The Boys’ Antony Starr Talks About Rushing Out His Homelander Audition Out of Spite

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The Boys' Antony Starr Talks About Rushing Out His Homelander Audition Out of Spite

Summary

  • Antony Starr almost missed out on playing Homelander in
    The Boys
    due to initial lack of interest.
  • Starr was shocked by the dark and subversive aspects of
    The Boys
    comics when he finally read them.
  • The Boys
    series translates a cynical take on superheroes to the screen, with Homelander portrayed as a psychopath.

As a huge fan of “The Boys” and Antony Starr’s exceptional portrayal of Homelander, I find it fascinating how close we came to missing out on this masterful performance. In an ironic twist, Starr himself had initial disinterest in the role due to his lack of familiarity with the source material at the time.

Antony Starr, who has convincingly portrayed Homelander in “The Boys” for several years now, was initially hesitant to try out for the part. Despite the character’s significance in the hit superhero satire, Starr shared in a recent interview on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” that he showed little enthusiasm when first presented with the script.

As a gamer, I was deeply engrossed in my latest project when an unexpected opportunity knocked at my door. The Australian production called for an audition, and despite being hesitant due to my busy schedule, I felt duty-bound to give it a shot. In our interview, Meyers asked about this experience, and I shared the story with him.

“I hadn’t read the comic before. In fact, when they asked me to try out for the role, I was engrossed in another project and exclaimed, ‘I’m much too occupied with this!’ It was true. However, my representatives persisted, so I reluctantly recorded an audition tape during my lunch break, using my iPad. I dispatched it and returned to my work, thinking, ‘That’s taken care of.’ To my surprise, they were impressed.”

It’s shocking to learn that Starr was completely unfamiliar with Garth Ennis’ renowned comic books, which serve as the basis for “The Boys,” given his exceptional portrayal of the disturbed leader of The Seven. With a significant role in this critically acclaimed series, Starr has skillfully transformed Homelander into the most intricate and thought-provoking character on television over the course of four seasons.

Antony Starr Was Appalled By The Boys Comic Books

The Boys' Antony Starr Talks About Rushing Out His Homelander Audition Out of SpiteThe Boys' Antony Starr Talks About Rushing Out His Homelander Audition Out of SpiteThe Boys' Antony Starr Talks About Rushing Out His Homelander Audition Out of SpiteThe Boys' Antony Starr Talks About Rushing Out His Homelander Audition Out of SpiteThe Boys' Antony Starr Talks About Rushing Out His Homelander Audition Out of Spite

Following the favorable reception from The Boys‘ team to his presentation, Antony Starr became curious about the origin of their enthusiasm. He subsequently discovered that the graphic novels offered a rich exploration of Homelander’s character complexity, but also revealed some surprising and subversive elements that left him taken aback.

“Upon seeing the explicit content in the comic book, I found myself pondering how we could possibly adapt it for television. The graphic nature of the material left me questioning its suitability, exclaiming internally, ‘How on earth are we going to broadcast this? This is far from decent!'”

In more detail, Starr discussed how the showrunners and creative team effectively brought Ennis and Robertson’s pessimistic perspective on superheroes to life on television. Additionally, she explained that despite introducing the character of The Boys’ antagonist relatively early on in the series, they successfully established his villainy.

“Despite the creative liberties the show takes, I believe it offers a refreshing alternative to the saturation of superhero stories, often referred to as ‘superhero fatigue.’ Our unique universe flips the script – the supposed good guys turn out to be villains, and vice versa. So, apologies to those who rooted for Homelander, but giving away a life on a plane was a clear indication of his true nature.”

“The Boys,” currently one of the most watched shows on streaming platforms, is approaching the conclusion of its previously announced five-season arc. Despite fan excitement, it’s reasonable to anticipate more shocking plot twists, gruesome deaths, startling revelations, and intense clashes between beloved characters and superheroes.

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2024-07-14 17:02