In the entertainment industry, it’s mainly the villains and the anti-heroes who are considered edgy and the most challenging aspect for an actor to play. However, in the Amazon Prime hit series The Boys, Antony Starr flawlessly carried the role of the superhero Homelander in a psychopathic way, that even made audiences shudder.
But surprisingly, the actor had no intentions of playing the titular character in the show. According to Antony Starr, he initially believed that the role was for someone like Henry Cavill. And therefore his own thoughts made him feel insecure before his auditions.
Antony Starr Believed Henry Cavill Should Play Homelander
The Amazon Prime show The Boys flawlessly broke superhero stereotypes and earned praises for its stellar cast. Exploring a world where superheroes exist, but not with the most heroic intentions, the show featured Antony Starr as Homelander, the leader of the group of heroes known as Seven.
Starr’s character is essentially the psychopath’s version of Superman or Captain America, who wears the crown for complete and utter terrifying villainy. Playing the character with full-on psychopathic relish, the actor stunned fans and was adored by the public for his riveting performance. But shockingly, Antony Starr was initially hesitant to take on the role.
Despite doing a fantastic job, Antony Starr quite frankly envisioned another actor playing the role of Homelander, instead of him. Well, it’s none other than Henry Cavill, who came to Starr’s mind when he read the script for The Boys. In an interview with Metro UK, the actor recalled how he thought someone like Cavill might land the role.
Antony Starr Felt Insecure Because Of Henry Cavill’s Look
Antony Starr wasn’t super excited to play the role of Homelander. Apparently, the actor was even insecure before his auditions, as he believed they might not even choose him, for there are better actors like Henry Cavill. Considering Cavill’s experience in the industry, Starr felt, the actor would not only be the perfect physical embodiment of the character but also deliver intense performance.
“I didn’t look at [the script] for a week and a half and then I saw it was a superhero thing and I thought they’re not going to pick me anyway, I’m not made for that. Henry Cavill’s 12 feet tall, built like a 12 foot brick sh*t house and he’s wonderful, handsome, and charming-I’m not going to get that.”
Thinking of Henry Cavill in his mind and considering him fit for the role, Antony Starr admitted feeling insecure about the actor’s look. The more he thought of Cavill, the more insecure he started getting. And eventually, he felt a lack of confidence right before his auditions.
“Then [my reps] were hassling so I sat in my dressing room, picked a spot on my iPad, and filmed this audition almost out of spite for my reps. Then it got to Eric [Kripke] and [my reps] said, ‘They loved it!’ Then I thought I’d better actually read [the script.] I read it and realized this is actually really good and worth putting some time and energy into.”
Finally, Antony Starr landed the widely praised role of Homelander in The Boys. Although he wasn’t confident with his audition, the casting director certainly was.
The Boys streaming on Amazon Prime.
