The Boys Cast Talks TV’s Scariest New Villain, Supes, and Season 2

They say you should never meet your heroes and The Boys sets out to shows us why with a dark take on the superhero genre that has everyone — even the show’s cast — on edge at times. With blood, brutality, and babies with laser eyes, what’s not to love about this super binge-worthy satire.

So, if you’ve ever wondered what would happen when Butcher, Hughie, and Homelander find themselves in the same room, you’re in luck!

Cast members Karl Urban (Billy Butcher), Jack Quaid (Hughie Campbell), Antony Starr (Homelander) took time out of their busy schedules filming Season 2 of The Boys in Toronto to meet fans of the newest streaming sensation at Fan Expo Canada.

Find out what the cast had to say about Homelander’s terrifying introduction as tv’s newest villain and what we can expect from Season 2 of the Amazon Prime original, including new supes and new ways to traumatize Jack Quaid.

And don’t forget to check out our review of The Boys Season 1 right here.

TV’s Scariest New Villain

The irony that the most prominent superhero of The Boys is, in fact, televisions scariest new villain is not lost on anyone that has come into contact with this show. Homelander is, to put it lightly, utterly horrifying and Antony Starr couldn’t be happier with his latest career achievement.

”With Banshee I was getting beaten up three-quarters of the time and as I got older my body fell apart more. All I wanted to do was sit behind a desk and tell people what to do. I’m basically doing that in this show, but just lasering people.”

“All I have to do is go yep laser, you’re dead — it’s awesome! This is my speed. Lasering people is much better.”

Upon hearing that Starr also had a background in martial arts that he used during his time on Banshee, the actor’s co-stars were understandably concerned. 

“Wait sorry, you have a martial arts background?” asked a horrified Quaid.

“I didn’t realize I could be more terrified of you but you just made me.”

When it comes to portraying such a sick character, Starr admitted there’s no nack to the character’s deranged stares and callous attitude. For him, being Homelander comes incredibly easy.

“It reflects badly on my character because I don’t have an answer. You think about what Superman would do and you do the opposite. Everyone was like ‘how do you get that look in your eye, you know the look you get when you’re about to kill someone, that psycho look’ and I have no clue what they’re talking about. So I think it’s just me — which is worrying.”

Starr admitted that playing a character who doesn’t seem to care about the blood on his hands means the actor doesn’t have to read into things with as much emotion as his fellow castmates.

“In Season 1 Episode 4 there’s a plane sequence. Dominique, who plays Queen Maeve, is carrying the emotional weight of the scene and so she had a really bad day on set. I had an amazing day on set, I had a ball. I was laughing and I couldn’t stop laughing at what my douchebag of a character had to do that day,” Starr explained.

To demonstrate how effective Homelander’s aggressive charm could be, Starr ditched his accent in favour of the deranged superhero’s and gave the audience a taste of his signature catchphrase.

“You guys are the real heroes,” Starr proclaimed as Homelander, sending chills down everyone’s spines.

New Season, New Supes

“We got an actress called Aya Cash from You’re The Worst and she comes on and she is one badass broad with a serious dark streak,” Starr stated at the panel.

It was recently announced by Amazon that Aya Cash would be joining the cast of The Boys for Season 2 as Stormfront. In the comics, Stormfront is actually a male superhero and bigot with some very nasty Neo-Nazi ideology, who just happens to also be one of the most powerful superhumans on earth next to Homelander.

“Stormfront is gonna blow your mind — she is the shit,” says Urban.

“She’s nailing it,” Quaid added.

The cast went on to promise that this new supe will give Homelander a run for his money when it comes to being the scariest super-villain in town.

“If you think Homelander is terrifying wait until you see what she does,” Urban warned.

“She’s a match for me but I don’t think we can avoid Starlight as well. She’s learning how to be a little bad. Through the series and into Season 2 she has a sprinkle of dark-side,” Starr teased, careful not to divulge too much.

Traumatizing Jack Quaid

For Quaid, playing reluctant risk-taker Hughie has put him in some very uncomfortable and somewhat traumatizing situations on set.

“Our special effects team has been really good at trying their best to make a lot of stuff very practical. When I’m holding Robin’s hands they felt really real. Somehow they were warm and I don’t know how — I can’t, it’s still burned into my psyche,” he said, shaking away the gross memory.

