While Soldier Boy’s return in The Boys season 4 has been confirmed, the villain’s role in the upcoming outing is not yet clear. Soldier Boy was temporarily defeated at the end of The Boys season 3 finale, but the superhero satire made sure to clarify that he wasn’t dead. Soldier Boy ended the season back in cryogenic stasis, this time in the CIA’s possession. This led to speculation that the character might return and, sure enough, actor Jensen Ackles soon confirmed that Soldier Boy would be back in The Boys season 4.

What is not yet clear is exactly how Soldier Boy will return. Soldier Boy’s cameo in The Boys spinoffGen V might clue viewers in on his fate, but this appearance could just be a pre-recorded video that predates his misadventures in the ’80s. As such, Soldier Boy’s role in The Boys season 4 is entirely open to speculation and there is an endless array of possibilities for him. The character could return as a major villain, he could be used by Victoria Neumann and/or Vought, or he could even rejoin the Boys (although it might be tough for him to regain their trust).

9 The Boys Season 4 Will Kill Off Soldier Boy

The most shocking twist that The Boys season 4 could pull off would be killing off Soldier Boy. Since the series kept Stormfront around after her season 2 finale defeat only to kill her early in The Boys season 3, it’s not like the show has no precedent for this twist. However, repeating that horrific The Boys fate on Soldier Boy would be more surprising for two reasons. For one, Stormfront was clearly severely injured whereas Soldier Boy seemed pretty stable. For another, Soldier Boy’s immense powers implied that he could be a major villain through to The Boys season 5.

8Soldier Boy Will Work With The Boys In Season 4

It seems unlikely that Soldier Boy will ever work with the Boys again after season 3’s events. However, they were the ones who freed him, and he does hate Homelander more than Hughie, Butcher, or any other member of the vigilante squad. The main reason that it would be a shock for The Boys season 4 to see Soldier Boy work for the Boys is that this is essentially the same role he played back in season 3. However, while it would be a massive The Boys season 4 twist, it could still happen.

7 Soldier Boy Will Kill Homelander In The Boys Season 4

It would be really disappointing if Soldier Boy killed Homelander after Butcher’s lengthy battle with the monstrous supe. However, this would also be fittingly bleak for The Boys, and it would fit the show’s obsession with monstrous fathers. This remains an unlikely twist simply because The Boys season 4 would leave season 5 without a main villain if the show had killed off Homelander already. However, in a series with so many abrupt and unexpected deaths, even Homelander’s demise is always possible.

6 Ryan Will Kill Soldier Boy In The Boys Season 4

As of The Boys season 3’s finale, Ryan is effectively Homelander’s companion. As such, if Vought sent Soldier Boy to assassinate Homelander and Ryan saved him, this could solidify their alliance and break Butcher’s heart even more. The Boys season 4’s dark Ryan plot is already pitting Butcher and Homelander against each other, so it is admittedly unlikely that Homeland’s father will also enter the fray. However, Ryan’s powers haven’t been utilized recently, and Homeland discovering that he can kill Soldier Boy could set up some lethal jealousy toward the boy.

5 The Boys Season 4 Could Retire Soldier Boy

This would be truly shocking if The Boys season 4 simply let Soldier Boy retire. However, since he spent most of season 3 getting revenge and taking drugs, there is an outside chance that Soldier Boy simply won’t want any part in the power plays between Neumann, Vought, Homelander, the Seven, and the Boys. One of the biggest differences between The Boys villains Homelander and Soldier Boy is that Soldier Boy is a hedonist at heart. As such, he might become another washed-up supe.

4 Stan Edgar Will Use Soldier Boy In The Boys Season 4

Stan Edgar is out at Vought and needs a powerful supe on his side. No one would be a better fit than a supe that can disempower every other hero judging by Soldier Boy’s encounters with Maeve and Kimiko. With the hot-headed Soldier Boy working for him, the cool and collected Edgar could work his way back into the endless power games at the heart of The Boys season 4. Currently, he needs a miracle to regain relevance, and Soldier Boy could be that miracle.

3 Soldier Boy Is Used To Remove Other Supes’ Powers

Speaking of Soldier Boy’s ability to deprive supes of their powers, the villain could be used to remove the superpowers of other characters throughout The Boys season 4. Admittedly, The Boys season 3 finale weakened Soldier Boy (or, at least, seemed to), so he may no longer be able to strip other characters of their abilities. However, if he retained this power, Soldier Boy could be the most in-demand character in the show’s universe as every faction of the fight tries to use this ability to their advantage.

2 Soldier Boy Will Replace Black Noir In The Boys Season 4

Since viewers never see behind Black Noir’s mask and Soldier Boy almost killed the original Black Noir, The Boys season 4 could twist the knife by revealing that Homelander’s replacement confidante is really his father. If the CIA installed Soldier Boy as the new Black Noir, they could use him as a mole in the Seven to get closer to Homelander and company. Given Black Noir’s gruesome death, this would probably end badly for Soldier Boy, although he has already proven that could potentially beat Homelander if push came to shove.

1 The Boys Season 4 Makes Soldier Boy A Supe Zombie

While it is unlikely Soldier Boy will become a literal zombie in The Boys season 4, it is entirely possible that he could be experimented on and turned into a mindless shell that obeys orders without question. This is how both the CIA and Vought have always wanted to treat supes and Soldier Boy is one of their earliest experiments, so it would make sense for them to attempt this vision one more time. If this does come to pass, Soldier Boy could be a lethally dangerous Manchurian candidate who is willing to kill for whoever is pulling his strings, making The Boys season 4 villain even more dangerous than before.