Antony Starr Shocked by Fans' Admiration for Homelander in The Boys

Antony Starr, the actor behind Homelander, expressed astonishment at some fans' admiration for the supervillain in The Boys, describing it as “surreal.”

Premiering in 2019, The Boys became a massive hit on Prime Video, blending ultra-violent action with dark humor to satirize modern superhero media. Adapted from the comic by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, it follows a team of vigilantes battling a group of corrupt superheroes led by Homelander, a twisted parody of Superman.

Homelander, a tyrannical leader of The Seven, wields unmatched power, instilling fear in his team. His unchecked abilities allow him to act with impunity, unchallenged by those around him.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Starr revealed he had to counter fans on social media who celebrated Homelander.

“We had to gently push back on some guys online who were praising him,” Starr said. “They were idolizing him, which is bizarre.”

Starr noted his surprise at fans empathizing with Homelander, despite the character’s heinous actions in the series.

“I never expected people to feel torn or even sympathize with this villain,” he added.

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Starr’s remarks align with comments from The Boys showrunner Eric Kripke, who addressed similar fan reactions before Season 4’s debut. Kripke tackled both the “woke” criticism and fans viewing Homelander as a hero.

“If you think the show’s ‘woke,’ that’s fine—watch something else. I won’t soften our stance or apologize for our story,” Kripke stated.

“To those who see Homelander as a hero: the show isn’t subtle. If that’s your takeaway, I’m at a loss,” he added.

When asked if Homelander’s authoritarian arc was meant to mirror Donald Trump’s political rise, Kripke confirmed the character was crafted as a stand-in for Trump.

“In 2016, when Seth [Rogen], Evan [Goldberg], and I pitched the show, we aimed for a gritty superhero story where capes act like flawed celebrities. Trump was the ‘he’s not really winning, right?’ candidate. His election gave us a metaphor that reflected the world,” Kripke said.

“We ended up exploring how celebrity, authoritarianism, and social media fuel fascism. We’re in the thick of it, and I felt compelled to lean into that narrative as far as possible,” he added.

The Boys will conclude with its fifth season, now in production.