Antony Starr, the actor behind The Boys' terrifying Homelander, has expressed bewilderment at how some fans romanticize the psychotic supervillain, describing the phenomenon as "surreal."
The Dangerous Charisma of a Monster
Since its 2019 debut, Amazon Prime's The Boys has captivated audiences with its brutal violence and razor-sharp superhero satire. Based on Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson's comic, the series follows vigilantes battling Vought International's corrupt superhero team, The Seven, led by the unhinged Superman analogue Homelander.
As The Seven's tyrannical leader, Homelander rules through fear and unrestrained power. His god-like abilities and complete lack of restraint make him one of television's most terrifying villains - which makes the character's hero-worship among certain fans all the more concerning.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Starr revealed he's had to publicly correct fans who glorify Homelander on social media. "We had to remind some fans, 'This guy isn't anyone's hero,'" the actor explained. "Seeing people celebrating him was genuinely surreal."
Starr expressed particular surprise at viewers developing empathy for his character despite Homelander's countless atrocities. "I never anticipated audiences would sympathize with this monster," he admitted.
The Boys Season 4 Behind-the-Scenes
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Showrunner Eric Kripke previously addressed similar concerns ahead of Season 4's premiere, responding sharply to claims that The Boys had "gone woke" and to fans who view Homelander as heroic.
"If you think Homelander's the good guy, I don't know what to tell you," Kripke stated. "We're not exactly subtle here. The show has many qualities, but ambiguity about who the villain is isn't one of them."
Kripke confirmed the show's intentional parallels between Homelander's rise and contemporary politics: "When we started developing this in 2016, Trump was just becoming a cultural phenomenon. As his presidency unfolded, our story about celebrity authoritarianism became frighteningly relevant."
The Boys will conclude with its fifth season, currently in production, bringing this dark superhero saga to its final confrontation.
