Is Black Noir 2 a Homelander Clone in The Boys Season 5?
The Boys’ Season 5 introduces Black Noir 2 with a noticeably different demeanor, prompting fan chatter about whether the new version is more than just a replacement. While it’s unclear if Noir 2 is a fresh actor in a new suit or something more sinister, early Season 5 hints have sparked a clone-centered theory tied to Homelander.
In the Season 5 premiere, Noir 2 squares off with Starlight and later quietly appears during Deep’s podcast setup, quietly manipulating sound cues while not engaging much on mic. The real drama comes when Homelander summons Noir 2 and Deep to his office to scold them for failing to capture Starlight. Deep pushes for Noir 2 to back him up, but Noir remains mute, a stark change from the Season 4 replacement.
Reddit users quickly theorized why Noir 2 is acting so differently. One popular take suggests two possibilities: either the original Black Noir survived and replaced Noir 2, or the new Noir is a Homelander clone conditioned to serve as a backup plan for the team, enabling Vought to act if Homelander’s behavior became too unstable.
The speculative thread argues Vought (or Sage) might have foreseen a potential crisis with Homelander and deployed a silent clone of him as Black Noir, ready to stage a decoy death or to carry out a controlled reset of the threat he poses. The trailer for Season 5, which hints at Homelander’s power and influence, has fed fuel to this theory, especially with posters showing him near the White House.
Meanwhile, a nod to the comics is often cited: in the source material, Black Noir is revealed to be a Homelander clone, stitched into the Seven as a contingency. The comics reveal a brutal clash with Homelander at the White House, followed by Noir’s demise at the hands of the military. Fans debating the show’s path point out that the show has diverged from that exact arc, making the clone theory less certain but not entirely dismissed.
Marketing moments have kept fans guessing too. A lighthearted Homelander AMA on Reddit had him naming Black Noir as his favorite Seven member—an odd, meta moment that some interpret as hinting at a deeper connection or a wink to fans about Noir’s true nature. Whether this is sheer optics or a quiet setup for a future reveal remains to be seen.
Is the clone theory grounded in the comics, or is it a red herring for the show? Some fans argue the show isn’t following the comics’ clone storyline, while others insist the seeds are planted for a twist. The truth, for now, remains a mystery as Season 5 continues.
Season 5 Episodes 1–2 are streaming on Prime Video, with Episode 3 slated to drop on April 15. Until then, stay tuned for more clues as Noir 2’s behavior continues to raise questions about his identity and loyalties.