Latest news with #Homelander
Los Angeles Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
‘The Boys' never pulls punches. But its creator fears a ‘cooling effect' on political TV
'The Boys' is known for chest-bursting tentacles, shape-shifters who bed your boyfriend and merciless satire of capitalist excess and corporate-controlled media. But last year, Season 4 of the Prime Video series set its sights on a new target in its evolution from comic-book adaptation to hot-button must-see: politics. Set during a presidential election cycle that eerily reflected the one going on in the real world, the show's metaphorical relevance soared to an all-time high. 'Despite all the sex and violence and madness, we take a lot of pride in, maybe, being the most current show on TV right now,' showrunner Eric Kripke says on a Zoom call from Toronto, where 'The Boys'' fifth and final season is in production. 'You're not really expecting a superhero show to have the vibe of 'Veep.' It's just another way that we try to be unexpected.' Unexpected yet strangely prescient. As an election that will determine the fate of democracy looms, the season details the megalomaniacal Homelander's schemes to gain political power to match his Superman-like abilities. There's something Elon Musk-like about how the most powerful man on Earth wants to make himself — and Vought International, the media/chemical/defense corporation he heads — America's governing oligarch. There are other elements we might associate with the current administration sprinkled throughout the season too. A Vought network tries to turn a 'Sesame Street'-style show into fascist propaganda. Collectible Homelander NFTs are proposed. Masked agents grab dissidents off the streets. All coincidental, considering scripts are written long before the final product debuts. 'Sometimes we joke, a little unsettlingly, that we're Satan's Writers' Room,' Kripke says with a laugh. 'But because we're writing about what we view as societal problems, the unfortunate truth is these things were problems two years ago when we wrote them and they'll be ongoing until we really figure out how to get a handle on a lot of this and maybe stop trusting the people in power quite so blindly.' The mightiest of Vought's ultra-marketed superstars, Homelander, played by Antony Starr, is believed by many in the world of 'The Boys' to be America's greatest hero; in reality, he's an oversensitive, egotistical demagogue. Seemingly invincible, he tends to win despite setbacks that might destroy a lesser being. But Starr insists he doesn't model the character on President Trump. Much. 'Not specifically,' the blond, square-jawed New Zealander says during the same Zoom interview. '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,' Starr continues. 'You get a two-dimensional portrayal. So, Homelander is a conglomerate of tyrants.' After all, Homelander, unlike the president, craves breast milk, collects his gray hairs and tears people's torsos apart. Although Kripke has described him as analogous to Trump in the past, he notes that Starr brings out aspects of the character that make him his own man. 'I don't think Homelander is sympathetic, but you can empathize with him,' the showrunner says. 'That's the magic trick that Antony pulls off. Homelander sees himself as so much better and bigger than human, and yet he's inescapably human. That conflict, I think, is driving him slowly insane. 'But he's authoritarian in general,' Kripke admits. 'Obviously, things are happening in the particular country I live in that I respond to. This is a reflection of the things we see and the writers are scared of. What we found early on about the superheroes in this world is there's this interesting intersection of fascism and celebrity. It's a unique yet very current notion — not just in the States but all over the world — how people are using the power of celebrity to advance authoritarian ideas.' With studios backtracking on diversity initiatives and media magnates like Jeff Bezos — who owns the Washington Post as well as Amazon — reticent to find themselves on the wrong end of the president's bully pulpit, concerns that there may be pressure to ease off on 'The Boys'' scathing satire seem appropriate. Kripke says no. 'There's been a total of zero notes about pulling our punches or about making things less political or less savage,' he reveals. 'The various powers that be have been really great about it. I think they know that we'd just do it anyway, so why bother? 'Look, not about this particular show, but I'm certainly worried about a cooling effect when, now more than ever, you need people in the back of the classroom throwing spitballs,' Kripke cautions. 'That's not just healthy, that's vital. It's really important that people who can thumb their nose at it don't get scared.' And though he leaves the politics to the writers' room, the man who plays Homelander understands that 'The Boys'' bold perspective is what's made it so compelling. 'I think actors are some of the worst people to listen to for political advice, especially ones from New Zealand,' Starr says. 'But I will say the passion that our writers clearly put into what they're doing, the care and the love that they have for their country, for what's happening socially and politically, has a broad impact. We all feel like we're part of a machine that has something to say. 'It's a big show in every way and its message is bigger: Never pull punches. Regardless [of] whether you agree or disagree, at least we are part of a show that's putting its neck on the line and taking risks across the board, from performance to thematics to commentary.'
