"Antony Starr Calls Fan Glorification of Homelander 'Surreal'"

Antony Starr, the actor behind *The Boys*' controversial figure Homelander, has expressed his astonishment at the way some fans have chosen to idolize the character—a deeply disturbed and authoritarian supervillain. In a recent interview with *Entertainment Weekly*, Starr admitted that seeing fans praise Homelander felt “surreal,” especially considering the character’s morally reprehensible actions throughout the series.

Since its debut in 2019, *The Boys* has captivated audiences on Prime Video with its brutal action, biting satire, and darkly comedic take on the superhero genre. Based on the comic book series by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, the show follows a group of vigilantes determined to dismantle Vought International and expose the corruption within The Seven—particularly their egomaniacal leader, Homelander.

A chilling parody of classic superheroes like Superman, Homelander wields absolute power and psychological control over his peers. His unchecked abilities and manipulative nature make him a terrifying force within the world of the show, instilling fear in both the public and his fellow supes.

In discussing fan reactions, Starr revealed how he and others involved in the production have had to correct misconceptions about Homelander's role in the narrative.

"We had a bunch of guys that we all kind of knocked them down a little but on social media to say, 'This guy is not the hero of any story,'" Starr explained. "They were really glorifying him, they loved him. Which is surreal."

He further noted his surprise at how some viewers seemed conflicted or even sympathetic toward Homelander, despite the character’s horrifying behavior.

"What I didn't expect was that people would be so conflicted around it and, you know, finding themselves finding empathy for this monster," Starr added.

Echoing Comments From Showrunner Eric Kripke

Starr’s remarks align closely with those previously made by *The Boys* showrunner Eric Kripke, who addressed similar fan sentiments ahead of Season 4. Kripke rejected the idea that Homelander could ever be seen as a hero and dismissed claims that the show had become “woke.”

"Anyone who wants to call the show 'woke' or whatever, that’s OK. Go watch something else. But I’m certainly not going to pull any punches or apologize for what we’re doing," Kripke stated.

"Some people who watch it think Homelander is the hero. What do you say to that? The show’s many things. Subtle isn’t one of them. So if that’s the message you’re getting from it, I just throw up my hands."

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Homelander as a Political Metaphor

Kripke also clarified the creative team’s original intent behind Homelander’s character arc, particularly in relation to real-world politics. When asked whether the show intended to draw parallels between Homelander and former U.S. President Donald Trump, Kripke confirmed that the comparison was intentional.

"When Seth [Rogen] and Evan [Goldberg] and I took it out to pitch, it was 2016. We just wanted to do a very realistic version of a superhero show—one where superheroes are celebrities behaving badly. Trump was the, ‘He’s not really getting the nomination, is he?’ guy. When he got elected, we had a metaphor that said more about the current world," Kripke explained.

"Suddenly, we were telling a story about the intersection of celebrity and authoritarianism and how social media and entertainment are used to sell fascism. We’re right in the eye of the storm. And once we realized that, I just felt an obligation to run in that direction as far as we could."

The upcoming fifth and final season of *The Boys* is currently in production and will conclude the explosive story that has captivated audiences worldwide. As the series reaches its climax, fans can expect no shortage of drama, moral complexity, and unflinching commentary on power, fame, and the dangers of blind adoration.