Via Ew.com:

J.J. Abrams charmed audiences and critics alike when he brought Star Wars back to the big screen with The Force Awakens in 2015. But how will the latest trilogy in the franchise fare now that a new director has taken over the reins for The Last Jedi (in theaters Dec. 15)?

The man who plays Finn, John Boyega, stopped by EW Morning Live (Entertainment Weekly Radio, SiriusXM, channel 105) to chat about his searing new film Detroit, and we also asked the actor all about how filming on Episode VIII was different with Rian Johnson running the show. “Being a different person comes with a different energy, a different perspective, and Rian definitely has his own unique style,” says Boyega. “Rian is just fun. Rian is just a fun guy. I have a feeling he is Santa Claus. I think Santa Claus is a part time director when it comes to December. He grows out the beard then does his thing, because he just so giving, he’s cheerful on set, and it’s always a fun time.”

Boyega thinks having a different director on each of the new episodes is the perfect way to keep the franchise fresh 40 years in and counting. “What people fail to understand sometimes is that the success of these stories that will stay with us long-term is to bring new ideas, is to expand the universe. So we can have new stories, new people, just a different perspective is awesome. [Rian] had a chance to really go crazy, and I’m a big Star Wars buff so certain things I saw I was just like ‘Well, that’s a first.’ And that, for me, is really cool to experience.”

He also notes that the second time around felt different, no longer being a newbie to the galaxy far, far away. “The second one was like coming home in a strange way going through a weird déjà vu, but this time you’re more comfortable. You’re settled in your character and you’re ready to go, but it was definitely different because now you’re known as Finn and there’s Rey and you’re just part of the culture in a strange way.”

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