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Gen V Season 2 OTT Release Date: When and where to watch Jaz Sinclair & Lizze Broadway's satirical superhero saga
Gen V Season 2 OTT Release Date: Brace yourselves, Godolkin University is back in session, and this semester, the syllabus includes blood, betrayal, and battle drills. In a world where capes don't mean kindness and campus life is more Hunger Games than Harvard, Gen V Season 2 storms back with more chaos, conspiracies, and character arcs that cut deeper than Marie's blood-bending powers. The satirical superhero saga is set to stream on Prime Video starting September 17, 2025. The season will kick off with a three-episode premiere, followed by weekly releases every Wednesday, culminating in the season finale on October 22, 2025. More about Gen V Season 2 Set in the aftermath of The Boys Season 4, the new season of Gen V plunges us back into the troublesome world of Godolkin University. The institution, now under the leadership of the enigmatic Dean Cipher (Hamish Linklater), has shifted its focus from nurturing heroes to training Supes as soldiers. This militarised approach reflects the broader societal tensions, with the United States under the authoritarian influence of Homelander. Our protagonists Marie Moreau (Jaz Sinclair), Emma Meyer (Lizze Broadway), Jordan Li (London Thor and Derek Luh), and Sam Riordan (Asa Germann) return to a barely recognisable campus. Once a place of learning, Godolkin has become a battleground of ideologies, with students subjected to brutal training exercises reminiscent of a dystopian fight club. Meet the cast and characters of Gen V Season 2 The ensemble also includes Maddie Phillips and Sean Patrick Thomas, with Hamish Linklater joining the cast as Dean Cipher, the new head of Godolkin University. Additionally, Chace Crawford reprises his role as The Deep from The Boys, further intertwining the narratives of the two series. The season also addresses the tragic passing of Chance Perdomo, who portrayed Andre Anderson. The production of Gen V Season 2 faced delays due to the untimely death of Chance Perdomo in March 2024. Filming commenced in May 2024 and concluded in October of the same year. The series is helmed by showrunner Michele Fazekas, with Eric Kripke, Seth Rogen, and Evan Goldberg serving as executive producers.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Save the Dates: Gen V's Sophomore Year, M*A*S*H Star Tribute and More
The budding superheroes of Gen V are going back to school this fall: Season 2 of the Boys spinoff will premiere Wednesday, Sept. 17 on Prime Video with the first three episodes, TVLine has learned. Episodes will air weekly after that, leading up to the Oct. 22 season finale. Prime Video has also released a teaser trailer for Season 2, which you can watch below. In Season 2, 'as the rest of America adjusts to Homelander's iron fist, back at Godolkin University, the mysterious new Dean preaches a curriculum that promises to make students more powerful than ever,' per the official synopsis. 'Cate and Sam are celebrated heroes, while Marie, Jordan, and Emma reluctantly return to college, burdened by months of trauma and loss.' More from TVLine Squid Game Final-Season Trailer Reveals Deadly Spin on Jumprope, Asks: Why Is Gi-Hun Still Alive? What to Watch This Week: 60 Premieres, Finales and More M*A*S*H Star Loretta Swit Dead at 87: Alan Alda Pays Tribute to His 'Supremely Talented' Co-Star But 'parties and classes are hard to care about with war brewing between Humans and Supes, both on and off campus. The gang learns of a secret program that goes back to the founding of Godolkin University that may have larger implications than they realize. And, somehow, Marie is a part of it.' In other recent scheduling news… * MeTV will honor the late Loretta Swit by airing episodes of M*A*S*H highlighting her character Maj. Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan from Monday, June 2 to Friday, June 6 at 7 and 7:30 pm. * Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story, a new documentary featuring exclusive interviews with director Steven Spielberg, will premiere Thursday, July 10 at 9/8c on Nat Geo. Watch a trailer: * The Alto Knights, starring Robert De Niro in a dual role as two warring crime bosses and directed by Barry Levinson, will make its streaming debut Friday, June 6 on Max, and then air on HBO Saturday, June 7 at 8/7c. * The CG-animated Transformers: Cyberworld will debut on the Official Transformers YouTube Channel Saturday, July 12. With 36 five-minute digital episodes, the series follows fan-favorite bots Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Elita-1, Megatron, Grimlock and more in a hostile, video game-inspired universe. Best of TVLine 'Missing' Shows, Found! Get the Latest on Ahsoka, Monarch, P-Valley, Sugar, Anansi Boys and 25+ Others Yellowjackets Mysteries: An Up-to-Date List of the Series' Biggest Questions (and Answers?) The Emmys' Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, 'The Big One' and More
Express Tribune
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Antony Starr reacts to fans glorifying Homelander in The Boys, calls it 'surreal'
Antony Starr, who portrays the supervillain Homelander in The Boys, recently expressed surprise at how some fans glorify the character, calling the reaction 'surreal.' Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Starr revealed he and the cast had to push back on social media after noticing that fans were idolizing the ultra-violent and authoritarian supe. 'We had a bunch of guys that we all kind of knocked down a little bit on social media to say, 'This guy is not the hero of any story.' They were really glorifying him — they loved him, which was surreal,' he said. Starr admitted he didn't expect fans to feel conflicted about the character, adding, 'What I didn't expect was that people would be so conflicted around it and, you know, finding themselves feeling empathy for this monster.' His remarks echo those of The Boys showrunner Eric Kripke, who addressed similar reactions ahead of Season 4. Kripke responded to claims the show had become 'woke' and fans viewing Homelander as a hero. 'Anyone who wants to call the show 'woke' or whatever, that's OK. Go watch something else,' Kripke said. '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.' Kripke also confirmed that Homelander was designed as a metaphor for authoritarian figures, notably former U.S. President Donald Trump. 'Suddenly, we were telling a story about the intersection of celebrity and authoritarianism and how social media and entertainment are used to sell fascism.' The Boys is currently filming its fifth and final season, which will wrap up the Prime Video hit series.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'The Boys' Colby Minifie on Series Finale: ‘Extremely Satisfying'
If you weren't excited enough about how one of television's most chaos-loaded shows opts to bid farewell in its series finale, this should do the trick. Among the characters in the hit show The Boys, who dislikes (anti) superhero Homelander the most outside of the core group of Butcher, Hughie, Annie and the gang, Ashley, played by Colby Minifie, is high up on the list. Ashley has been bullied and pushed around by Homelander, among others, in Vought since Season 1, so when Minifie spoke about how the season finale plays out, it turned a few heads. This is mainly because she summed it up in a way that could tease what many fans of The Boys are hoping to see—the end of Homelander's reign. During an interview with ScreenRant, two words effectively summed up Minifie's thoughts after learning how the series finale plays out. "Extremely satisfying." "I just read the finale last night. It's an extremely satisfying finale," Minifie said. "That's what I will say. It's extremely satisfying. I was getting emotional reading it." Considering Ashley took Compound V at the end of Season 4, the same thing that has sent Butcher into a tailspin, but also allowed him to go toe-to-toe with Homelander and other superheroes, it makes the comments even more interesting. Fans will have to continue speculating for a good bit longer before we finally receive an answer on how the creators will end the series, as the expected premiere for Season 5 is in 2026. However, if the first four seasons are any indication, the last hurrah won't disappoint.'The Boys' Colby Minifie on Series Finale: 'Extremely Satisfying' first appeared on Men's Journal on May 26, 2025
