Jensen Ackles gave fans a taste of what to expect from The Boys Season 3 by giving away his character's reaction to Homelander.
Ackles, who will star as Soldier Boy in the upcoming third season of The Boys, explained his character's reaction to seeing series antagonist Homelander for the very first time. Speaking to SFX Magazine, Ackles said, "Homelander is the new iteration of Soldier Boy. He's the new kid on the block in Soldier Boy's eyes. Going back to that toxic masculinity: very true to form, one of the first things that ever comes out of Soldier Boy's mouth after he looks at a big poster of Homelander is 'What the fuck?' It's just looking at the world around him, knowing he doesn't fit in and knowing things are different. And there it is, personified in this statuesque red, white and blue superhero. He's not thrilled about that. The relationship is immediately contentious. They have their words."
Based on the 2006 comic book of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, The Boys premiered on Prime Video in 2019. The series follows the exploits of its titular team of vigilantes, all of whom have dedicated their lives to disrupting the callous, calculated efforts of their world's foremost superhero team, The Seven. The Boys also explores the history and actions of Vought International, the massive corporation that produces and exploits superheroes for its own gain.
Ackles' Soldier Boy, who has been previously mentioned though never seen, serves as The Boys' analog for Captain America. When his casting was announced in 2020, Ackles described his character as being "From the '40s. He fought in World War II, and he's just this curmudgeon, bigoted asshole. He doesn't age, so he's this 40-year-old superhero who's really 80 years old or 90 years old."
Retro marketing material has already given fans a glimpse of Ackles' Soldier Boy in his glory days, as well as a look at his explosive abilities. Homelander, played by Antony Starr, is both the series' most prominent hero and its primary antagonist as its deeply disturbed, violently unhinged Superman.
Ackles also remarked on the commentary that Soldier Boy creates regarding toxic masculinity and cultural shifts, stating, "So often, power means fronting as this macho illusion that never existed. Especially in the States, we put so much stock in this Western cowboy, John Wayne, Marlboro Man myth. It's such bullshit. It's raised generation after generation of fucked-up men, who can't live up to it." Ackles added, "It's been interesting to explore that through Soldier Boy. What is that notion of power that men are supposed to carry, but has done as much damage to our society as anything else?"
The Boys Season 3 premieres on Prime Video on June 3.
Source: SFX Magazine