Season 4 Shocker: Why Homelander’s Actor Says The Boys Is Unlike Anything on TV
The Boys Cast Gets Candid About Season 4 and Why the Show Will Never Play It Safe
Jack Quaid, Anthony Starr, and Erin Moriarty Talk Shocking Twists, Deep Character Arcs, and What Makes The Boys So Special
Fans of The Boys know it's never been just another superhero show. It's brutal, bold, and brilliantly weird—and that’s exactly how the cast likes it.
At a recent Deadline’s Contenders TV panel, stars Jack Quaid (Hughie), Anthony Starr (Homelander), and Erin Moriarty (Starlight/Annie) sat down to reflect on what makes The Boys tick as Season 4 nears and the end approaches with the confirmed final Season 5. Here’s everything they spilled—no filter, no apologies.
The Boys Isn’t Afraid to Be “Unapologetically Itself”
Anthony Starr Says Most Shows “Pull Punches”—But Not This One
Anthony Starr, who plays the twisted and terrifying Homelander, didn't hold back when praising The Boys' fearless storytelling. According to him, what sets the show apart is its refusal to cater to safe narratives.
“There’s so many shows that pull punches now, that want to tick the correct boxes and do things right,” Starr said. “This has never been a show that’s done that.”
He described the show as living in its own lane, taking risks, and being “unapologetically itself”—something fans have come to love and expect.
Big Changes for Starlight: “It’s a Metaphorical Identity Crisis”
From Vought's Poster Girl to Member of The Boys
Season 4 has taken Erin Moriarty’s character Annie January (formerly Starlight) in a drastically different direction. After finally severing ties with the corrupt Vought International in Season 3, Annie is now fully embedded with The Boys.
Starr described this shift as taking “Starlight away” and making Annie part of the underground resistance. He even compared her previous position to being “a British spy in the Nazis,” signaling just how deeply embedded she was in the enemy camp.
Moriarty opened up about how the transition challenged her as an actor:
“It was one of the most gratifying experiences of my life,” she said. “There’s this identity crisis she’s been struggling with… and Season 4 lets that unfold in this metaphorical, double-character moment.”
Jack Quaid on Hughie’s Painful Journey in Season 4
“It’s About His Core Traumas Coming to the Surface”
Jack Quaid, who plays fan-favorite Hughie, is known for bringing emotional depth to his character—and Season 4 pushed him even further.
Quaid talked about how Hughie is forced to confront long-buried childhood trauma, including his mother abandoning him and the devastating loss of his father.
“Eric set up this amazing subplot,” Quaid shared, “of Hughie’s mom abandoning him when he was a kid… and now he’s confronting his core traumas head-on.”
The season is emotionally charged for Hughie, who’s left reeling from personal loss and grappling with his place in the group—and the world.
Season 5 Is Confirmed as the Final Chapter
Eric Kripke Says They’re Halfway Through Filming
In bittersweet news for fans, showrunner Eric Kripke has officially confirmed that Season 5 will be the last.
He revealed on social media that the team is already “halfway through shooting,” and while details are under wraps, expectations are sky-high for a mind-blowing conclusion.
With so many loose ends and explosive plotlines still developing in Season 4, the final season promises to deliver the chaos, heartbreak, and dark humor The Boys is known for.
Why Fans Keep Coming Back: Brutality, Heart, and Relentless Satire
From Homelander’s psychotic grin to Hughie’s everyman struggle, The Boys thrives on contrast. It’s as gory as it is emotional, and its willingness to take on real-world issues—from corporate greed to political extremism—keeps the show relevant and razor-sharp.
The panel made it clear: this show doesn’t care about being liked. It cares about telling the truth, even when it’s bloody, brutal, and uncomfortable.
And fans love it for that.
What’s Next for The Boys Universe?
With the main series wrapping after Season 5, many fans wonder if the Vought universe will continue. Spin-offs like Gen V have already shown there’s still plenty of twisted storytelling left to explore.
Though Kripke hasn't ruled out more expansions, the focus right now is on sticking the landing and honoring the legacy The Boys has built since 2019.
A Brutal Endgame Is Coming—But The Boys Will Go Out With a Bang
Season 4 is already digging deep into its characters’ emotional scars and cranking up the political and social satire. And with only one more season to go, The Boys is preparing to leave its mark—one unapologetic, unforgettable episode at a time.
Whether it’s Hughie’s heartbreak, Annie’s transformation, or Homelander’s descent into madness, this cast is ready to deliver a finale fans will never forget.
