Summary:
- The Boys, initially planned as a film trilogy directed by Adam McKay, became a successful TV series produced by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and Eric Kripke.
- Its dark humor and superhero satire reflect political landscapes from the Bush era to the Trump years.
Since its debut in July 2019, The Boys has become one of the most entertaining, grotesque, and compelling series on television. However, the Prime Video adaptation of the comic wasn’t the first attempt to bring this twisted superhero world to life. At one point, Adam McKay was slated to create a film trilogy based on the series.
In an interview with Rolling Stone India, producers Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and Eric Kripke discussed the original plans for filming The Boys and how it eventually became the successful TV series we know today.
Rogen and Goldberg, early fans of Garth Ennis’ comic, bought the first issue as soon as it was released. They were immediately impressed.
“We were like, ‘Holy shit, this is amazing,'” Rogen said. “And the next week we went to Sony and said, ‘You should do this.'”
The Boys Nearly Became a Film Trilogy Directed by Adam McKay
The Boys was in development for some time, with serious plans for a three-film saga directed by Adam McKay. Known for his work on movies like Stepbrothers,
The Other Guys, both Anchorman films, The Big Short, and Don’t Look Up, McKay was set to helm the trilogy. The first film even had a completed script and demo animatics for some scenes. However, like many superhero films in pre-MCU Hollywood, the trilogy was eventually scrapped.
Ultimately, The Boys found its way to Rogen and Goldberg, who brought Supernatural creator Eric Kripke on board. “I wouldn’t change how it went because the show is great,” Robertson said.
“But he did some really cool stuff. It just came down to the fact that it was 2008, not 2018. I just don’t think they were ready for it yet.”
The audience’s readiness for The Boys likely stemmed from the increasing mainstream popularity of superheroes, as the comics were very contemporary and satirized the American political landscape during the Bush era.
The Evolution of The Boys and Its Satirical Roots
The Boys was originally set in the DC Comics universe, with characters like Superman and Batman having dark sides. Eventually, artist Darick Robertson convinced Ennis to create analogs for these characters, leading to Superman becoming Homelander,
The Flash becomes A-Train, and Aquaman becomes The Deep. The comics were created in 2006, amidst the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the Iraq War.
Reflecting on its relevance today, Robertson noted, “Because all the things that happened during the Bush years laid the groundwork for what’s happening in the Trump years.”
Despite the shift from a potential film trilogy to a television series, The Boys has found its footing and become a significant commentary on contemporary issues through its unique blend of dark humor and superhero satire.
