The Boys star Jensen Ackles teases how Soldier Boy might be completely different within the upcoming prequel Vought Rising. Set in the course of the Nineteen Fifties, Vought Rising‘s story sees Ackles reprising the function of Soldier Boy in his heyday, together with exploring the origins of Vought and Compound V.
Soldier Boy shouldn’t be the one acquainted character starring within the prequel, as Aya Money can also be returning to painting Stormfront, who beforehand appeared in The Boys seasons 2 and three. Ackles can also be taking part in Soldier Boy once more in The Boys season 5.
Whereas talking with Selection, Ackles hints that Soldier Boy won’t have the identical “swagger and gravitas” as in The Boys as a result of he has not spent a long time as “the highest canine.” He emphasised that Soldier Boy will not really feel like a wholly completely different character, however he will not be “the robust man” followers assume they know.
Ackles additionally addresses the distinctive expertise he and Money have had with returning to characters they’ve performed earlier than on a special present the place they’re surrounded by a brand new solid of actors. Take a look at his feedback beneath:
Clearly, they’re the identical man, however actually there’s a number of life that Soldier Boy has lived after we see him in “The Boys” and after we see him in Season 5 — how he’s referring to individuals, the issues which are vital to him, the issues that he’s keen to only slough off, his thought of the life he needs to guide. After which going again 70-odd years to see him when he was actually beginning to get going, I’m in a position now to take care of the struggles that made him who he turned, and also you begin to see him earlier than he has essentially the swagger and the gravitas and the life lived of 75 years of being the highest canine.
[“Vought Rising”] predates all that, so I believe I’m attempting to point out a bit bit extra of an early model of it — not essentially an innocence to it, however there’s actually scenes, relationships and character traits that predate how we see him in modern-day, and that’s enjoyable to play with. Now, that’s to not say he’s going to be a totally completely different character and he’s not going to be the robust man that I believe we all know and love. That’s there, and we’ll get there shortly, however it’s enjoyable to point out the origin of how this man turned who he’s, and what had been the little methods and little ticks that crafted him into the place we see him now.
But it surely’s humorous — Aya [Cash, who plays Stormfront] and I had been speaking and dealing collectively the opposite day. It’s bizarre coming right into a present nearly feeling such as you’re coming again to a present, since you’re taking part in the identical character, but it surely’s a completely completely different present. There’s all new actors that you just’re working with, all new characters, and all new relationships that you just’re growing as that character, and he or she was like, “It’s like coming residence, and also you’ve bought the home and there’s a brand new household dwelling there. This feels acquainted, however feels very unfamiliar too.” So we’re nonetheless looking for our footing. I’m glad we’ve got one another, and everyone that we’re working with has been tremendous nice.
What This Means For Vought Rising
Ackles’ feedback point out that when he’s first launched within the Nineteen Fifties, Soldier Boy won’t have the arrogance and vanity that defines his character in The Boys. This model of the character shouldn’t be as certain of himself and has not but change into the world’s most well-known supe within the years earlier than Homelander.
Such an method has the potential to make Soldier Boy really feel extra humane and relatable than he’s in The Boys, though that won’t final for too lengthy. Vought Rising will present how Soldier Boy will get to the purpose of being the company’s “prime canine” and the face of supes all over the world, and what causes his unparalleled sense of entitlement.
With The Boys season 5 having already completed filming and releasing earlier than Vought Rising, it will likely be fascinating to see Soldier Boy in modern-day, after which have that contrasted along with his origins in Vought Rising. It can add extra context and probably recontextualize quite a lot of his journey in The Boys.
Soldier Boy is among the most entertaining characters in The Boys franchise, however he is additionally one of the vital unlikable as a consequence of his bigotry, vanity, and the callous methods he hurts others. From Ackles’ feedback, it’s unclear whether or not the prequel will make him sympathetic or if he’ll simply lack swagger and confidence at this level.
I personally hope it’s extra of the latter, as not each villainous character wants a sympathetic backstory. It’s extra compelling to discover the concept Soldier Boy was by no means a very good individual in The Boys universe, and that Vought and Compound V merely enabled the worst model of him.
The Boys
7/10
- Launch Date
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July 25, 2019
- Showrunner
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Eric Kripke
Gen V
8/10
- Launch Date
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September 28, 2023
- Community
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Prime Video
- Administrators
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Nelson Cragg, Clare Kilner, Philip Sgriccia, Sanaa Hamri, Shana Stein, Steve Boyum
Lizze Broadway
Emma Meyer / Little Cricket