If you think the show should have a trauma counselling budget built-in at this point, Quaid couldn’t agree more.

“They should. It’s in my write up at this point.”

Unfortunately, Urban teased that things are not going to get better for poor Quaid or Hughie on the set of The Boys Season 2.

“After what we did yesterday, he totally needs it. We’re shooting Season 2 and it’s even more diabolical. We shot this shit yesterday that will blow your minds and traumatize the hell out of this guy,” teased Urban.

“I’m still shaking a little bit from yesterday. I’m sore and I can’t say why,” Quaid admitted.

“I had a lot to do with it,” Urban retorted.

Urban went on to explain how this show manages to feel so real to not only the fans but the actors as well. He also elaborated on that horrifying scene the cast had been filming the day prior to the expo that had Quaid so shaken up.

“On The Boys, we are shooting an episode every 12 days. It actually has a film quality about it and what I love about our show is that our showrunner, Eric Kripke, is all for doing real in-camera practical effects. He would put us in a dangerous situation rather than put us on a green screen,” Urban joked.

“For this season we had a sequence yesterday and a helicopter on set to help shoot it. We’re really going there. That’s what they use to do before computer CGI and it adds a visceral real-world quality to the show.”

Urban then helped clarified for the audience just what episode this all takes place within.

“It’s Season 2 Episode 3.”

Quaid continued to elaborate on the hardest part of playing Hughie, which of course involves the outcome of his characters poor life choices.

“Just being covered in blood for hours on end for me. It sticks to your clothes. Shout out to Head and Shoulders shampoo, they really helped get it out. I’ve become somewhat of an expert of being covered in copious amounts of blood,” joked Quaid.

“Every time I see Jack on my way to work he’s like walking past covered with blood and just so unhappy about his life,” Starr recalled.

“And you’re looking pristine in your superhero outfit just like a freaking god that lasers babies,” retorted Quaid.

Life Outside The Boys

Urban, who is known by many fans for his portrayal of Eomer in The Lord of The Rings franchise, reminisced about his time on the film set and a particular memory involving Orlando Bloom that he won’t soon forget.

“It was such a fun experience working on that, it was a dream come true. I remember Viggo really wanted to do this dawn shot of Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli running over the plains of Rohan chasing the Orcs. So he convinced the producers to let us camp out on location so we could get up at three in the morning to shoot,” Urban recalled.

“So, of course, he invited everyone to have a party and at some point, all of us had to go into makeup. I just remember taking in the first shot of the scene and Orlando Bloom’s running along, gets past the lens, then buckles over and vomits.”

So yes, Urban can confirm that Orlando Bloom is a true professional.

Urban continued to discuss his most memorable moments during his time as Eomer and admitted that his favourite scene involved a bit of a screw-up, but a cool screw-up nonetheless.

“The scene in the Two Towers where the riders surround Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli with the horses. It’s probably my favourite. Preferably because my sword falls out of my scabbard when I hop out and I can’t believe that they didn’t notice that. No, they thought it looked cool.”

For those who don’t know his father or aren’t familiar with his role as the District 3 boy that kills Rue in The Hunger Games, Jack Quaid may seem like a newcomer to the industry. While The Boys could be considered a breakout role for the actor, Quaid has many great projects that define him as well.

He recently starred in a rom-com set in the romantic world of weddings called Plus One and the film seemed to be received well by his The Boys castmates despite their preconceptions.

“It was amazing! I got to shoot in Los Angeles which is where I’m from and if you’re an actor you never shoot actually in Los Angeles. You audition there and then you come to wonderful places like Toronto or Atlanta. But it was amazing — it was this little indie based on experiences that our directors had at weddings. Production had to make like 13 weddings for the film and it was crazy,” Quaid explained.

“I’ve seen this movie and I hate rom-coms — I genuinely hate rom-coms. But my friend’s in it and I’ve got to watch it right. Then I watched it thinking it was going to be work and turns out, it’s really good. I swear on my life, it’s really good — he’s amazing in it,” praised Starr. 

“Homelander approves, thank you!” Quaid beamed.

Unfortunately, if you enjoyed The Boys, you may be disappointed by how tame Quaid’s latest film is.

“Ya, there’s less blood and carnage in Plus One than in The Boys. Fewer people exploding but it’s a good time,” said Quaid.

