Starr downplays wesker role amid fan frenzy; cregger's resident evil reboot remains character-free
Antony Starr, best known for his chilling portrayal of Homelander in The Boys, has seemingly squashed speculation about taking on the role of Resident Evil villain Albert Wesker. Despite fueling fan excitement with a recent convention comment, the actor now insists any interest was a standard response to being offered work in New Zealand.
Starr deflects wesker buzz, citing age and blonde hair association
The casting chatter intensified after Starr’s brief remark at a convention, where he responded to a fan’s suggestion with a seemingly enthusiastic, “Yeah, I want that!” However, speaking to Comicbook.com ahead of The Boys’ final season, Starr clarified his stance. “I don’t even know what it is, man,” he stated. “I’m an actor from New Zealand, and if people offer you a job you go yeah, cuz there’s not many jobs in New Zealand. So I’m trained into thinking like, if someone said, do you want that? Yeah, I want that! What is it?”
While acknowledging the increasing number of fan requests, Starr dismissed the idea, citing his age – 50 – and the perceived association of his potential casting with Homelander’s signature blonde hair. “The only thing I have in common with that is blonde hair, which I’ve gotten rid of as you can see,” he quipped. “I think you probably need someone younger. I’m 50.” This sentiment appears to align with the thinking of many fans who believe Starr's ability to embody a villainous persona would translate perfectly to Wesker, perhaps with a simple return to his iconic blonde look.
Jensen Ackles, who plays Soldier Boy in The Boys, publicly endorsed the pairing, stating, “That would be amazing. I would watch it.” The renewed interest in Wesker comes as director Zach Cregger prepares to release his reimagining of Resident Evil later this year. Importantly, Cregger has emphasized that his film will be a unique narrative, distinct from the established storylines of the video game franchise.
“I’m not going to tell Leon’s story, because Leon’s story is told in the games,” Cregger explained previously. “[Fans] already have that.”
So, while Starr’s Wesker aspirations seem to be cooling down, the Resident Evil universe continues to generate buzz. For now, Starr is preparing for a role as Andy Warhol in a biopic about Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Wesley Yin-Poole is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].