Homelander, played by Antony Starr in ‘The Boys’, has become so iconic, so chillingly memorable, that it seems the part was tailor-made for him long before Amazon ever commissioned the show.
His wicked smirks, cold-eyed glares, and unnatural turns between boyish behaviour and violent sadism have made Homelander one of the most interesting villains of the decade on television. But what makes Starr’s impact even more astonishing is that he almost didn’t audition at all.
Antony Starr’s Accidental Audition Created A New Blueprint For TV Villainy
Starr was sure that he was not fit to do the job before he became the poster child of the show. It was not because he lacked acting skills or confidence; he just felt that the superhero genre required something that he did not fit into. And if not for a little pressure, a little spite, and a lot of accidental timing, the casting that now defines ‘The Boys’ may never have happened.
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Starr had a good resume by the time ‘The Boys’ was being cast. He was not a new face who needed any job he could find, as he had played leading roles in several other projects. He was successful. That is why when his agents sent him the script of ‘The Boys’ several times, he did not think it through for a while. In fact, he ignored it. The script remained untouched for over a week and a half.
When Starr finally looked at it and saw the word superhero, he quickly ruled out the thought. Superheroes to him were tall bodies, chiseled armor, and marble-cut faces. In other words, basically, Henry Cavill in ‘Man of Steel’ is not a regular human being. As Starr put it with self-deprecating humor, Cavill was “12 feet tall, built like a 12-foot brick s- house… handsome and charming,” and Starr simply didn’t think he fit the mold.
So he shrugged it off again. He eventually yielded when his team continued to insist that he should have a look, but not in an artistic revelation. He even filmed an audition on his iPad in his dressing room, nearly in retaliation, to get everyone off his back. Antony did not plan, prepare, or even take it seriously. And somehow, that unfinished, rough audition tape found its way into the hands of showrunner Eric Kripke.
Kripke loved it. The part Starr believed he was not made to play was suddenly within his grasp. And when he finally read the script, everything changed. He knew that the show was not all capes and costumes. It was biting satire. And Homelander was not a statue of perfection; he was a literal psycho. Now fully invested, Starr decided to go all in. He shot a more polished screen test and sent it off. And that was it.
How ‘The Boys’ Made Homelander One Of The Most Intriguing Characters Ever
Casting is one thing. It is another thing to portray a character as complicated, multi-layered, and deeply disturbing as Homelander. And Starr not only played the role, but he took it to a whole new level that most viewers would have never imagined. Homelander isn’t intimidating because he’s powerful. He is frightening because he is unpredictable, emotionally stunted, deeply insecure, and in need of love in the most destructive ways imaginable.
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Starr does all this with disturbing accuracy. The best thing that Starr can do is micro-expressions. The way his smile falters for a fraction of a second, the way his eyes go glassy when he pretends to be empathetic, the way his jaw tightens when someone challenges him. These small glimpses of feeling remind the viewers what Homelander won’t say out loud.
It is no wonder that Homelander takes over every season, every discussion, every meme, and every scene he walks into. It is not only the writing, but Starr’s command over the role. He gives Homelander layers. He gives him humanity, and he gives him horror. And thanks to Starr, Homelander has become one of the most memorable villains in the history of television, right next to Gus Fring, Cersei Lannister, and Walter White.
