THE BOYS STAR ADDRESSES HIS CHARACTER'S LEAKED 'CAMEO' IN JAMES GUNN'S SUPERMAN

James Gunn's Superman is ways off its theatrical release but leaked photos have already spoiled the characters appearing in the movie. The Boys' Nathan Mitchell says the mere possibility of Black Noir inspiring a leaked Superman villain is "such an honor to see."

Actor Nathan Mitchell recalled mourning Black Noir's death in The Boys Season 3. He told Entertainment Weekly that his "heart dropped" upon learning his character would die and come back in some capacity. Season 4 did resurrect Black Noir but with a new supe underneath the suit; Mitchell reprises the role but as New Noir who now speaks freely. "My first inclination was to go down with the character because I was so connected to him and have so much love for him," he said. "Then I took a day or two to think about it, and I'm like, 'It's smarter to be New Noir. I'll be New Noir.'" Mitchell considered Black Noir so unique that it "was such an honor to see" him inspire a character in a Superman movie.

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Aware of the leaked Superman set photos that showed a spitting image of Black Noir apprehending David Corenswet's Man of Steel, Mitchell acknowledged the inspired resemblance was a possibility. "I might be missing something, but it is hard for me to imagine another superhero in pop culture right now that looks like Black Noir," he asserted. "The goggles were reminiscent and the all-black. I don't know 100 percent, but the possibility that I could be playing a character that has had an impact to the extent that it inspires an antagonist in a Superman movie, I couldn't have thought or dreamed of that." The identity of the Black Noir lookalike in Superman’s set photos has yet to be confirmed, but there’s mounting consensus that he’s a New 52 supervillain.

Superman In Context Of The Boys' Mythology

Mitchell said the Superman reboot and The Boys offer contrasting perspectives of modern mythology. "...In making a Superman movie, you're also making a case about why Superman is needed and why he matters and why he's relevant. If you're doing it in the modern-day in this world in 2024, the discussion around superheroes includes The Boys. So if you're going to make a case for Superman, you have to make a case for Superman in context of a team like the Seven and showing that contrast." As a scathing satire of superhero tropes, The Boys depicts the Seven as a caricature of the Justice League, and Homelander as an absurd Superman parody.

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Mitchell teased that they've shot scenes revealing the dark side of New Noir, which hopefully plays out in The Boys’ remaining episodes. He hinted this would have something to do with New Noir's backstory leading up to his audition to become one of the Seven. "It's a trope on the dark side of acting where people dive in to the point of doing some things that aren't that great," he said. “That's something we explore with Noir, and it's an interesting take. We did that and maybe one other thing. So we will see if that other thing comes out."