There are a few theories circulating regarding Soldier Boy's return in The legendary supe Soldier Boy is a fan favorite in Eric Kripke's critically acclaimed Amazon Prime Video TV show. Ever since debuting in The Boys season 3, Soldier Boy demonstrated everything that made The Boys unique - he was the perfect satirical response to heroes like Captain America. Jensen Ackles' gruff bravado was perfect for Soldier Boy, and his long-term working relationship with showrunner Kripke led to perfect synergy between the show's script and Ackles' performance.

Having led Supernatural alongside Jared Padalecki for 15 years, Ackles was the most obvious choice for a tongue-in-cheek role in The Boys. Kripke's seminal fantasy TV series, Supernatural, honed Ackles as a point of dark humor and toxic masculinity. However, Ackles' Supernatural character, Dean Winchester, had a heart of gold, whereas the same doesn't appear to apply to Soldier Boy. Soldier Boy is unscrupulous and vicious, with dangerous superpowers in The Boys. The all-American supe is sure to bring some dark storylines to The Boys season 5, with some moments, in particular, seeming likely to transpire.

10 Soldier Boy s Homelander's Army In Season 5

Soldier Boy Could Become Homelander's Pawn

Homelander built up an army throughout The Boys and Soldier Boy could be about to it. The importance of Homelander's army was shown by Gen V, The Boys' spinoff TV series. Featuring heavily in Gen V, Homelander's army may be crucial to future seasons of the spinoff. Therefore, tying the army in further to the lore of The Boys, with a Soldier Boy arc, makes sense for the continuation of Gen V.

The Boys season 5 is set for release in 2026.

Additionally, the last viewers saw of Soldier Boy, he was lying in an incubator being watched by Homelander. He was completely vulnerable to Homelander's machinations, and Homelander may want to use the supe to his advantage. Homelander found himself down a few allies by the end of The Boys season 4, so he may try and manipulate the powerful Soldier Boy into ing his cause, possibly with the promise of harming Butcher.

9 MM Finally Kills Soldier Boy In The Boys Season 5

MM Avenges His Family In The Boys Season 5

Mother's Milk was known as MM, and he may finally avenge his family in The Boys season 5, killing Soldier Boy. Although a supe in the comic by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, MM was a normal human in Kripke's TV series, and had lost a lot to supes. In the Amazon show, MM had a feud with Soldier Boy owing to Soldier's Boy's impact on his family. It seems that MM's family, in the show, were collateral damage in a Soldier Boy rescue.

Giving MM a similar backstory to Hughie, this means that MM was driven to control supes by the loss of his loved ones. Importantly, MM not only lost loved ones to a public rescue gone wrong, he also lost his father to Soldier Boy. MM's father was so obsessed with taking down Soldier Boy, he completely ignored his son and was driven by obsession to an early grave. MM could finally achieve justice in season 5 and put an end to Soldier Boy.

8 Soldier Boy Condemns Homelander's Actions

Soldier Boy Rejects Homelander In The Boys Season 5

Soldier Boy is effectively Homelander's father in The Boys, and with Homelander seeking his approval, Soldier Boy's rejection would be a fittingly dark arc. It seems like Soldier Boy is heading for a confrontation with Homelander, regardless of what he may want, since he is incapacitated in Homelander's possession. With Homelander in control of Soldier Boy, season 5 could show his continued yearning for fatherly approval.

Soldier Boy wasn't exactly on Homelander's side throughout the entirety of The Boys. Therefore, being woken up by Homelander may not be the first item on his wishlist. Homelander may keep Soldier Boy prisoner and fail to grasp the emotional nuances of this, in his insensitivity. That would make Soldier Boy reluctant to capitulate and make any reconciliation between Homelander and his vulnerable father figure difficult.

7 Soldier Boy Trains Ryan In The Boys Season 5

Ryan & Soldier Boy Team Up In The Boys Season 5

Ryan is entering The Boys season 5 without a clear father figure, and Soldier Boy could step in to fill the role. Fatherhood is a significant theme in The Boys, showing how generational trauma and family values impact entire generations. In this sense, linking Ryan to Soldier Boy would work. Ryan may exemplify the theme of fatherhood the most in The Boys, torn between supe values on one hand, in the form of Homelander, and human values on the other, in the form of Butcher.

The supe Homelander is Ryan's biological father via sexual assault. Meanwhile, the human Billy Butcher represents a non-biological but marginally less demented father figure. Ryan's gradual and heartbreaking discovery over the course of The Boys that neither man was the ideal father figure may lead him into Soldier Boy's arms, Soldier Boy being his grandfather. Soldier Boy will wake up sooner or later, and he may be seeking a son to replace Homelander, who was a disappointment.

6 Soldier Boy Removes Homelander's Powers

Homelander Will Lose His Supe Abilities In The Boys Season 5

Soldier Boy is impressively able to remove other supes' powers in The Boys, and his removing Homelander's powers would provide a fitting end to Homelander's story. Soldier Boy affected Kimiko's powers, proving that he could be the one to finally neutralize Homelander. This could be a key element to The Boys season 5, since The Boys are seeking to put an eye to Homelander's reign of terror.

