Antony Starr, best known for his powerful role as Homelander in The Boys, has shared his thoughts on one of cinema’s most iconic villains. Interestingly, he revealed why Thanos remains his favorite villain of all time.
Moreover, his comments give a deeper insight into how actors view complex antagonists in superhero storytelling.
Antony Starr Names Thanos as His Favorite Villain
During Wired’s Autocomplete Interview, Antony Starr openly discussed his admiration for Thanos, highlighting not just the character’s power but also his ideological depth. Notably, he pointed out how rare it is for a villain to feel both terrifying and logically structured at the same time.
He said:
“My favorite villain, and I keep mentioning Marvel. But my favorite villain of recent memory is Thanos, because I think he was doing a horrific thing, but he had such a good philosophy behind it, about like balancing the universe. And there’s a little part of me that’s like, ‘He’s got a pretty good point, you know?’”
In addition, Starr’s reflection shows how storytelling in modern cinema often blurs the line between heroism and villainy, making audiences question moral absolutes rather than accepting simple good-versus-evil narratives.
Why Thanos Resonates With Antony Starr from The Boys
Furthermore, Starr explained that Thanos stands out because of his conviction. Even though his methods are extreme and catastrophic, they are grounded in a consistent belief system about restoring balance.
This layered writing makes Thanos more than just a destructive force; instead, he becomes a character who believes he is solving a universal problem, even if his solution is horrifying.
However, Starr was careful to distance admiration for storytelling complexity from agreement with the character’s actions. This distinction highlights how audiences and actors can appreciate depth without endorsing morality.
Homelander Is Not Like Thanos
While drawing comparisons, Starr clarified that his character in The Boys operates on a completely different level. Unlike Thanos, Homelander does not follow a philosophical framework or long-term vision for the world.
He explained that Homelander does not share the same mindset or philosophy. Instead, his actions are driven by emotional instability and personal desire rather than long-term ideology.
Therefore, despite both being villains, their motivations are fundamentally different.
Why Homelander Feels So Real to Audiences
Moreover, Starr discussed why viewers connect strongly with Homelander. According to him, the creative team focused on building depth rather than creating a one-dimensional villain.
He said:
“I think one of the things that we’ve tried to do since day one is not go for the mustache twirly villain and really try to go into the backstory and explain why he is who he is, and what he is. And I think people find that compelling.”
In addition, he added:
“there’s more to him than just the bad guy. And I think people respond to that.”
He also described Homelander as:
“complex”
and further added:
“there’s more to him than just the bad guy. And I think people respond to that.”
The Boys Season 5 Update
Meanwhile, The Boys Season 5 is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. With only two episodes remaining, the series is approaching its final stretch.
As a result, fan anticipation continues to rise as the story heads toward its conclusion.
Ultimately, Antony Starr’s comments highlight the growing appeal of layered villains in modern storytelling. Characters like Thanos and Homelander continue to shape how audiences understand morality in superhero narratives. Therefore, his insights offer a fascinating look into why complex antagonists resonate so strongly today.
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