The Boys star Anthony Starr pens bittersweet goodbye after final shoot
PTI
Last Updated:
Los Angeles, Aug 14 (PTI) To commemorate the final shoot for the Amazon Prime series, 'The Boys" actor Anthony Starr, who plays Homelander in the series, wrote a bittersweet goodbye note.
Based on a comic book series, 'The Boys" premiered in 2019 and the shoot for its five season-run culminated recently.
Created by Eric Kripke, the show is noted for its satirical exploration of superheroes, and has amassed a global following over the years. Starr's character is the leader of the superhero team in the show, 'The Seven". Homelander is portrayed as egotistic and power-hungry.
Starr admitted the departure has been surreal, writing, 'been waiting a little to let things settle and try and process the end of this show." The actor also recounted the multiple roadblocks between seasons.
'This juggernaut left the station and never stopped. Except for that Covid moment. Oh and the strikes. That was a thing too," Starr quipped.
Starr also recounted his character, and his fondness for the show.
'I love this show. And I love this character. Truly. 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." He wrote The star further asserted the uniqueness of the show, writing 'There's nothing else like it. It lives in its own lane." Starr thanked the show's cast and crew. He called Kripke, the 'co-parent" to his Homelander character.
'We created a monster, sir. And I will miss him, and you." 'At the end of the shoot, all there really is to say is- thank you. The incredible Canadian crew. The amazing production team. The insanely talented cast. The people at Amazon and Sony that took a chance on this insane thing (and made the great choice in casting me) and all the other people that contributed in some way, big or small, to this beautiful, complex, warped, delicious show," The actor added.
An emotional Starr also thanked the show's fan base.
'And finally- massive thank you to the fans. You are the life blood. Without you, we don't get to do this. And our fans are second to none. Mad love to you …and deepest respect for your taste." The fifth season of 'The Boys" has no set premiere date, although it may be released in 2026, according to entertainment news outlet Deadline.
A spin-off show in the same universe, 'Gen V", which premiered in 2023, will return with a second season this September. PTI COR BK BK
view comments
First Published:
August 14, 2025, 17:15 IST
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
32 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Business of films: Why Aamir Khan took Sitaare Zameen Par to YouTube
Actor-filmmaker Aamir Khan this month released his Sitaare Zameen Par on the Google-owned video-sharing platform YouTube, rather than an over-the-top (OTT) platform such as Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, after the film had completed its theatrical run. The film, in the genre of comedy-drama known as 'dramedy', earned Rs 216 crore at the box office worldwide. Since August 1, it has been available for rent on YouTube for Rs 100 (and for half that price from August 15-17). What is the business logic for Aamir Khan's decision? Theatre owners were upset: multiplex giant PVR INOX said Sircar had 'vitiated the atmosphere of mutual partnership' between theatres and filmmakers. But amid the Covid-19 lockdown, direct-to-OTT was a fait accompli of sorts. Prime announced plans for six more digital-only premieres of Malayalam, Tamil, and Kannada films. In 2021, more than 100 films had opted for direct-to-OTT releases. But this Covid-era momentum faded quickly. In 2024, only 60 films were released directly on digital platforms — a more-than-42% decline compared to 2022, according to a report by the trade association FICCI and multinational accounting firm EY published this year. Direct-to-OTT films have not done particularly well either. Between January and June this year, 30 films in multiple languages were released on OTT platforms, of which only five ranked among the 50 most-watched streaming originals, Ormax Media, a Mumbai-based research firm, reported. The number of films being released in theatres first and subsequently on OTT has steadily increased — doubling from 217 in 2022 to 440 in 2024, according to FICCI-EY reports of 2024 and 2025. Filmmakers are confronted with two broad realities: 🔴 Footfall in theatres has recovered from pandemic-driven lows, but has been declining generally — having fallen from 994 million in 2022 to 857 million in 2024, according to the 2025 FICCI-EY report. This has been attributed to the narrowing theatre-to-OTT window: the availability of films on OTT platforms soon after their theatrical release is believed to depress theatre footfall. But this allows the OTT platforms to benefit from the theatre-marketing buzz. 