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"We want to talk about real issues through the lens of a superhero show, which is kind of amazing."
What happens when superheroes turn evil? That's the question The Boys, based on a series of graphic novels, sets out to answer. "They've done such a good job of having the essence of these really insane comics, while also making them palatable for TV," Chace Crawford, who plays superhero The Deep, says about the Prime Video original series, now in its fourth season. "The idea that absolute power corrupts absolutely, and that superheroes who have this power and kind of are gods, what would they really do out in the world?" Crawford, who rose to fame on the CW series Gossip Girl, says he jumped at the chance to play The Deep because it makes fun of the pretty-boy image he's been identified with. "These types of roles don't come around a lot. Also, I think you have to have a sense of humor about yourself. To be like, Yeah, let's make fun of that guy." Ultimately Crawford credits show creator, Eric Kripke, for keeping the show grounded despite its "batsh** crazy" tone. "We want to talk about real issues through the lens of a superhero show, which is kind of amazing."
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Editor's Note: This conversation has been edited and condensed for publication.
What can we expect from this season of The Boys?
I haven't even seen it. I've seen the first two [episodes]. We shot over a year ago. But I think the writers do a great job of starting with character, keeping it with the character driving the story. And I think that's part of the reason why the show has been so good. I mean, it's really couched in Homelander's [played by Antony Starr] devolution. But I'm really happy with my storyline. I know they've taken The Deep on a very interesting journey from season one. But The Deep sort of left office, he crossed this line that Homelander made him cross. And is he going to keep loyal to Homelander? How's he going to maintain that loyalty? And is he going to keep crossing those lines? I think it's interesting to see The Deep go a little bit darker.
Because the show has grown in popularity, there are a ton of new fans. What can people just discovering this show expect? What excites them to start watching?
I think you can still see exactly who the characters are when you start watching, and I think you can still get the whole idea of the show right away. The main thing about our show is the unpredictability of it, right? It's still so highly unpredictable and off-the-wall. I think you can just jump right in even if you haven't seen the rest of other seasons. You can get it [and] I think you can get the political undertones of the storylines. You can kind of pick up on all that right away. Some of the episodes are so off-the-wall, you almost can't turn away. It can be like watching a train wreck sometimes. But I think it's funny, some of my stuff is darkly comedic. It's got some levity in there, obviously got the violence. But [on other shows] you have traditional superhero storylines and you kind of always know where those are gonna go. They're gonna save the day. It's kind of formulaic. Ours is just bats*** crazy.
Were you a fan of the comics? Or of comics in general?
When I was younger, I was a fan of the Batman and Superman comics. I did a little bit of that. But I had no idea [The Boys] was this big graphic novel. And it was such a fast process, I remember it was right before Christmas, 2018. They shipped [the graphic novels] to my parents' house in Dallas, because I was like, that's where I'll be for Christmas. And they get there and I'm like, "What is this? Pornographic?" They're insane. And so I did read probably half of them just because I was so interested. I'm thinking, "How are they going to translate this to TV? This is insane. How are they even going to get away with this?" And I think they've done such a good job of having the essence of these really insane comics, while also making them palatable for TV in their own way. I think it's a tough medium to do, TV, but they did a great job.
You're right that The Deep can be wild and crazy, but how do you find the dance between the crazier side of him while also making him relatable?
It's tough. [Eric] Kripke [show creator] always said, we want these characters to live in the gray, there's a spectrum here, and that's the meat of the show. That's the meat of these superheroes. They're obviously terrible people. But we do not want to redeem them, but we want to see into this window. That's why I think it's so funny about The Deep, he's uber narcissistic, he's sexually assaulting people, he feels like that's his right. He's entitled, he's privileged and that's the way it's always been. But emotionally, he's a wreck. The only people he can connect to is the sea life. The octopus in his room at night becomes an emotional attachment, which is very real [for him]. He's like, this is his actual mistress, this is his only really emotional outlet and it just happens to be really funny that it's an octopus. So, I always thought that that was such a brilliant take on this character. And I find they always want to keep it real and keep it grounded. But when I push certain moments and do certain kinds of crazy things, they keep that in the show.
Sometimes superhero shows can be limiting to new audiences, but The Boys seems to be able to attract audiences that aren't your typical superhero show audiences. Have you experienced that from fans?
