Few actors in The Boys have experienced a character journey quite like Nathan Mitchell. After portraying the original Black Noir for three seasons as one of the Seven’s silent and deadly enforcers, Mitchell returned following the character’s shocking death — not as the same Noir, but as Black Noir II, a completely different person hired by Vought to continue the illusion.
In our conversation, Mitchell reflects on playing both versions of Black Noir, the emotional reaction to the original Noir’s brutal Season 3 death, and the chaotic downfall of Black Noir II in the series’ explosive final season.
About the Final Season
The fifth and final season of The Boys takes place in a world fully consumed by Homelander’s growing authoritarian control.
Hughie, Mother’s Milk, and Frenchie are imprisoned in a “Freedom Camp,” while Annie attempts to build resistance against the expanding Supe regime. Butcher’s return with a virus capable of wiping out all Supes threatens to ignite the final collapse of everything.
Inside that chaos, Black Noir’s legacy continues through both the memory of Earving and the unstable rise of his successor.
Watch the Full Interview
What We Asked Nathan Mitchell
- What was his emotional reaction to the original Black Noir’s death in Season 3?
- Did he think his journey in The Boys universe was over after Noir died?
- What was it like returning to play Black Noir II in Season 4 and Season 5?
- How does Black Noir II fit into the larger chaos surrounding Homelander and the Seven?
- Which cast member keeps the set the most entertaining behind the scenes?
The Original Black Noir’s Tragic End
The original Black Noir, Earving, evolved far beyond the silent assassin audiences first met in Season 1. Through body language and physical performance alone, Mitchell transformed Noir into one of the series’ most tragic and emotionally complex characters.
That arc came to a devastating end in Season 3 when Homelander murdered Noir after learning he had hidden the truth about Soldier Boy.
For many viewers, the death hit unexpectedly hard because the show had only recently begun peeling back the emotional damage beneath the mask.
The Meta Twist of Black Noir II
Rather than replacing Mitchell after Noir’s death, showrunner Eric Kripke brought the actor back by creating Black Noir II — a completely new character layered with meta-comedy and satire.
Within the world of The Boys, Black Noir II is actually an actor named Justin hired by Vought to pretend the original Noir never died. That twist allowed Mitchell to finally speak on-screen and show an entirely different personality after years of silent performance.
Unlike Earving’s stoic and intimidating presence, Black Noir II is awkward, insecure, overly talkative, and desperate for validation.
Mitchell discussed the challenge of making sure audiences could instantly feel the difference between the two characters despite the identical suit.
Playing an Actor Playing Black Noir
Part of the humor surrounding Black Noir II comes from the layered performance itself.
Mitchell isn’t just playing Black Noir — he’s playing an actor trying to perform Black Noir while slowly losing himself in the role. By Season 5, the character goes “full method,” attempting to fully embody the original Noir’s silence and behavior even outside of missions.
That bizarre evolution turns Black Noir II into both parody and tragedy at the same time.
The role also allowed Mitchell to bring more of his own personality into the series, including the running gag about Noir randomly falling asleep — something inspired by Mitchell’s real-life habit of napping between takes on set.
The Collapse of Black Noir II
Season 5 pushes Black Noir II deeper into instability as his partnership with The Deep spirals into toxic rivalry and violence.
As Homelander’s world collapses into chaos, Noir II becomes consumed by ego, identity, and the pressure of maintaining Vought’s manufactured illusion. His eventual downfall reflects one of the show’s biggest themes: the destruction caused by systems built entirely on branding, performance, and fear.
For Mitchell, the experience of playing both versions of Noir became one of the most unique acting opportunities within the series.
Behind the Scenes of The Boys
Outside the darkness of the story itself, Mitchell also reflected on the cast chemistry behind the scenes and which actors bring the most humor and energy to set.
Even during the series’ most violent and emotionally intense moments, that camaraderie remained one of the defining strengths of The Boys throughout its entire run.
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