Recently, Marvel Cinematic Universe fans have been buzzing with excitement over a rumor that’s been circulating over the internet. According to Reddit page r/MarvelStudiosSpoilers, Antony Starr could be portraying Dracula in Marvel’s upcoming Blade movie. The original post included spoilers for other MCU works such as Deadpool, Black Panther, and Daredevil: Reborn. The casting of The Boys star has come as a complete surprise to many fans. While some fans had expressed wanting to see Antony Starr in the MCU, not many could predict his casting in Blade, and as Dracula, no less. Through his role as the Homelander in The Boys, Starr has portrayed quite the potential. Here are some reasons why Antony Starr is the perfect choice as Dracula in Marvel’s Blade:
Starr’s Already Familiar With a Superhero-Verse
Regardless of the differences between the two universes, both the MCU and The Boys fall into the superhero genre. This means that Antony Starr is definitely used to playing a part in a world where superheroes reside. It doesn’t hurt that the actor looks great with a cape. He’ll just have to replace his superhero cape with Dracula’s cape.
Turned an Unknown Character into an Ultimate Villain
In The Boys universe, Homelander is a hero in the public’s eyes, but behind his public persona, lies a monstrous, conniving evil force who doesn’t care about the greater good or the well-being of the people. There’s no better person to play Homelander than Antony Starr. The actor was able to use his spectacular acting skills to turn an unknown character into perhaps one of the best TV villains ever.
From the presence he holds, to the tone of his voice, to the facial expressions, Antony Starr knows what it takes to portray a villain. When Homelander walks into the room, one knows that he possesses enough power to destroy anyone if he wishes to do so. One scene in particular that sticks out, is when the Homelander faces a crowd of protestors. When Homelander flies onto the stage, where a politician is addressing the crowd, one can see the politician and the crowd stiffen with fear at the superhuman’s presence. Starr’s portrayal of Homelander makes him a memorable character, and really helped popularize the show. Now imagine Starr bringing the same energy and aura for his role as Dracula in Blade. Wouldn’t that be absolutely thrilling?
Homelander and Dracula Have the Same Presence
Dracula was first introduced in Marvel, along with Blade, in Tomb of Dracula, a 70-issue series. Not only is Dracula the Lord of the Vampires, but he’s also Blade’s most notable enemy. In addition, Dracula and his vampires have seemed to have wedged their way into many corners of the MCU, including Thor, Doctor Strange, Wolverine, and Blade.
Dracula, as the supreme ruler of vampires, is highly intelligent, extremely powerful, and is well aware of his own strengths. He’s driven by the lust for power and blood, seeking to create a new Vampire Nation. Dracula thinks of himself as the best of the best, which is pretty reminiscent of Homelander’s speech at the awards, where he reminds everyone of how powerful he is and how the other supers would be helpless without him. Both of them hold a similar presence; they are charming, extremely powerful, and won’t hesitate to exploit others. The similarity between the two characters makes it easier to picture Starr as Dracula.
A Definite Level-Up Form Blade: Trinity’s Dracula
New Line Cinema
One thing that MCU fans all agree on is that Dracula in Blade: Trinity was an absolute disappointment. Dracula, in the comics, is portrayed as extremely powerful, intelligent, cold, and calculating. However, Dominic Purcell’s Dracula in Blade: Trinity seems to only visually show his strength; his actions never portray him as such. Purcell’s Dracula gives off more gym bro vibes than he does the ruler of vampire vibes.
Despite being an all-powerful being and the main antagonist that Blade faces, Dracula is defeated a little too easily in the film. Plus, Dracula’s monstrous form in the film is also quite disappointing. Overall, both in terms of showing and telling, Dracula’s character was a major letdown. Antony Starr’s casting as the vampire lord promises the audience a more charming, yet cunning villain. Hopefully, with Starr, one could expect a Dracula that’s closer to the actual depiction of the character.
Starr Definitely Has the Teeth for It
If one were to Google a picture of Antony Starr as Homelander, one would see numerous pictures of the actor grinning towards the camera with his rather sharp teeth on display. It wouldn’t be surprising if the pointy canines were part of the reason why Starr nailed the role. It would definitely mean less work for the costume and makeup team. Jokes aside, it’s hard to deny that visually, Antony Starr would make a rather handsome and charming Dracula.
The Internet Loves It
Marvel has yet to confirm the rumors of Antony Starr playing the part of Dracula, yet the fans are already in love with the idea. Soon after the rumors started to circulate, many fans took to social media to express the excitement they felt over the possibility of the casting. There were numerous edits of Starr as Dracula, along with posts where fans stated that Starr would make the perfect villain for Blade to go up against. Many also expressed that they hoped Starr’s Dracula would not be killed in the first movie, and that fans would get to see more of him.
