After being the standout character in The Boys season 3 as Soldier Boy, Jensen Ackles hinted that he may not be finished yet as the toxic albeit traumatized iconic supe from Vought.
Though very brief, Ackles hinted that Soldier Boy could potentially return since the show had yet to confirm that the character had died following the events of The Boys season 3. That mysterious hint did not reveal whether Ackles' return to the show would happen immediately or later.
Ackles gave the full story while talking with Awards Radar. "There's some things out there," Ackles said. "I'm not allowed to give anything out, but we'll just say that Soldier Boy is not dead. Thank God." Because nothing has been announced yet, Ackles can't legally say anything about his future on The Boys. For all viewers know, Soldier Boy's return may happen in a future season rather than right away with season 4. The Boys showrunner Eric Kripke hinted that Ackles would return as the corrupt iteration of Captain America, though he, too, gave no specifics.
In The Boys season 3, Solider Boy was sedated by Grace Mallory after The Boys and Co. Neutralized him. That could open up even more possibilities should he become another enemy of The Boys themselves. They gave him enough reason to see them as nemeses after they betrayed him in The Boys season 3 finale, particularly after Billy Butcher had convinced him that Homelander wasn't his son as much as he was his replacement for Vought.
The Boys brought so many layers to Soldier Boy. He started as an empathetic antihero who just wanted revenge on his former team for selling him out to the Russians. However, empathy for him went out the window when it was revealed that he was emotionally and physically abusive to them non-stop during their time. Despite being exposed as more or less an irredeemable monster, Soldier Boy proved himself loyal to The Boys through thick and thin. He was even willing to eliminate Homelander despite the revelation that he was his own flesh and blood, honoring the deal they made him with. That made their betrayal of him all the more resonant after he threatened to kill Ryan.
Again, no one knows if and when Solider Boy will return. However, it could amplify an increasingly chaotic situation should he come back. The show has already hinted that The Boys season 4 will feature Homelander standing trial for murdering a Starlight supporter in broad daylight. With Homelander even more on the edge than before, Soldier Boy's impact should only make everything continue to spiral.
The Boys seasons 1-3 can be streamed on Amazon Prime.
Source: Award Radar