Jensen Ackles, known for his squeaky-clean image as Dean Winchester on Supernatural, shocked fans when he embraced the unapologetically raunchy world of The Boys as the volatile and often vulgar Soldier Boy. But even for a character known for pushing boundaries, there were some lines Ackles refused to cross.
Fans have been buzzing with speculation ever since Ackles hinted that he’d pushed back on some of Soldier Boy’s more outrageous antics. The mystery deepened when he revealed that the scene in question involved a certain group of elderly women.
"It was the scene with the grannies," one fan confirmed, recalling an interview where Ackles described the original script as "a lot more 'interactive'" and something that would have made everyone involved uncomfortable.
But what exactly did the original script entail?
The internet, naturally, exploded with theories, each one more outlandish than the last.
"It was the granny scenes. He was probably supposed to be actively [engaging in a sexual act] instead of just [pleasuring himself] under the robe," one fan speculated, sending a collective shudder through the fandom.
Another fan chimed in with a more out-there theory: "The OG theory was that he was supposed to be full frontal when he stepped out of the machine."
While the true nature of the original scene remains shrouded in mystery, one thing is clear: Jensen Ackles, despite embracing Soldier Boy's rough edges, wasn't afraid to draw a line in the sand.
Some fans speculated that this was all part of showrunner Eric Kripke’s master plan.
"Kripke’s approach, according to multiple sources on SPN, is to ask for more than he wants so that when he’s told no, the negotiated compromise is what he originally wanted," one fan explained. "That’s how they got the violence they wanted on SPN."
Could this be another instance of Kripke employing his negotiation tactics, using Ackles' boundaries to achieve the desired level of shock value?
Whether it was a calculated move or a genuine case of an actor standing his ground, Jensen Ackles' refusal to participate in the original scene speaks volumes. It demonstrates a level of self-awareness and respect for his own boundaries, even within the context of playing a character as morally ambiguous as Soldier Boy.
Ultimately, Ackles' decision to say "no" adds another layer of complexity to his portrayal of Soldier Boy.
It reminds us that even the most outrageous characters have limits, and that actors, like anyone else, are entitled to their own comfort levels.
