‘Gen V’ Star Reveals ‘The Boys’ Major Impact on Season 2

The cool, soothing tone of Hamish Linklater has been disarming audiences since he first came onto the scene more than two decades ago. That’s why he was the perfect man to don the top hat and beard of President Abraham Lincoln for Apple TV+’s Manhunt and why he was the right choice to portray a priest attempting to shepherd his followers towards the truth in Mike Flanagan’s Netflix series, Midnight Mass. Once again stepping into the spotlight and allowing his mild-mannered tone to lull us into a false sense of security, the actor is set to join the cast of Gen V for its second season, which arrives next month. Linklater will be taking on the role of Dean Cipher, the new leader at Godolkin University — a place for young superheroes to grow their powers. But, as the trailers have told us, there’s nothing safe about the world that Dean Cipher is molding, and it will in fact be one not very safe for the non-super-abled out there.

In a new interview with TV Insider, the Legion star gave some insight into what the new school leader was all about and teased that “a lot has changed” in the Eric Kripke-created universe since the first season of the spin-off.

“Yeah, I play Dean Cipher. That name should inspire a great deal of confidence in everyone. He’s the new Dean, and a lot has changed at Godolkin University since Season 1. We’re now in Homelander’s [Antony Starr] America, right? And he’s a Dean for that America.”

The latest trailer, which arrived alongside Linklater and other members of the Gen V squad during their panel at SDCC last weekend, flexed some of the changes that Dean Cipher has in store for the students. It appears that things will be going full-on The Hunger Games, with peers forced into fight-to-the-death-style melees with one another, and that no one — not even shining pupil, Cate Dunlap (Maddie Phillips) — will be on the new Dean’s good side.

Hamish Linklater’s Stellar Performance in an Underrated Netflix Series

As mentioned at the top, in our humble opinion, one of the best performances of Linklater’s career came through his starring role in Mike Flanagan’s Netflix series, Midnight Mass. The spooky miniseries didn’t receive quite as much hype as some of the director’s other episodic titles for the streamer, but it is easily one of his best. In it, Linklater plays a priest on a small and suffering island and fishing village who tries to bring the community back together again following a string of supernatural events. The project also includes standout performances from Flanafan favorites like Zach Gilford, Kate Siegel, Rahul Kohli, and Samantha Sloyan that fully drive the message — and the unsettling terror — home.

Gen V returns to screens courtesy of Prime Video on September 17.

Gen V

Release Date

September 28, 2023

Network

Prime Video

Directors

Nelson Cragg, Clare Kilner, Philip Sgriccia, Sanaa Hamri, Shana Stein, Steve Boyum

Writers

Craig Rosenberg

Franchise(s)

The Boys

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  Jaz Sinclair

  Marie Moreau

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  Lizze Broadway

  Emma Meyer / Little Cricket

Source: TV Insider