. “Personally, I kind of hoped and wished that maybe that would’ve been taken further in the other films, but I don’t have control. It seemed like a natural progression, but sadly enough, it’s a time when people are too afraid, I think, of… I don’t know what.”
Given some of the backlash the recent Star Wars trilogy has seen in regard to becoming more inclusive with its lead cast members, he’s probably right to assume that the franchise would have received criticism for taking Finn and Poe’s relationship further. But then again, the newer films aren’t known to cater to fans who complain about the diversity.
Actor John Boyega (Finn) also spoke up, saying that a romantic relationship between Finn and Poe wouldn’t have been completely out of left field. “They’ve always had a quiet loving and open relationship in which it wouldn’t be too weird if it went beyond it,” Boyega said. “But at the same time, they are just platonic at the moment.”
Director J.J. Abrams also seems to have closed the door on Stormpilot, although he’s open to LGBTQ representation in the Star Wars universe. “And in the case of the LGBTQ community, it was important to me that people who go to see this movie feel that they’re being represented in the film.” But when asked more directly whether we’ll see such characters in The Rise of Skywalker, he was a little more vague. “I will say I’m giving away nothing about what happens in the movie. But I did just say what I just said.”
Hopefully, whatever character he’s talking about will get more screen time than Avengers: Endgame’s gay character, who was hyped up only to be seen for — and we’re being generous here — a minute or two onscreen. At least there’s still fan fiction.
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