Alongside a cameo appearance by Seth Rogen, the Friday episode of The young eventually unleashed Soldier Boy onto the world. So far he hasn’t done much besides roam around, wreak havoc on his surroundings, or exact revenge on an old flame. But in typical Jensen Ackles fashion, he still stands out. When you’re not admiring the hair (before or after the haircut; that’s between you and your deity) then hear his voice with that old-fashioned boom.
Soldier Boy’s sound is not that far removed from Ackle’s normal deep voice. But Soldier Boy certainly speaks with a remarkable affect; it’s terrifically confident, resonant even when he’s not speaking that loud. The sound quality was a choice Ackles said he made after doing some research for the role.
“I went back and actually got a list of old movies and old actors […] mainly the 50’s and 60’s. And I watched some of them — not even the films, but interviews that actors would do about their films,” Ackles tells Polygon. Although Ackles stresses that he wasn’t trying to copy any particular person, he did point out some of the names that came up as he browsed through the era: Robert Mitchum, Edward G. Robinsonand Lee Marvin.
“Back then there was just a different tone of voice in which people spoke. And I wasn’t exactly trying to copy that, but I just let it influence how I speak as a Soldier Boy a little bit.”
The result is a man who immediately sounds like he’s been ripped from the past. He speaks methodically but not robotically, sonorous and commanding even when he says (possibly) the shittiest things you’ve heard from a superhero. Ever wanted to hear Robert Mitchum rap off the beat on a variety show while dressing up as Captain America? Of course you have
Ackles is no stranger to modifying his voice for a role. while on supernaturalAckles talked about lowering his voice to play Dean, specifically to emulate Jeffrey Dean Morgan (who played his father on the show). It’s a choice he admittedly regrets a little supernaturals long tenure.
Anyhow, the voice Ackles uses for Soldier Boy clearly communicates how he embraces dominance, whether over his Payback peers or the cultural zeitgeist (of his time). Of course, that superiority only goes so far – there are five episodes left The young Season 3, and it’s possible he’ll hit his match.
Not to mention that Soldier Boy is navigating a 2020’s world where he doesn’t gybe like he used to. Has not only The Oprah Winfrey Show has come and gone since Soldier Boy went missing, but there was another Soulja Boy who cranked himself to the forefront of the zeitgeist for a moment. Of course, we still don’t know if Soulja Boy would have changed his in-universe name (or if his name would be an ironic broadcast of a long-dead Supes). But be warned, it takes more than some explosive powers to bring Soldier Boy back to the top.
Additional reporting by Pete Volk.