“There are no babies with laser eyes and Karl’s not in it, but apart from that, it’s okay,” added Starr.

Quaid also starred in an HBO show called Vinyl that, despite having a rocking soundtrack and incredible roster of producers, never made it big.

“That was nuts! The pilot was directed by Scorsese. We had Terence Winter as our showrunner and Mick Jagger as an executive producer. I never thought I would see Mick Jagger on set, but I did a lot and that was really surreal. I remember I was leaving and all of a sudden there he was and I’m like this is not real life. That was my first TV show so it’s was surreal to work with all these people who I had loved and respected for years,” Quaid recalled.

Homelander V.S. Butcher

Many of television’s hits shows have comic-book roots and The Boys is no exception. However, for Urban, it wasn’t the comics that originally drew him to the project, but the opportunity to work with an old friend and fellow New Zealander.

“I remember seeing the comic-book in a bookstore in Hollywood. It intrigued me but I didn’t end up buying it. I knew about its existence and it wasn’t really until my friend Antony got cast as Homelander that it came on my radar. A few months after that the producers contacted me and asked if I’d be interested,” explained Urban.

“I read the script and I just thought this is insane — I have to be a part of this. The opportunity to work with Antony and the rest of the cast has proven to be a good choice because we have so much fun.”

Starr elaborated on what it was like to work with Urban and the first time their characters met on the screen.

“The lead is a kiwi and the bad guy is a kiwi. It’s great,” Starr admitted.

“There’s a scene where Karl and I meet. We had to have babies on set, so there’s like 3 to 4 babies on set and it’s three a.m. and I’m holding this delightful baby. I scare babies at the best of times, let alone if I’m wearing my homeland suit,” said Starr.

“I walk in to do this big speech and every baby through every line cried. As soon as I touch this baby it screams. I’m trying to get this baby to shut up and Karl’s just standing there looking at me and smiling.”

For those wondering who would win in a fight, Homelander or Judge Dredd, the stars of The Boys have their opinions on the matter.

“Homelander or Judge Dredd — laser eyes bitch,” boasted Starr.

“Judge is smart. He’d use his brains to defeat Homelander. Granted the laser eyes are a bit of a problem,” Urban admitted.

When asked if a Dredd 2 would ever be a possibility for Urban, he explained that he was just as uncertain as fans were about the current state of a sequel.

“I know that the guys who have the rights to it are currently working on developing a tv show called Mega-City One. I have no doubt that will happen at some point in the future. Whether or not I’ll be a part of it, I don’t know,” Urban admitted.

“I’m sort of committed to doing The Boys but naturally, I would love to be a part of it.”

The Comics

Anyone familiar with The Boys source material could tell you the show’s brutality and insanity hardly compares to what happens on the pages of the comic-book.

“You couldn’t put the comics on screen as they are. You couldn’t directly put it on screen because the comics are so out there. I think there was a natural reining in of certain elements of the show. We have to have it watchable and I think we’ve managed to pull that off while protecting the integrity of the comics. The comic creators are pleased with it,” Starr reassured.

“But I love my character and there’s nothing in the comics that I wish we were doing. The ideas that Kripke and the writing team are coming up with are just so good.”

When comparing their onscreen characters to their comic counterparts, Quaid pointed out the drastic differences between TV Hughie and comic book Hughie. While Urban was quick to point out a difference with his character that he was hoping to have rectified during Season 2.

“I know I look very different from my comics version. I’m six foot three, I’m not Scottish, and I don’t look like Simon Pegg in the 90s. But maybe for a season, Hughie grows a goatee,” Quaid suggested.

“I would love to have Terror around. Those who aren’t familiar with the comics, Butcher’s got this bulldog who has quite a distinctive personality. It would be cool to have Terror — but you never know, stick around for Season 2,” Urban teased.

Working With Eric Kripke

Creator of The Boys, Eric Kripke, is also known by fans for creating a little show called Supernatural and the panel couldn’t help but poke fun at their boss and his longest-running achievement.

“They’ve had a couple of seasons, haven’t they? Like one or two,” Urban joked.

“It’s a mini-series really,” remarked Quaid.

On a more serious note, the show’s cast couldn’t say enough about how incredible Kripke is to work with and how a little bit of insanity can go along way in this industry.

