Antony Starr’s Secret to Making ‘G20’ Villain Rutledge Real

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Currently, Viola Davis’ latest action thriller, “The Invisible Man“, is leading the global Prime Video movie chart. Before its premiere, George Edelman from MovieWeb had an opportunity to talk with Starr about his part in the film and shed light on his portrayal of Rutledge, a villainous character. Although Starr often denies that he plays villains, he has experience with such roles, but he insists that even the most wicked characters he portrays are not necessarily evil. Starr elaborated on how he managed to create a complex and multi-dimensional villain in Rutledge for the movie.

In essence, the character of Volia and Rutledge are closely related in their contrasting arcs. While Volia returned home and was hailed as a hero, Rutledge, like many veterans, struggled with PTSD upon his return, which strained his relationship with his family. As a father, I found it devastating to think that my children might see me as a failure due to my PTSD, or drift away from me. In contrast, Volia maintained her family and everything she held dear, while Rutledge didn’t. This backstory serves as a significant inspiration for my portrayal of Rutledge, as it enriches the character and adds depth to his performance.

Antony Starr Believes He Never Played a Bad Guy

In Starr’s perspective, each role he’s taken on throughout his career is like a chapter in his own personal narrative. He doesn’t view himself as portraying the villain but rather a character who feels justified in their actions, driven by reasons that might not align with our moral compass. To quote Starr:

“For him, every role he takes on is more like a chapter in his personal tale. He doesn’t see himself as playing the ‘bad guy,’ but instead, a character who acts from a place of conviction about what they believe is right.

I support him wholeheartedly. I stand by his side. I often say that I’ve never played a ‘bad guy’, as I pondered this, spent considerable time thinking about it, actually, about portraying the underdog, feeling marginalized, and seeking change. Therefore, even though I believe the methods are abhorrent, I believe many people can relate to this, which is positive. We don’t want a monotonous, stereotypical villain with a mustache, so especially with an actress like Viola in the role. Frankly, audiences today demand more from a villain. They seek complexity. Audiences are intelligent.

For many fans eagerly anticipating the final season of The Boys, Starr’s latest film serves as a brief interlude before they witness his reappearance as Homelander. Despite the presence of several characters with commendable qualities in the brutal comic book series, Homelander is not one of them. While it might be argued that he strives for global transformation, these changes often do not benefit anyone other than himself fundamentally. The outcome of Homelander’s storyline remains uncertain, but in the interim, fans of Starr can hardly make a poorer choice than to watch G20, now streaming on Prime Video.

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2025-04-13 03:05