🔴 The FICCI-EY report noted that 'cost pressures' led to subdued digital releases in 2024. With OTT platforms now focused on profitability, 'tentpole' films — big-budget productions that are expected to perform well — and small-budget ones were in demand, but mid-sized films had few takers. In some cases, it was 'understood that theatrical performance was required to market the film for OTT platforms as well', the FICCI-EY report said. Aamir's decision to go to YouTube effectively adds another distribution channel for films. 'We need a 'pay-per-view' (PPV) window between theatrical and OTT, and that's what I am pushing to create,' he told Matthew Beloni on the podcast The Town. In the PPV model, viewers essentially pay only for what they want to watch, not for a subscription. 'Once the theatrical run is exhausted, that's when I want to come on pay-per-view, and that's a window [for the theatrical run] that can be flexible. It should certainly not be below six weeks. And then, you should give pay-per-view a good three months, and then the film can come on OTT. That's the ideal window,' Aamir said. According to Aamir, the 'bulk of India does not subscribe to OTT platforms', and YouTube potentially has greater reach, including globally. He also suggested that YouTube could offer a more favourable deal than the traditional 50-50 split between the production house and theatres, and that the PPV model could open a path for younger filmmakers and smaller-budget films that do not get distribution in theatres. In 2024, only 30% of all films were released on OTTs (including digital-first and theatre-first), according to the FICCI-EY report. As such, there are a large number of unsold films that could find audiences on AVOD (advertising-based video-on-demand) and TVOD (transactional video-on-demand) platforms such as YouTube. AVOD allows free access to videos, but with advertisements. TVOD, which is the same as PPV, allows viewers to pay a one-time rent for a specific piece of content. The FICCI-EY report points out that TVOD releases (parallel to or shortly after theatre runs) would get audiences in regions with limited theatre access. Also, a Rs 100 rent fee is less than the average ticket price of Rs 139 (in 2024). Several factors work in favour of YouTube as the platform of choice for filmmakers. 🔴 YouTube accounted for 92% of all online video consumption in 2024; 🔴 It has the highest penetration in India among social media platforms, according to a 2024 report by Comscore, a media analytics company; 🔴 It is popular across generations — 91% of Gen Z and more than 80% of millennials and Gen X were on YouTube; 🔴 While the majority of YouTube consumption is on mobile phones, it also has an expanding CTV (connected TV) base: between March 2023 and March 2024, it was the most-watched streaming service on Indian CTV. There is not much publicly available data on YouTube's TVOD offerings. In 2024, TVOD revenues were more than Rs 13 billion in India, lagging behind SVOD (subscription video on demand) revenue from services like Netflix or JioHotstar, which charge an annual or monthly subscription fee for access to a large volume of content. According to a report by accounting firm PwC, SVOD accounted for 75% of OTT revenue in India in 2023, while TVOD and AVOD accounted for 5% and 20% respectively. However, the FICCI-EY report said TVOD is expected to scale amid rising OTT subscription costs and CTV penetration. Smaller OTT platforms may opt for TVOD models, with films that were previously unsold, and more major players may start offering a mix of SVOD and TVOD, following in the footsteps of Prime and Apple TV.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
War 2 Box Office Day 2: Hrithik Roshan-Jr NTR Film Crosses Rs 100 Crore Mark
Last Updated: Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR's War 2 crosses Rs 100 crore in two days, beating Rajinikanth's Coolie on day 2 with Rs 55.79 crore earnings. War 2 Box Office Day 2: After a decent start on day 1, Ayan Mukerji's War 2 showed solid growth on its second day at the box office, benefiting from the Independence Day holiday. Starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, the big-budget action entertainer added Rs 55.79 crore on Friday, August 15, taking its India net total to Rs 107.29 crore in just two days. The film's recovery has silenced early doubts after trade analysts criticized its 'subpar" opening of Rs 52.25 crore. With strong audience pull, War 2 now finds itself competing head-to-head with Rajinikanth's Coolie, which stands at Rs 109.8 crore after two days. War 2 Box Office