Alongside a Seth Rogen cameo, Friday’s episode of The Boys lastly unleashed Soldier Boy upon the world. So far he hasn’t achieved an excessive amount of past strolling round, wreaking havoc on his environment, or taking vengeance on an previous flame. But in typical Jensen Ackles style, he’s hanging nonetheless. If you’re not admiring the hair (pre- or post-cut; that’s between you and your deity) you then’re listening to his voice, with that old-timey increase.
Soldier Boy’s tone isn’t that far off from Ackles’ common low voice. But Soldier Boy actually speaks with a notable have an effect on; it’s grandly assured, resonant even when he’s not talking all that loudly. The tonal high quality was a selection, Ackles mentioned, that he made after doing a little analysis for the position.
“I went back and I actually got a list of old movies and old actors from […] largely the ’50s and the ’60s. And I watched some of those — not even the films, but like, interviews actors would do about their films,” Ackles tells Polygon. Though Ackles stresses that he wasn’t attempting to repeat anyone particular person in particular, he did level to a number of the names that got here up as he poked across the period: Robert Mitchum, Edward G. Robinson, and Lee Marvin.
“There was just a different cadence in which they spoke back then. And I wasn’t necessarily trying to copy that, but I just let that influence how I was speaking as Soldier Boy a bit.”
The result’s a person that immediately feels like he’s plucked from the previous. He speaks methodically, however not robotically, sonorous and commanding at the same time as he’s saying (presumably) probably the most batshit stuff you’ve heard from a superhero. Ever wished to listen to Robert Mitchum rap off-beat on a spread present whereas dressed like Captain America? Of course you could have.
Ackles is not any stranger to modifying his voice for a task. While on Supernatural, Ackles spoke about how he lowered his voice to play Dean, particularly to emulate Jeffrey Dean Morgan (who performed his father on the present). It’s a selection he admits regretting a bit, given Supernatural’s prolonged tenure.
Either method, the voice Ackles makes use of for Soldier Boy clearly communicates how he assumes dominance, whether or not over his fellow Payback members or the cultural zeitgeist (of his time). Of course, that superiority solely extends up to now — there are nonetheless 5 episodes left of The Boys season 3, and it’s attainable he’ll meet his match.
Not to say Soldier Boy is navigating a 2020s world wherein he now not jibes the best way he as soon as did. Not solely has The Oprah Winfrey Show come and gone since Soldier Boy went lacking, however there was one other Soulja Boy who cranked his technique to the highest of the zeitgeist for a second. Of course, whether or not in-universe Soulja Boy would have modified his identify (or whether or not his identify can be an ironic sendup of a long-dead supe), we nonetheless don’t know. But suffice it to say: It’ll take extra than simply some explosive powers to get Soldier Boy again on prime.
Additional reporting by Pete Volk.
