by Gill Pringle
“I’m not gonna lie, I didn’t have a massive thing for superheroes growing up,” admits Antony Starr, the Kiwi actor who plays Homelander, the superhero we all love to hate in subversive superhero series The Boys.
“I’m a little older than the current superhero fever of the past decade, where I think good storytelling is good storytelling no matter what; whether it’s superheroes or not.
“There are some great superhero movies. I’ve always loved the world of superheroes – the idea of these primarily morally true characters with a moral compass that points True North always. And they really give hope, and give you something for kids to aim at,” says Starr.
But of course, Homelander could never be described as a true superhero who always does the right thing.
Ask him how his friends and family reacted to his anti-superhero when The Boys debuted five years ago, he says, “I think they were really excited at first. But then when the show came out and they realised what kind of character this really was – less excitement, and more hiding behind pillows . . .
“I spent a lot of time away from home, and everyone’s very happy for me that the show has got some purchase on pop culture, and it’s doing well. I’m very happy about that as well, but my mum and dad are hysterical. When they watch it, my dad just laughs every time anything bad ever happens to me on TV, he just kills himself laughing. Let’s not read into that. And my mum hides behind cushions. You know that’s parenting 101 in a nutshell, right?” laughs Starr, 49, who launched his acting career early in the early 1990s with a small part in Shortland Street and guest roles in Xena: Warrior Princess before becoming a series regular on Mercy Peak.
Receiving acclaim for his roles in series Outrageous Fortune, Rush and Lowdown, it is his performance as a psychopathic all-American hero in The Boys that has brought him the most international attention.
Now in its fourth season – with a fifth and final season set for 2026 – The Boys is set in a world where superheroes, known as “supes,” are not the noble figures typically portrayed in popular culture. Instead, they are morally corrupt, self-serving, and controlled by a powerful corporation called Vought International, which monetises their existence.
Based on the comic book series by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, the story follows two main groups: the titular Boys, a ragtag team of vigilantes led by Karl Urban’s Billy Butcher, and the supes, particularly the Seven, Vought’s elite superhero team.
At the heart of the conflict is Homelander, the sociopathic leader of the Seven, whose godlike powers are matched only by his insatiable thirst for control and adoration. In contrast, the Boys, including Hughie Campbell, Mother’s Milk, Frenchie, and Kimiko, seek to expose Vought’s corruption and hold the supes accountable for their misdeeds.
What sets The Boys apart is its unflinching critique of power, corporate greed, and celebrity culture, exploring themes of accountability, the dangers of unchecked authority, and the human cost of idolising flawed heroes. It balances its dark themes with sharp humour, intense action sequences, and deeply emotional moments.
When we meet with Starr and The Boys showrunner/writer Eric Kripke in Los Angeles, they acknowledge how the show seems even more prescient in light of a looming second Trump administration.
“We’re very proud and feel lucky that this superhero show is one of the most current shows on TV, almost in a Veep kind of way, or we use Simpsons as an example a lot, where we’re just satirising the world and presenting this funhouse mirror that reflects back,” says Kripke.
“I’m not thrilled that reality has come to resemble this funhouse mirror so accurately that it’s almost a one to one now. That’s not my favourite thing. “But, look, from the beginning, our two main targets have been capitalism and the intersection of authoritarianism and celebrity. And that just happens to be the exact moment we’re living in where, you can be a demagogue, but dress yourself up in social media and make it look like a reality show, and people go for it.
“We’re right at the dead centre of that. Superheroes are both authoritarians and celebrities, so I can’t say we did it on purpose. I took this job to take the piss out of superheroes, and then the minute you scratch beneath the surface, you go: ‘Oh, my God, we’re telling the metaphor of the moment we’re living in’.
“Ever since we knew that, we just ran with that ball, and now, heading into season five, I humbly suggest that it’s even more vital. I mean, I’m not up my own ass. We’re not going to change the world or anything, but it’s healthy to have people that are thumbing their nose at the establishment and maybe making some kids out there feel a little less alone,” he says.
The series has received widespread acclaim for its bold storytelling and mix of shocking twists, satire, and commentary on modern society, making it a standout in the superhero genre. As the show continues to push boundaries, it offers a provocative take on what it truly means to be a hero.
It’s also wild that this big hit Prime Video series stars not one but two Kiwis as its leads – Karl Urban playing an Englishman and Starr an American.
The introduction of Homelander’s son Ryan – played by young actor Cameron Crovetti – has been a game changer for Starr.
“It’s a complicated relationship between the two characters, and I’m very interested in the role of the father and potential absence of that and what damage that does, where that sits,” says Starr.
“I think there’s a really great parallel with a lot of social issues, not just where I come from, in New Zealand, but across the board in the world – I think the absence of the father is a big issue at the moment. I think a lot of men are going through an identity crisis, just not knowing where or what to be and where to put themselves.
“I like playing around in that world, and I like playing around in the cause and effect of the father son relationship. In this case, what if your father is someone who’s incredibly damaged himself, loves him, but is also tangled up in his own vices and ego and the complexities and the pitfalls and moments of beauty between the two? And there’s some of all of it,” says Starr who begins shooting the final season next week.
“I’m gonna miss it because there’s not many shows that you get to do that on, and it’s the same with every relationship. There’s a level of complexity in this character and in this show and with the other characters that you simply don’t get an opportunity to be a part of in a lot of shows and a lot of content full stop, let alone tell a story that has relevance in the zeitgeist and in the culture,” he adds.
He cherishes his experience on The Boys so much, he almost feels sorry for his young “son” when he discovers that not all shows are the same.
“I feel really bad for all the young kids in the cast, because you’re just like: ‘You don’t even know what’s coming, like, when you’re on some fucking doctor show, you’re going to be really sad. And then the fact that we really have free rein to talk about what we want to talk about. And that, to me, more than the nuttiness is the thing that always gets me jazzed.”
Starr says he’ll even miss the fake blood. “I have been covered in blood more than once, and who knew that shaving cream is the best thing to get it off?” he says although deferring the fake blood expertise to his co-star Jack Quaid who seems to be covered in blood more than anyone else in the series.
Kripke has the last bloody word: “A lot of our fake blood is corn syrup or sugar based. So, it’s awful stuff. It’s sticky, and it attracts bees, like, legit, for real. It’s like a beehive whenever we film outside with that stuff.”
The Boys Seasons 1 – 4 are currently streaming on Prime Video