Collection Day 2 On its first day, War 2 collected Rs 29 crore in Hindi and Rs 23.25 crore in Telugu, totaling Rs 52.25 crore. While this would normally be celebrated, expectations were sky-high considering the star power of Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR. Many felt the film should have touched Rs 75 crore or even Rs 100 crore on opening day, surpassing the Rs 53 crore debut of War (2019). However, War 2 managed an impressive rebound on day 2, adding Rs 55.79 crore. Crucially, it outperformed Coolie on the same day, which earned Rs 44.8 crore. This shift places War 2 firmly back in the race and makes the coming weekend crucial for both blockbusters. About War 2 and the YRF Spy Universe Directed by Ayan Mukerji, War 2 is a pivotal entry in Yash Raj Films' expanding Spy Universe, which already includes Tiger films and Pathaan. The post-credits sequence teases the introduction of Bobby Deol in Alpha, the next chapter of the franchise starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari. Apart from Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, War 2 features Kiara Advani and Ashutosh Rana in key roles. With a reported budget of over Rs 300 crore, the film will need sustained collections to secure box office success. Despite mixed reviews, the star power of its lead actors and Spyverse branding are driving audiences to theatres. If War 2 maintains momentum over the weekend, it could emerge as one of the biggest films of the year. view comments First Published: August 16, 2025, 05:20 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
'I do not remember talking to you': Azzi Fudd reveals she barely spoke to Paige Bueckers off the court when they first met and still felt instant connection
' I do not remember talking to you': Azzi Fudd reveals she barely spoke to Paige Bueckers off the court when they first met and still felt instant connection (Image Via Image) Azzi Fudd shared a very honest story about how her relationship with Paige Bueckers started. The 22-year-old UConn senior was featured on Instagram's Close Friends Only podcast on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, with her girlfriend, Paige Bueckers. Paige Bueckers is 23 years old and had recently signed with the Dallas Wings after she graduated from the University of Connecticut. The two made their relationship public earlier this summer during a WAG Talk red carpet interview. The duo revealed how, when, and where they first met. Azzi Fudd said the connection started almost right away, much earlier than most people think. Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers explain how they met at USA Basketball Camp Azzi Fudd told fans that she first met Paige Bueckers in high school at a USA Basketball camp in Colorado Springs, Colorado. 'On the court, we clicked. I do not remember talking to you off the court, but I remember the plane ride to Minnesota and really liking you,' Azzi Fudd said on the podcast. Paige Bueckers smiled and joked that they both 'have different stories' about that moment. Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd | Close Friends Only with Instagram Paige Bueckers added that she already felt strong chemistry with Azzi Fudd while they played together at the camp. Both players later committed to the University of Connecticut and became teammates for the UConn Huskies. They also won the 2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship together at UConn before Paige Bueckers entered the WNBA and was picked No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings. The couple said that it felt natural when they finally made their relationship public in June 2025. Also Read: 'Fake It For A Minute': Naomi Osaka Refuses To Acknowledge Victoria Mboko In Canadian Open Speech As Sam Querrey Calls Her Behavior Unacceptable Paige Bueckers shares what she loves most about Azzi Fudd off the court Paige Bueckers claimed during the same podcast episode that she sensed the chemistry with Azzi Fudd not just on the basketball court but also in daily living. 'Going to a nice restaurant and getting something good to eat. Chilling and watching a show, playing video games,' Paige Bueckers said when describing her ideal day off with Azzi Fudd. Azzi Fudd also shared kind words about her girlfriend, calling Paige Bueckers her 'favorite WNBA player' and saying she likes how Paige Bueckers always puts other people first. 'You are super giving,' Azzi Fudd added, as Paige Bueckers smiled during the interview. Fans on Instagram said the full episode showed how close and honest the couple are and praised them for opening up about their relationship in a simple and loving way. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
