The Boys’ Antony Starr Bids Emotional Farewell To Homelander: ‘I Will Always Be Grateful’

It’s the end of an era for Antony Starr. For over six years now, the Kiwi actor has donned the blood-soaked cape of maniacal monster Homelander on The Boys, taking the Superman archetype and sending it to astonishingly dark places, in a role that will surely go down as one of the great TV villains. But with the show confirmed to end with its upcoming fifth season, Starr is leaving those red boots behind – and having wrapped shooting, he’s posted an emotional farewell to the character.

“I love this show. And I love this character. Truly,” he wrote on Instagram in a lengthy tribute. “I will dearly miss heading to work, knowing what we were aiming for but never knowing where we would find ourselves by the end of the day… only that we would have fun and it would be creatively rewarding in the extreme.  This complicated character allowed the space and range to discover and push boundaries in a way I never expected and I will always be grateful for this experience.”

Starr called Homelander “the highlight of my career”, adding that he didn’t expect the show to become such a cultural force. “When we began, I had no idea what was coming,” he wrote. “This juggernaut left the station and never stopped. Except for that Covid moment. Oh and the strikes. That was a thing too. But apart from those two times, it never stopped, boldly making its mark on the television landscape. There’s nothing else like it. It lives in its own lane.” Starr thanked the crew, show creator Eric Kripke, and the fans. “You are the life blood. Without you, we don’t get to do this,” he added. “And our fans are second to none. Mad love to you….and deepest respect for your taste.” You can read the full post here.

Filming on the final season of The Boys ended roughly a month ago – and the episodes are expected to drop at some point in 2026, following the impending return of spin-off Gen V, which begins streaming on Prime Video from 17 September.

So, what does fate have in store for Homelander? Is there truly a way to take him down? How many of The Boys will suffer in the process? Expect diabolical answers next year.