The BoysHomelander actor Anthony Starr denies that his performance is based on President Trump.The Boyspremiered on Prime Video in 2019 and quickly became one of the most popular superhero shows with its extreme violence and cutting political satire. The series follows a ragtag team as they try to take down Homelander, Vought International, and the rest of The Seven. Starr won over audiences with his stellar performance as the megalomaniac Homelander. As the show includes subtle, and other times not-so-subtle, political commentary, Homelander has been compared to President Trump.The Boysseason 5does not have a release date.
In an interview with theLA Times,Starr sets the record straight that his performance is not just a take on President Trump. He clarifies that he takes inspiration from other figures in history, and season 4 was partially based on Caesar. Starr expands on his career as a whole, and he believes that basing a character on one person makes them come off as two-dimensional. He says that Homelander is a mix of “a conglomerate of tyrants.”
Not specifically. I’m an equal-opportunity poacher. I’ve taken from a lot of different people. Last season, the idea was really teased about Homelander being like a Caesar. If you dip not far back into history, there are just so many people to choose from.
What I have found about using one specific person for any character — especially with someone like this — is it doesn’t work. You get a two-dimensional portrayal. So, Homelander is a conglomerate of tyrants.
What This Means For The Boys
The Character Is Part Of A Broader Satire
The Boyshas always been a satire. This has ranged from dealing with comic books, the entertainment industry, and modern politics.Art does not exist in a vacuum; every well-constructed piece of storytelling is in part a reflection of the times in which it was created. This, of course, has remained true for the Prime Video series, which increased itspolitical commentary inThe Boysseason 4.
The Boyshas directly poked fun at President Trump, including his trading cards, but that is not all Starr is doing with his performance. Homelander’s descent into madness has grown as he craves more political power. It will be interesting to see if the Julius Caesar comparison can continue to be made in the upcoming season, including the betrayal that ultimately led to his death.
Our Take On Starr’s Comments
The Performance Is More Than Just A Parody
Despite the popularity of the character, Starr has made it clear thatHomelander is not a hero. Homelander will go down as one of the great supervillains of all time, and a large part of that comes down to Starr’s performance. While some storylines may mirror President Trump, Starr is not simply doing an impression of him.
With his many flaws and disturbing behavior, Homelander is a fully fleshed-out character, and that wouldn’t be possible if he were only basing it on one person. AsThe Boysis not a series known for holding back on its commentary, it will be fun to see where the show goes in its final season.
The Boys
Cast
The Boys is a gritty and subversive take on the superhero genre, focusing on a group of vigilantes who confront powerful superheroes abusing their abilities, exploring themes of corruption and moral ambiguity in a world where heroes are not always what they seem.
