Bust open a fresh bottle of milk and stand at a safe distance from the superhero splash zone, because “The Boys” are back for a fourth season. The adaptation of the uncouth comic book series from Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson promises to be even darker and more daring in its execution than ever before.
Read More: https://www.looper.com/1597740/the-boys-season-4-cast-interview-politics-evil-sheep/
Holding a star-spangled mirror up to our own current events, the latest round between Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) and Homelander (Antony Starr) is coming with all manner of new additions including supes, sheep, and chest-bursting chickens. To break it all down was no easy task, which is why thankfully, Looper got the opportunity to talk exclusively to a bunch of the cast members from “The Boys” as well as the show’s creator, Eric Kripke. Keeping the story chugging along is a super-team effort, after all, and as hinted in the small details of the recent trailer for “The Boys” Season 4, viewers are in for a wild ride.
There’s a method to Eric Kripke’s madness
Let’s talk farm animals. After catching glimpses in the latest trailer for “The Boys,” what was the selection process of picking the right one to pump with V?
Eric Kripke: That is an amazing question. We went through every farm animal and chickens felt right because they just so rarely seem dangerous. And so for them to become chest bursters just seemed surprising and right.
And the sheep?
It came from this idea of having the shock of flying sheep and that having something that you think of is just so fluffy and cute, be these horrific monsters. So I would say that’s how they were chosen.
The Boys are very much on the back foot this season — more than they’ve ever been. Is there any character amongst the group that you’ve enjoyed putting through the wringer more than most?
I mean, a bunch of ’em. I mean they all in their own way, face really existential, primal core problems. And so it’s been fun for all of them. Hughie’s core trauma is his mom. Butcher is dying. Frenchie and Kimiko have to deal with the monsters they used to be. MM has to deal with his family, and all the pressure of being the leader of The Boys when he’s, on his best day, crazy OCD, and Annie has this amazing identity crisis. So we really set out to put everyone through the wringer and I think every actor steps up and just crushes it.
This season also sees strands carrying on from the ending of “Gen V.” How much self-restraint was applied in crossing those streams, or did you have it nailed down just how much you’d involve characters from that show?
No, no. We’re very vigilant about keeping just the right amount and balancing it properly, where if you watch both shows, it deepens the experience. But by no means do you have to watch both shows and that you can watch “The Boys” without ever seeing an episode of “Gen V” and it’ll make sense to you and vice versa. I know people who watch “Gen V” and have never seen an episode of “The Boys” and they need to make sense. So you can have crossover and Easter eggs and a few storylines, but it can’t be so heavy that it becomes homework to watch everything. So we try to counterbalance that very, very carefully.
Erin Moriarty ensures she’ll be on the light side of history as Starlight
Erin, the political commentary in “The Boys” is going to be even louder this season with it being election year. Did that spark any extra concern or interest for you personally playing Starlight, who is at the forefront of all the civil unrest in this universe after the ending of Season 3?
Erin Moriarty: Honestly, it did simply because I feel, I know I am sometimes impotent when it comes to what’s going on in the world and observing it and getting frustrated and feeling like, what do I do with that frustration? So I felt like I was more drawn to the role because of the topical subjects that it tackles on. And I also just feel fortunate that I’m able to play this character at all. It feels like a satisfying way of experiencing a catharsis in my own frustration. But those guys are the ones who are really using their intelligence and wit to metabolize it and to really, in my opinion, [make] great content. So I feel like I just lucked out getting this role.
To be honest, when I booked it, the first script did not have that plot line when it came to myself and The Deep and the Me Too movement of it all. And the showrunner called me and he said, “We are going to include that.” And it’s funny,even that was met with a controversial reception, but I was really excited to take on anything that tackled the taboo because to me it just — what else am I supposed to do outside of try and attempt to get those roles if I don’t feel like I myself can impart change? I’m going to do it sort of in this weird position I found myself in that is very fortunate. So it’s satisfying.
Claudia, Victoria is probably one of the most duplicitous characters on the show and has certainly played sides against each other. With that in mind, which camp do you like playing against the most — The Boys or squaring off with Homelander?
Claudia Doumit: Right? Oh, I love those. I love them for different reasons. The Boys feels like it’s far more to the point. Listen, it’s always terrifying, but Homelander is fun to face off against because … it’s like this slow game that you’re playing and you don’t really know which way to step and it’s like the ultimate floor is lava. As an actor that’s so much fun. You’re just like, what’s happening?
Karen, if you could prep Kimiko for this season, what advice would you give her?
Moriarty: That’s a good one. [laughs]
Karen Fukuhara: Oh my goodness.
Moriarty: [to Karen] Just mentally prepare her sufficiently.
Fukuhara: I think, I don’t know if anything can prepare her for the season. I was like, should she get an imaginary friend? I don’t know.
Moriarty: Just say to her and Annie, stick together more.
Fukuhara: I think our relationship grows this season though. Such a fun thing to explore, but just talking. Get a friend.