The creator of Amazon Prime’sThe Boysis right to be concerned about developing too many spin-offs following season 5.The Boysseason 5has wrapped filming, andthe final season of the dark comedy superhero series is currently planned for a 2026 release. The show was created by Eric Kripke and based on comics by Garth Ennis.
In both the TV adaptation and the source material,The Boysis an evident satire of comic books, with Homelander and the Seven built as a spoof of Superman and the Justice League. The TV version took this up a notch, providing not only social commentary but also commentary on the entertainment industry.
The 21st century has witnessed an extraordinary uptick in superhero films, with the Marvel Cinematic Universe surging ahead and becoming the most profitable movie franchise of all time. WhileThe Boysseason 4’s endingstill offered a unique take on the genre, the series always runs the risk of becoming what it initially sought to parody.
The Boys Has Satirized Shared Universes - Now It’s Creating Its Own
There Are Already 3 Spin-Offs In The Works
AlthoughThe Boysseason 5 will likely alter the course of things, the franchise itself isn’t going anywhere. In 2025, it’s challenging to find a successful film or TV series that isn’t immediately expanded with spin-offs, and Amazon already has three shows in development related toThe Boys.
Gen Vis the first spin-off, which currently awaits its second season, planned for a 2025 release.Vought Risingwill be the first prequel, following Soldier Boy in a period drama set in the early days of Vought. Another title in the works isThe Boys: Mexico.
In 2024, showrunnerEric Kripke spoke aboutThe Boysexpanding and becoming oversaturated,saying: “I live in absolute terror of becoming the thing we’ve been satirizing for five years.“Given that the series has also lost some value among fans, it needs to regain its footing sooner rather than later.
The Boys Spinoffs Need To Avoid The Mistakes Of Other Comic Book Shows
The Boys Could Easily Go Down A Sell-Out Franchise Path
You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain. If there’s one thing that superhero and other major IP movie franchises have taught us, it’s to quit while you’re ahead. With three shows in development,The Boysneeds to be cautious about not oversaturating the market, as has happened with the MCU.
The MCU still has countless fans, and the massive universe formula has made it the highest-grossing franchise ever. Still, it would be a shame to seeThe Boys, a series that built its foundation on subverting superhero tropes and parodying franchises, lose value by telling stories solely to expand a brand.
