Antony Starr's 4-Season Crime Thriller Series Is A Must-Watch For Fans Of The Boys

Antony Starr knows how to play a good liar. His portrayal of the malicious supe Homelander on Prime Video's "The Boys" followed his performance as a convict posing as a cop on "Banshee."

Starr took on the role of Lucas Hood on the Cinemax crime thriller from 2013 to 2016 – only a few years before joining the cast of "The Boys." Hood — a fresh-out-of-prison thief who adopts the identity of a dead sheriff in the town of Banshee, Pennsylvania — leads a new criminal life and reckons with old acquaintances throughout the show's four seasons.

Despite initial mixed reviews, "Banshee" went on to average a 90% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.4 IMDb user score. Critics praised the series for its unpredictable plot, dark psychological themes, and heart-racing action. Starr is widely regarded as a highlight of "Banshee," with many viewers praising his performance of Hood's moral ambiguity and physical prowess in fight scenes.

Before Antony Starr was cast as Homelander, he showcased his acting talent in a drastically different way on "Banshee." Starr convincingly embodied Homelander's over-the-top villainy, but his "Banshee" role tasked him with a more subtle and complex character profile. As Hood looks to settle scores and find a path to redemption following his release from prison, he wavers between good and evil in spite of his righteous intentions. 

During a 2025 interview with Collider, Starr reflected on "Banshee." 

"Since 'The Boys' has had some success, a lot of people have looked at what I've been doing on that and gone across [to 'Banshee']," he said. "It's had a little reboot [in popularity], which has been lovely. And actually, the action scenes in that — which were brutal, I don't think I could do them now — really prepped me well for the likes of 'The Boys.'"

At the moment, "Banshee" is streaming on HBO Max and through Cinemax channels.