As Prime Video’s The Boys barrels toward its fifth and final season, anticipation is at a fever pitch. With Homelander set to push darker boundaries than ever, the series promises to upend expectations once more. In an exclusive conversation with Men’s Journal, Antony Starr and Jensen Ackles opened up about the creative intensity, on-set unpredictability, and the intricate craft behind sustaining performances in one of television’s most provocative shows.
For Antony Starr, portraying Homelander demands a careful balance of calculated restraint and explosive volatility. Reflecting on his previous work as Lucas Hood in Banshee, Starr explained how the terror of Homelander operates in stark contrast: “Everything with the character at some level has been thought out, it has been conscious. And then it all becomes very unconscious. I try and do everything before I get to set so that we can just go wherever the bouncing ball goes. So yes, it was a conscious choice at some level, but not conscious in the moment.” This meticulous preparation allows Starr to inhabit a character who can switch from composed calm to terrifying intensity in a heartbeat, keeping both co-stars and viewers off balance.
Ackles, who plays Soldier Boy, described the on-set experience with Starr as electrifying, unpredictable, and, at times, almost disorienting. “Working with Ant is such a unique pleasure; it’s like an acting class. He’s so prepared, but at the same time he has so many amazing ideas, and there’s not really two takes that are the same,” Ackles said. “You really have to pay attention when you’re in a scene with him because he’s going to try things, he’s going to change things. I was just hanging on to a roller coaster ride, having the time of my life.”
Ackles recounted a particularly challenging scene in Season 5 involving a dialogue-heavy exchange with the full cast. Shooting his coverage first, he felt confident until the camera switched to Starr, who elevated the scene to an entirely new level. “He just turned it up to a 12. I became an audience member watching this man put out a fantastic performance. And then I started thinking — what’s my line? I have a line coming up. Does what I said on my coverage even match that? I love working with this guy. He keeps me on his toes, and I learned a lot.” This anecdote underscores the collaborative tension and mutual growth that drive the series’ dynamic performances.
As the storylines converge toward the finale, fans inevitably wonder about Homelander’s future and whether the character could extend beyond the show. Starr was measured in his response, framing the question as a lesson in scarcity and narrative impact: “I don’t think it works. It’s like if you get too much Jaws — it’s just a fish movie, it’s not scary anymore. The limited availability of quote-unquote bad guys gives them a bit more spice when they are on screen.” His perspective suggests that Homelander’s power partly derives from his infrequent but intense presence, a principle that has guided the series’ careful pacing and sustained tension.
For Ackles, the next chapter is more concrete: the upcoming prequel series Vought Rising, in which he will star. The project promises to expand the universe of The Boys, offering fresh perspectives while retaining the darkly satirical tone that has defined the franchise. Starr noted that even as his journey with Homelander concludes, he’ll remain invested in watching how these stories unfold, highlighting a shared passion among the cast for the series’ evolving narrative.
Season 5, premiering April 8, 2026, will not only test the limits of the characters but also the actors portraying them. Starr and Ackles’ insights reveal the painstaking preparation, spontaneous creativity, and emotional stamina required to inhabit roles that constantly teeter between heroism and villainy. Their reflections provide a rare window into the interplay of instinct, rehearsal, and improvisation that fuels some of television’s most compelling performances.
Ultimately, the final season of The Boys promises a convergence of chaos, intensity, and narrative payoff. With the creative minds of Starr and Ackles at the forefront, viewers can expect performances that challenge, shock, and captivate in equal measure. As the curtain falls on one of TV’s most provocative series, the actors’ candid revelations about their craft give fans an insider’s look at the relentless energy behind the screen.
In the end, The Boys Season 5 is not just a finale — it’s a masterclass in tension, character study, and performance unpredictability, a world where every scene is a high-stakes gamble, and every line has the potential to reveal the depth, darkness, and brilliance that has kept audiences riveted for half a decade.
