The Boys star reveals a really gross scene that the directors never included in the show

The Boys is a popular satirical superhero TV series on Amazon Prime Video, created by Eric Kripke and based on the Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson comic. Set in a world where superheroes have been corrupted by fame and power, the show follows a gang of vigilantes who are attempting to uncover the truth behind their actions.

The series features a great ensemble cast that includes Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, and Antony Starr. It premiered in 2019 and has since gained critical praise and several accolades. The franchise will conclude with the fifth and final season, which will be released in 2026.

A startling behind-the-scenes tale was recently shared by actress Shantel VanSanten, who plays Becca Butcher on The Boys. The ensemble was horrified—and yet amused—by a disgusting on-set mishap that occurred during a poignant sequence with co-star Karl Urban. It didn't even make it into the program since it was so disgusting.

More about The Boys star and the deleted scene

Shantel VanSanten shared one of the weirdest on-set stories that she had in her career in an interview with Collider. The popular actress has confessed that in one of the emotional moments with Karl Urban, it was something totally unexpected, a very real, very human moment of snot.

“When I was dying in [Urban’s] arms on the floor, it was freezing, freezing cold, I'm covered in blood, sun is setting, hurry up. We're going to shoot Karl’s coverage and I'm off camera, so I'm laying on the ground, but I'm there so that we can say our final words to each other, and it's his close up, so the camera's basically right next to my face here, and he's like saying goodbye to me, and they roll, and he does one, and he’s like, ‘No, I'm gonna do it again.’ And he leans down out of frame, and he wipes his fucking snot on my cheek! On my face, like drips his snot on my cheek, and then he came up out of frame because he was crying so much and his head is down and says the line, and they're like, ‘And, cut.’”

This was not a rehearsal, yet both actors remained in character until the take was over and after this, VanSanten laughed about it, and said it was gross but honest.

To VanSanten, whose career has seen One Tree Hill, and Shooter as well as For All Mankind, this is a reminder of the unpredictable beauty (and sometimes the disgust) of acting. It may be a flawed story, yet it is exactly that type of uncivilized power that makes The Boys one of the most outrageous and unchecked television shows.

Further in the interview, VanSanten commented that the experience taught her how physically and emotionally unattractive filming The Boys might be and the widely popular show is also full of melodramatic violence and satire. However, it relies on actors with the ability to temper the anarchy with real emotion.

The role of Urban as Billy Butcher, a man who is both revenge-focused and heartbroken, frequently requires complete dedication to it in every aspect, and VanSanten has hailed his efforts: he puts it all in and that sometimes causes it to get messy.

Cast of The Boys

The Boys also has one of the most strong ensemble casts in television history with a mix of dark satire and brutal emotion. Karl Urban stars as foul-mouthed anti-hero with a revenge motive, Billy Butcher.

Jack Quaid acts as the character of Hughie Campbell, the simple man who turns out to be a conscience of the show. Antony Starr gives a chilling career-making turn as Homelander, the psychotic mascot of superhero dominance.

Trending

Other prominent cast include Erin Moriarty (Starlight), Laz Alonso (Mothers Milk), Karen Fukuhara (Kimiko), Tomer Capone (Frenchie), and Chace Crawford (The Deep). Shantel VanSanten as Becca Butcher is the heart and human element to the hubbub.

Collectively, this cast makes The Boys a scathing indictment of fame, corruption, and morality in a superhero-infatuated world, and even when the most disgusting scenes are not shot, their brazenness performance is.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback