1 The Boys Casting Is Actually a Clever Meta Joke for Marvel Fans
How Shawn Ashmore went from playing a cool (literally) X-Man to a much darker character in The Boys.
Summary:
- Lamplighter is a character from The Boys, portrayed by Shawn Ashmore in the show's second season.
- Shawn Ashmore previously played the role of Iceman in the X-Men movie franchise, a stark contrast to his character in The Boys.
- Ashmore acknowledged that he was cast as Lamplighter to play against the type of character he portrayed in X-Men.
Fans of The Boys, the acclaimed superhero satire by Prime Video, will definitely remember Lamplighter.
But did you know that the actor who portrayed the character already played a superhero before, and it was the exact opposite to his role in The Boys?
Who Is Lamplighter And Who Portrayed the Character?
In The Boys, superheroes are not your typical good guys. Neither is Lamplighter, who is a former member of The Seven, the elite superhero team.
He is known for his ability to control and manipulate fire. He is a complex, morally ambiguous character with a dark past, including actions that have significant repercussions for other characters in the series.
The character was brought to life by Shawn Ashmore in the show’s season 2.
Before The Boys, Shawn Ashmore Portrayed Iceman in the X-Men Movies
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In 2000, Ashmore entered the superhero scene as Bobby Drake, aka Iceman, in the very first X-Men movie. Not only are his powers the exact opposite to his character in The Boys, his personality is also contrasting. Iceman is the epitome of a noble, selfless hero, growing into a key member of the X-Men.
The contrast between the noble Iceman and the complex Lamplighter is stark, highlighting Ashmore's range as an actor.
Shawn Ashmore Acknowledged Why He Was Cast for Lamplighter
You know how almost every The Boys’ character is a parody of Marvel or DC superhero? It’s always fun, but with Lamplighter, they decided to go a bit more creative.
Given that Lamplighter is the exact opposite to Iceman, both his superpowers and personality, isn’t it hilarious that the same actor plays both? That was the idea, and Shawn Ashmore acknowledges it.
In an interview with Looper, Ashmore said:
“I loved the idea of playing against Iceman. I mean, that's why they cast me. That's why they came to me with this role. It was very obvious to me.”
While short-lived, Ashmore’s Lamplighter was a character you wanted to see more of. That’s the only thing Lamplighter shares with Iceman.
Source: Looper