The Boys comic book series began in October 2006.

Billy Butcher worked hard in The Boys season 4 to ensure he had a virus that could kill all supes. Although this plan went wrong in many ways, Butcher is still poised to unleash the virus in season 5. Soldier Boy's impact on the way compound V operates in supes' bodies could provide an alternative to Butcher's virus, offering the Boys a means to tackle Homelander without killing other supes.

5 Homelander Kills His Father In The Boys Season 5

Homelander Has Good Reason To Kill Soldier Boy

There is every reason for Homelander and Soldier Boy to start The Boys season 5 on the wrong foot, and that could lead to Homelander killing Soldier Boy. Soldier Boy teamed up with Butcher and Hughie in The Boys season 3 to hunt Homelander, making him a target for Homelander in season 5. Homelander was moved to learn that Soldier Boy was his biological father and gave him leeway, despite his attack. However, he may not be so kind in season 5, having had time to deliberate.

Homelander was seen meditating on Soldier Boy's usefulness in the finale of The Boys season 4, showing that he hadn't yet discarded all hope of an understanding with Soldier Boy. However, the two have major differences that may be impossible to reconcile. Soldier Boy's death at the hands of Homelander would be the perfect end to the character in many ways, proving that Homelander would stop at nothing to achieve power.

4 Soldier Boy Gets Revenge On Butcher In Season 5

Soldier Boy Isn't Happy With Butcher In The Boys

It is very likely that Soldier Boy will seek revenge on Butcher for his betrayal in The Boys season 5. Despite their team-up in The Boys season 3, Butcher and Soldier Boy didn't end their liaison on good . Butcher went back on his deal with Soldier Boy to protect Ryan, who he was protective of up until the end of The Boys season 4. Butcher wasn't so sure that Ryan needed protecting by the end of season 4.

Soldier Boy and Butcher are both incredibly powerful supes going into season 5, so a standoff would make great television.

Eric Kripke spoke out on Soldier Boy's return in The Boys season 5, confirming that "Soldier Boy is really driven to kill Butcher" after their former run-in. The Boys' showrunner stated that Soldier Boy was an "excellent antagonist," suggesting that he may not be so amenable to a partnership with the Boys. Soldier Boy and Butcher are both incredibly powerful supes going into season 5, so a standoff would make great television.

3 Homelander Finally Gets His Father's Approval

A Twisted Moment Of Recognition Between Father & Son

With fatherhood a major theme in The Boys, season 5 may give Homelander the paternal acceptance he seeks. Eric Kripke suggested that The Boys season 5 will explore the relationship between Homelander and Soldier Boy. This would tie off the loose ends started by the interaction between the two in season 3. Season 4 didn't give this relationship the time it deserved, whereas season 5 should.

Homelander and Soldier Boy are cut from the same malicious cloth, and a slanted moment of understanding between the two could underline this. This would suit the show's satirical tone and allow Soldier Boy and Homelander to take on Butcher together. Homelander's partnership with Soldier Boy would help the two attack Butcher, who has proven to be a mightier enemy than either expected.

2 Butcher & His Stepson Take Out Soldier Boy & His Son

Ryan Kills Soldier Boy While Butcher Kills Homelander

Butcher and his stepson, Ryan, may be the ones to finish Soldier Boy and his son, Homelander. Billy Butcher wrestled with paternity in The Boys, seeking to validate his relationship with his stepson, Ryan. Competing with Homelander for the fatherhood of Ryan revealed how painfully deficient Butcher was as a father. Butcher faced failure as a stepfather in season 4, with Ryan becoming increasingly violent.

If Ryan and Butcher team up to destroy Homelander and Soldier Boy, this father-son duo would poetically mirror the father-son duo they killed.

Although Ryan appeared to be turning away from both Butcher and Homelander in The Boys season 4, Soldier Boy's cruelty could be enough to make Ryan choose Butcher over Homelander. Soldier Boy proved his ruthlessness in The Boys and a moment of shocking callousness could confirm to Ryan that Butcher was right. If Ryan and Butcher team up to destroy Homelander and Soldier Boy, this father-son duo would poetically mirror the father-son duo they killed.

1 Butcher Tortures Soldier Boy In The Boys Season 5

Soldier Boy Gets His Comic Book Ending

The comics by Ennis and Robertson suggest a dark end to Soldier Boy - he may be tortured to death by Butcher. Soldier Boy was tortured by Billy Butcher in The Boys #34 by Garth Ennis, Carlos Ezquerra, Hector Ezquerra, Simon Bowland, Tony Avina, and Darick Robertson of Dynamite Comics. With a confrontation between Butcher and Soldier Boy almost guaranteed, Soldier Boy's gruesome comic book ending is reasonably likely.

Butcher is looking like one of the most powerful characters of The Boys going into season 5, so there's no reason why he wouldn't be in a position to torture and kill other characters. As the comics reveal, Butcher's arc just gets darker and darker until its sordid ending. Soldier Boy's enmity of Butcher in the show puts him in Butcher's path, and clearly, Butcher will stop at nothing to end all supes, precipitating gratuitous violence in The Boys season 5.