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Star Wars’ John Boyega reveals his own con fandom: Pokémon conventions
John Boyega would have Pokemon voice actors sign his Shiny Pokemon cards

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Before Finn was a Resistance hero, he was a First Order stormtrooper. And before he was a First Order stormtrooper, he was a… Pokémon trainer?
That’s right, Star Wars’ John Boyega spent his childhood collecting and trading Pokémon cards. In fact, the actor would even travel to local conventions to get them signed by the voice actors. During the John Boyega: The Force of Talent panel at C2E2 2025, Boyega was asked if he attended cons during his childhood.
“Yeah, but it was quite small. It was small cons, Pokémon card collector cons," he revealed. "I had to bring my Shinies down, and get some stuff signed by the voiceover artists from the past shows. The cons have been a big of my nerd life growing up.”
This is awesome John Boyega lore that I didn’t know I needed. John, if you're reading this, I need you to do us all a favor. During your next convention appearance, please bring your binder of Pokemon cards. We need to see them so we could all collectively geek out together.
Popverse members can watch John Boyega: The Force of Talent panel from C2E2 2025's Main Stage for yourself, guaranteed by CGC x JSA, as part of Popverse's all-encompassing coverage of C2E2 2025.
Did you miss a C2E2 Main Stage panel? Don't worry, we're filming it all thanks to our partners at CGC x JSA - our official authenticator & grading partner. Here is the C2E2 2025 panel list and release schedule.
About C2E2 2025
Comics, cosplay, gaming, authors, and anime abound in the only pop culture convention in the heart of Downtown Chicago! We've gathered your favorite celebrities, unique exhibitors, incredible comic creators, and larger-than-life literary authors into one place to celebrate the fandoms you love. From the halls of Artist Alley to the depths of the Show Floor, our goal is to provide a space of creativity and fun, but most importantly, one that cultivates a sense of belonging, safety, and inclusiveness.
Dates
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Location
Chicago's McCormick Place
United States
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