‘Manhunt’ Proves ‘Masters of the Air’s Anthony Boyle is About To Be A Massive Star

Manhunt premieres on Apple TV+ today, introducing the world to the twisted events that followed Abraham Lincoln’s assassination in 1865. While Tobias Menzies shines as War Secretary Edwin Stanton and Hamish Linklater does fine work as the Commander-in-Chief, the show truly belongs to Anthony Boyle‘s John Wilkes Booth.

John Wilkes Booth is, of course, the man responsible for shooting Lincoln in the back of the head during a play at Ford’s Theater. He did so because he was a virulent racist and staunch supporter of the Confederacy. As Manhunt constantly points out, Booth believed his actions would save the Confederacy, doom the Union, and transform him into an immortal icon. Manhunt also shows us the events that ensured that didn’t happen.

Anthony Boyle harnesses the cruelty and charisma of the actor-turned-assassin, making him a truly incredible character to watch. Moreover, Boyle’s interpretation of Booth is so cocky, so cruel, and so vile, you might not realize that the Irish actor is also playing the sweet, stoic Group Navigator Henry Crosby on Apple TV+’s Masters of the Air. Together, Boyle’s performances are a one-two punch that will knock you out. More importantly, today’s Manhunt premiere and Masters of the Air finale prove that Anthony Boyle is a goddamn star.

Now, Anthony Boyle didn’t just show up on two major Apple TV+ dramas out of the blue. He’s been working steadily for years. His big break, arguably, was playing the role of Draco Malfoy’s surprisingly sweet son Scorpius Malfoy in both the West End and Broadway productions of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. He also appeared in The Lost City of Z, had a recurring role on Derry Girls, and acted in the Agatha Christie adaptation, Ordeal by Innocence. But the moment he first truly popped onscreen for me was in the exquisite, but underwatched, HBO drama, The Plot Against America. The alt-history thriller imagined a timeline where Charles Lindbergh became President and propelled the United States into a fascist nightmare. Boyle came very close to stealing the whole show (although co-star Morgan Spector managed to hold him back).

Now, though, it’s Anthony Boyle’s time to truly shine. This weekend not only marks the end of Masters of the Air, but the start of Manhunt. The first series was billed as an Austin Butler-led ensemble, but Boyle’s character wound up being the show’s beating heart. That’s in part because, hey, he narrates the whole thing. More importantly, though, Harry Crosby doubles as a stand-in for the audience. He gets airsick during battles, indulges in an irresistible wartime affair, and seems consistently shocked (if not ashamed) that he’s managed to survive the whole World War. He’s relatable in a way the perfect Buck (Austin Butler) and heroic Rosie (Nate Mann) simply aren’t. And he’s a hero.

John Wilkes Booth, on the other hand, is the opposite of Harry Crosby. He’s cocksure, not humble. Vindictive, not loyal. Where Crosby puts his life on the line in service to his country’s future, Booth takes it upon himself to try to upend the Union altogether. To see Anthony Boyle perfectly inhabit both men is like watching someone pull off a magic trick. Boyle really has the juice! He’s got the range! He’s a star!

Boyle’s going to have yet another opportunity to show off his range when he plays another real-life figure, Brendan Hughes, in FX’s Say Nothing later this year. After that, it’s unclear if Anthony Boyle has plans to do more prestige television or if he will return to the stage. My personal bet, though, is that Hollywood’s going to scoop him up. The swagger he exhibits as the brazenly self-obsessed John Wilkes Booth or the intensity he musters just staring at Bel Powley in Masters of the Air is the stuff movie stars are made of.