I get all sorts of all different types of fans, which is really refreshing, coming from like a Gossip Girl where it was like the same kind of demographic. I'll get like the TSA guy, "Yo, The Deep! What's up baby?" and it's really funny and then I'll get the 14-year-old Gen Z kid who probably shouldn't be watching it quite yet who's obsessed with it and is DMing me on Instagram and then a lot of women really liked it, they got into it because their boyfriend was watching or what have you. It really runs the gamut. I know dads that watched it with their 18-year-old sons and just loved it, which was not totally surprising. But we were pleasantly surprised because we're like, "Who is this going to be for? Are people going to accept this weird tonality changes? Is that gear shift [going to] work for people?" And it totally did.
Like you mentioned, the storyline has mirrored real-life political issues as the seasons have progressed. How do you feel these storylines help people relate to show?
I think Kripke wanted that a little bit. I mean, I think he always said, we want to talk about real issues through the lens of a superhero show, which is kind of amazing. But a lot of times we were shooting so far out, there was no way to predict what was going to happen. It dovetailed really nicely. I think the idea that power, absolute power corrupts absolutely, and that superheroes who have this power and who kind of are gods, what would they really do out in the world? What does human nature really look like if you throw water in the gears of human nature with fame and corruption and they can do whatever they want, what does that really look like? And I think that's reflected in our show, as opposed to sort of the cookie-cutter formulaic save-the-day thing.
If you didn't have the superhero power you have in the show, what superhero power would you have?
I mean, mine is stupid, talking to fish, right? And he doesn't even utilize it. He could literally summon all the Free Willys, all the orcas in the ocean, and just [be] very powerful. I mean, it's always the flying, right? Or invisible. It'd be flying for me for sure.
Considering your rose to fame on a show like Gossip Girl, that could have really limited the type of roles you could get. The Deep is far and beyond your Gossip Girl days. What impact do you think The Boys has had on the trajectory of your career?
These types of roles don't come around a lot, and I recognized that really quickly. Also, I think you have to have a sense of humor about yourself for this role. To be like, "Yeah, let's make fun of that guy." I kind of saw it right away. When I read the sides for the audition scenes, I'm like, "Oh God this [is] so far up my alley, sense of humor wise, and just tonally. I like dark comedy, that was what I saw in The Deep. But yeah, there was a period I was in a box. You can definitely be on a CW show, and it's kind of the formulaic thing and I look the way I do and it's perceived a certain way. It's fun for me, I feel like I have range and this role has given me every opportunity and more to be able to show that and to be able to do something really cool and make people laugh and be goofy and ridiculous and also show some real emotion and nuance. There's room for that in the show and it's given me everything in that regard.
And one of the things The Boys has done for you has been to open you up for more comedic roles.
I hope so. Hire me, I'll be available. [laughs] I have gotten a lot of interest from different comedic directors and writers, which just makes me so happy. I didn't even really know if I could pull off comedy. I wanted to try it, and I definitely pushed The Deep into more comedic moments in certain times, and found I really love it, at least within this role. Hopefully there's some more that comes around.
The Deep has been put into some wild situations over the years. What's one of the most absurd ones you're most proud of?
Oh my God. The first moment that I really was like, "This is awesome," was one by 1:30 in the morning, on a Friday night in Toronto, like summertime, probably 2018, and we're like ejecting an all-green dolphin out of a windshield of a van. I'm like, "This is hilarious." But the one that I was really proud of was the Patton Oswalt gill-talking scene in season two. I was really nervous about it, but it was The Deep's accidentally having this mushroom tea that he's given. And it was just gonna be me in this room. I was really nervous, but I was more nervous about the end, where he has to sing, "You Are So Beautiful" and break down. He's singing it, like harmonizing with the gills. I'm a terrible singer, and therefore The Deep is a terrible singer. And they hadn't gotten anyone. They had a guy, another actor, there and it was really funny. But I'm really proud to pull that off. I didn't want it to be too over-the-top or too cheesy. And I think we kind of hit the right tone. So that was probably the most fun for me, was working that scene out and getting to do that.
Speaking of comedy, you have a fun comedy coming out called Reunion which looks just perfect. Are you excited to do more comedy like that?
I love it. It was great to work with friends on that one. And it shot in L.A., which was amazing, I get to sleep in my own bed. It was phenomenal. All I want to do is work with people I enjoy working with and I'm friends with. To play this absurd character, he's a supporting lead but a great piece of the movie and a great character to play. That people are thinking of me for that and saying, "Hey, we want this guy and we think this guy can do that." It's such a triumph for me. I really am pleased with that and I owe it to The Boys for sure.
