Old stock photos of a teenage John Boyega spotted around university campuses

 By 
Sam Haysom
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

LONDON -- A student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln made a very strange discovery recently.

The following image was shared on Imgur on Friday. At first glance it looks like a typical university poster -- there must be thousands of similar photos out there of smiley, cheerful students staring at the camera -- but a closer inspection reveals something a bit strange.

Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

That's right, the grinning guy third from the front is the now super-famous Star Wars actor John Boyega.

A bit of digging reveals that the photo is actually one of several stock images featuring Boyega on Getty. The caption for that first one reads: "A group of 5 late-teenage school friends in a line with bright smiles and eye contact for the camera."

Here's another photo of Boyega with the same group.

Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Just look at Boyega in that photo. The chilled expression. The nonchalant way he's leaning against that bench. It's almost as if he knows.

The photographer of the those stock images, Chris Schmidt, was just as surprised as everyone else.

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"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... I did an education themed stock photo shoot with a bunch of teenage students," he wrote on Facebook.. "It turns out John Boyega did quite well afterwards. The force is strong with this one..."

UPDATED 8 JANUARY 12:25: John Boyega has commented on his old stock photos on Twitter.

Yep. Used the money for new trainers https://t.co/UulHEv2hrL— John Boyega (@JohnBoyega) January 8, 2016

I did use my ema back then for drama school the Air Force 1s lasted about 3 years looooool— John Boyega (@JohnBoyega) January 8, 2016

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