The Boys Star's Forgotten Marvel Role Shakes Up MCU Formula!
Erin Moriarty, known for her impactful role as Starlight in The Boys, previously portrayed Hope Shlottman in Marvel's Jessica Jones. She reflects on the dark and complex themes shared by both superhero series, noting the full-circle experience of playing a human and then a superhero within the genre. The article also touches upon the future of The Boys franchise following its finale.
Fans of the hit Prime Video superhero series, The Boys, said goodbye to the show earlier this year, with its final episode airing on May 20. However, the franchise is set to continue with a new spin-off titled Vought Rising, scheduled for next year, starring Jensen Ackles as Soldier Boy and Aya Cash as Stormfront. While the first spin-off, Gen V, was canceled after two seasons, its characters did make appearances in the final season of The Boys. Given the franchise's significant popularity over the past seven years, it is widely expected that Prime Video and creator Eric Kripke have more extensive plans for its future.
Among the many stars who played key roles across all five seasons of The Boys, Erin Moriarty's portrayal of Starlight had a profound impact. Moriarty featured prominently from the first episode to the series finale, delivering a commanding performance. What many fans might not recall is that Starlight was not her first foray into the superhero genre.
Before The Boys, Moriarty played Hope Shlottman in seven episodes of the Netflix Marvel series, Jessica Jones, which ran for three seasons between 2015 and 2019. Her character, Hope, met a tragic end in the first season, taking her own life in a scene that remains one of Marvel's most brutal and remembered deaths.
During a panel at FAN EXPO Canada, moderated by Collider’s Maggie Lovitt, Moriarty reflected on the significance of carrying such impactful roles. She noted that she remains very present with a role in the moment but doesn't rewatch her work. Reflecting on Hope, Moriarty found interesting similarities between Jessica Jones and The Boys: “They’re both very dark, and neither one is afraid to explore taboo subject matter.”
Moriarty further elaborated on the parallels between Hope and Annie (Starlight), highlighting their shared experiences with difficult themes such as consent, sexual abuse (specifically Hope's ordeal with Kilgrave), and being unjustly incarcerated. She recounted the traumatic nature of Hope's death and expressed satisfaction at being able to portray such dark and complex characters within the evolving Marvel world. This indicated a growing space for nuanced and challenging narratives in the superhero genre.
One of the striking aspects captured by The Boys, particularly through Erin Moriarty’s performance as Starlight, was the idea that even superheroes are not immune to pain and emotion. Moriarty admitted that she hadn't thought about Hope in a long time, attributing this to her