Eric Kripke Reveals Homelander’s Most Humiliating Moment in ‘The Boys’ Finale Was Antony Starr’s Own Idea

In a conversation with Rolling Stone Brazil, The Boys showrunner Eric Kripke talked about how the series ended, why the final season leaned more toward hope than pure darkness, and how Antony Starr helped shape the final version of Homelander.

Kripke explained that he had been thinking about the ending for a long time, with early ideas forming around the middle of Season 3. He said the team focused more on where each character emotionally needed to end up rather than building toward a single twist. According to him, the goal was always to close the story in a way that felt honest to the characters rather than just shocking.

One of the biggest creative decisions in the finale was how Homelander would lose his power and how that would completely change the tone of his final moments. Kripke said the team intentionally stripped him down to show who he really is without strength or control. But what stands out most is how Antony Starr influenced that portrayal in the final stretch.

Kripke made it clear that Starr fully understood the direction of Homelander’s ending. Instead of resisting the idea of humiliation, Starr leaned into it. Kripke said he warned him early on so there would be no confusion about the character’s final state. As he put it, “He exits the series in the most pathetic way possible.” Starr’s response surprised him in a positive way. According to Kripke, Starr agreed completely and felt it was the right end for the character.

Starr even added dialogue ideas himself. Kripke revealed that one of the more shocking lines in the finale came directly from the actor. He said Starr wanted to push Homelander’s breakdown further, not make it softer. That choice helped shape the final version of the character’s humiliation on screen.

Kripke also described the filming atmosphere during those last scenes. The cast and crew knew they were reaching the end of a long journey, and emotions were mixed. There was sadness, but also acceptance. Starr, in particular, stayed fully committed even during the most uncomfortable parts of the performance. Kripke said the goal was to show a complete collapse of ego, where Homelander is no longer feared but exposed.

For Starr, this meant playing against everything the character had built over the years. Instead of dominance, the finale required fear, desperation, and vulnerability. Kripke explained that this shift was intentional. Homelander’s downfall was not meant to be heroic or clean. It was meant to feel uncomfortable and raw.

The final result reflects that approach. Homelander’s last moments are not about power or victory. They are about collapse and exposure. And according to Kripke, that only worked because Starr fully committed to the idea that the character’s final state needed to be degrading rather than glorified.

The Rolling Stone interview highlights how the ending of The Boys was not only shaped by writers in a room but also by the actor who played its most important villain. Antony Starr did not just perform Homelander’s final moments. He helped define them, right down to the most controversial details.

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