'Star Wars' actor John Boyega says series was 'so White' in new documentary

Boyega, who played Finn for three films in the series, said that fans weren't used to a Black main character because Star Wars has always been "so White."

"It's a franchise that's so White that a Black person existing in [it] was something," he said.

The actor pointed to how the popular franchise had a handful of Black actors in prominent roles up to his casting, yet some fans would use these examples to dismiss his argument about a lack of diversity in the franchise.

Boyega further said some fans would only accept Black actors playing the buddy role in films.

"They're OK with us playing the best friend, but once we touch their heroes, once we lead, once we trailblaze, it's like, 'Oh my God, it's just a bit too much! They're pandering!'" Boyega said about online critics.

The new Star Wars trilogy, beginning with "The Force Awakens" in 2015 and followed by 2017's "The Last Jedi" and "The Rise of Skywalker," grossed billions of dollars but divided the series' rabid fan base.