After Sterling K. Brown delivered one of the best supervillain performances of 2024, I’m even sadder that he turned down a chance to joinThe Boys. Given his impressive resume and valuable experience, it’s no surprise the actor is in high demand, but despite the popularity of the superhero subgenre,Sterling K. Brown declined a villain role inThe Boysuniverse. While it’s unclear exactly who he would have played or when the offer was made, Brown claimed it was a season-long commitment that was too big of a commitment given the filming location, hence why he rejected the opportunity.
Unfortunately, with theconfirmation thatThe Boysseason 5will be the show’s final outing,we’re unlikely to ever see Brown share the screen with Anthony Starr’s Homelander or Karl Urban’s Billy Butcher. This alone feels like an unfortunate missed opportunity, but after seeing how great the star’s supervillain role was in his hit 2024 series, the decision hurts even more. Not only was his performance incredible, but his latest superhero outing is already amongSterling K. Brown’s best TV shows, making it clear he would have had plenty to offerThe Boysif he joined the cast.
Sterling K. Brown’s Invincible Season 2 Role Proves He Would Have Been Great In The Boys
Brown’s Menacing Performance As Angstrom Levy Confirmed That He Can Play A Great Supervillain
Sterling K. Brown stole the show inInvincibleseason 2, as he played the arc’s main antagonist, Angstrom Levy. Although the villain was absent at various points throughout the story, he was still one of the season’s biggest highlights, and his confrontation with Mark duringInvincibleseason 2’s finalewas exceptional. The writing was undeniably a big part of making the fight so good, butBrown did a fantastic job of conveying Levy’s descent into madness, creating an intimidating yet somewhat understandable villain. He was even nominated for an Emmy, showing how big of an impression he made.
While it’s unclear what sort of future he has in the superhero universe, his time as Angstrom Levy convinced me that he would also be great inThe Boys. Whether he was set to play an intimidating supe or a cunning manipulator like Stan Edgar, Brown has all the acting chops to pull off a compelling villain, whichInvincibleproved. The actor clearly understands these fictional universes well, and with Angstrom Levy going from a sympathetic underdog with good intentions to a psychotic supervillain hellbent on destroying the protagonist, I’m confident Brown would have excelled inThe Boys.
Invincibleseason 3 will premiere on February 6 on Prime Video.
Despite both shows having major differences, they share enough similarities to assume Brown would have been given an equal level of freedom to be both brutal and intimidating inThe Boys. Therefore, if he played a villain with parallels to Angstrom Levy in Eric Kripke’s series, he would almost certainly have been a standout villain who audiences wouldn’t forget in a hurry.
Why Invincible Was A Better Fit For Brown Than The Boys
Invincible’s More Grounded Tone Suits Brown More Than The Boys' Quirky Nature
There’s no doubt Sterling K. Brown would have thrived inThe Boys, butInvinciblewas still the better fit for the actor. While I would have loved to have seen Brown appear in both shows, I’m grateful we at least got to see him shine inInvincible, as Angstrom Levy was a great role for him, and the grittier universe suited him better.The Boysstill has plenty of compelling action and serious scenes, but it is also much more outlandish, setting it apart from other shows.
The unapologetic use of nudity, extreme violence, and things you just generally don’t see anywhere else has helped giveThe Boyssuch a strong identity, but it’s not quite as grounded asInvincible.
The unapologetic use of nudity, extreme violence, and things you just generally don’t see anywhere else has helped giveThe Boyssuch a strong identity, but it’s not quite as grounded asInvincible. The animated series also contains plenty of playful moments, with its meta-humor and light-hearted comedy being a staple of its personality. However, whileInvincible’s most dark and shocking momentsstill feature plenty of blood and brutality - just likeThe Boys- it’s the unexpected deaths and ramifications that usually stand out, not the gore itself.
I believe both franchises are great, and they each have their own style and identities that play to their strengths, butwhile Brown could easily find a way to excel inThe Boys,Invinciblewas perfect for showcasing his qualities. He got the chance to play a genuinely sympathetic pacifist trying to do good alongside a sinister villain with bad intentions, something that would have been a little more over-the-top inThe Boys, making me glad he featured in the hit superhero show.
Invincible Isn’t Brown’s Only Superhero Appearance
Brown Made An Appearance In 2018’s Black Panther
Invinciblemay have become Brown’s most iconic role in a superhero universe, but he was already involved in the subgenre years earlier.Brown made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in 2018’sBlack Panther, where he played N’Jobu, the brother of King T’chaka. Unfortunately, his appearance was brief, as N’Jobu was killed by his sibling after betraying the people of Wakanda, making his villain role much less memorable than his time inInvincible. On the flip side, Brown has since expressed interest in rejoining the MCU, meaning his time in the superhero franchise may not be over just yet.
Whether he somehow reprises his role as N’Jobu or gets a much more significant role, I’d love to see him be properly utilized, asInvinciblehighlighted just how well he can do in a superhero environment if given the right opportunity. Although there has been no official confirmation,updates aboutBlack Panther 3seem to indicate the project is incredibly likely to be greenlit, which could be the perfect way for Brown to make his way back to the MCU. Nevertheless, regardless of what he does next, I’m desperate to see Brown in a future superhero project.
How Sterling K. Brown Could Still Appear In The Boys Franchise
The Boys Still Has Plenty Of Spinoff Shows That Brown Could Be A Part Of
With season 5 filming already underway, it looks incredibly unlikely that Sterling K. Brown will appear inThe Boys' main show, but this doesn’t rule out a role in the franchise entirely. Although the main story will come to an end in 2026,The Boysuniverse still has plenty of other projects Brown could feature in, such asGen V. Season 2 of the spinoff is set to be released in 2025, and assuming it is renewed for a third season or beyond, the actor could easily be involved, be it as a major antagonist, or as a potential hero.
The Boys: Every Upcoming Spinoff Explained
The Boys is about to expand its lore and worldbuilding with many exciting upcoming spin-offs that’ll unfold in myriad timelines and diverse settings.
Additionally,Vought Risingcould allow him to take on a smaller role, which may be less of a commitment since filming a whole season in Toronto is what made Brown turn down the part in the first place. He claimed the offer to joinThe Boyswas tempting, and given he’s worked with Eric Kripke before, a future appearance isn’t out of the question. Therefore, looking at what he did inInvinciblealongside his MCU cameo, I’m still extremely eager to see what Brown can do inThe Boysand I hope he can work something out with the franchise.