“He’s so good at what he does and creating these stories. Having said that, the stories that he creates out of his brain are so f***ed up that I do believe there’s a degree of insanity in there,” said Quaid.

“Our boss is amazing. Eric Kripke is just so awesome. We go in and we just push the boat out in every direction we can. We make mistakes and try things out. Then he picks up the pieces and stitches the scenes together. We got a good thing going here,” Starr explains.

Karl and His Grudges

During the panel, fans were curious to know if Urban had gotten revenge for Simon Pegg’s neutron cream prank on the set of Star Trek Into Darkness. The prank involved a fake skin cream that Pegg, who also plays Hughie’s father on The Boys, convinced the entire cast to use to fight off harmful ions. Urban updated fans on his ongoing grudge with Pegg and the score with Viggo he finally settled.

“I’m defiantly a fan of the long burn and you know when he came to work on The Boys he was extremely nervous that at any juncture I was gonna get him — and I am going to get him back. I worked on The Lord of the Rings with Viggo Mortensen and one night he calls my agent up pretending to be me going ‘I can’t get on the plane, I can’t find my lucky red socks, I’m not going to London. I can’t do it’ and hung up. She then calls me back freaking out,” Urban recalled.

Naturally, Urban waited until just the right time to get Mortensen back and when that day came his revenge did not disappoint.

“Fast forward 10 years and I’m in Spain promoting Dredd and Viggo is promoting his film Plan. I’m speaking to the press on Tuesday, he’s speaking to the exact same press on Wednesday. So really casually, at the end of every interview when the cameras have stopped rolling, I’d talk to the reporters and mention that I’m going to visit my friend Viggo,” explained Urban.

“I’d tell them he’s just bought a farm, he’s got a thousand goats, and he’s making goat cheese. So the next day every reporter doesn’t want to talk about his movie, they want to talk about his goat cheese farm. It made the national news. So Simon Pegg can wait.”

Directing

While it’s becoming more and more common to see actors step into the director’s chair for an episode or two, The Boys cast were quick to admit that doing so is not for the faint of heart.

“One day I would love to direct. This show is brutal, I don’t think you could direct and act. Directing this show is bananas, so I think it would be a challenge,” Starr admitted.

“I direct an episode where Hughie stays completely clean the whole way through. That’s my contribution,” said Quaid optimistically.

Starr talked about directing and acting being too overwhelming on a show as brutal as this, but Urban had another reason for why directing them is a tough gig.

“I would love to direct an episode but the idea of directing Antony horrifies the f*** out of me. I mean would that be worth it? As a director, the amount of work that you have to put into the show and if you had to add that to acting, I don’t know — so yes I’ll be doing it next year,” joked Urban.

Acting Advice

With three industry professionals in the house, fans were eager to know what advice these actors had for people aspiring to get into the profession.

“Go to law school, be a doctor. I said to my dad ‘hey I’m going to be an actor’ and he says ‘no son you pronounced it wrong its doctor’,” recalled Urban.

“But in all seriousness, invest in yourself and invest in your craft. When you’re not working take classes, any classes that you can do and invest. It’s all that small-time experience that leads to being prepared when an opportunity presents itself. That’s no matter what you do.”

Quaid encouraged everyone to take a lack of job opportunities in stride and create your own opportunities instead.

“Make your own work if you can. Get some friends together, you’ll have a ball. Make a web series, make some sketches. I did that when no one was really knocking on my door and it just held my sanity. I think that work gets work in some way,” Quaid explained.

Convention Experiences

While this was one of Quaid’s first times in a convention atmosphere, Urban and Starr have been convention regulars throughout their career. The two veterans had nothing but kind words to say about the fans that attend conventions such as Fan Expo Canada.

“I really enjoy it because when you do theatre you get an instant idea of whether something you’re involved in is appreciated or not and it’s always lovely to come to events like this and connect with fans. It’s a fun and positive atmosphere meeting all you guys,” said Urban.

“You guys are the best. You are the least pretentious, most genuine people at all these events and ornately the chance to come here today and do this for me was a no brainer. It’s like f*** ya I’ll come for you guys,” stated Starr.

—

Check out all of our coverage of Fan Expo Canada right here!

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Saved by the Bell: Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario Lopez, and Elizabeth Berkley Reunite for a Memorable Class Reunion

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!