The Boys season 4 may be “delayed indefinitely” despite having already wrapped filming due to the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike, but its college spin-off Gen V is still on track to premiere later this month (September 29th).
Considering Amazon Prime Video‘s success with the main series, it was unsurprising to learn several of the planned spin-offs had been fast-tracked. And ordinarily, there’d be concerns about diluting the brand, which is often a consequence of attempting to launch too much too quickly. Based on the latest teaser trailer for Gen V, however, like Antony Starr’s Homelander, the brand is only stronger than ever.
On paper, the concept makes perfect sense vis-Ã -vis entertainment value: take all the hormonal debauchery and cut-throat social dynamics of the American college experience and put it on steroids (or more appropriately, Compound V). Adapted from the We Gotta Go Now storyline of the original comic book by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, that’s precisely what fans can expect.
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Gen V follows the journey of several young adult supes who are tested in Hunger Game-style challenges at Vought International’s Godolkin University School of Crimefighting, all vying for status out in the real world. Headlined by Jaz Sinclair as bloodbender Marie Moreau, Chance Perdomo as metal bender Andre Anderson, and Lizze Broadway as size shifter Emma Shaw, as per the universe’s signature, things get dicey. Fast.
In terms of in-universe timeline, the events of Gen V reportedly run parallel to the currently shelved fourth season of The Boys.
“There’s definitely crossover, and we’re doing our best to design a universe that sees some of the issues and storylines in The Boys season 3 hand off to the first season,” The Boys creator Eric Kripke told Deadline.
“Like there’s a presidential campaign happening in the background of that season, and there are certain things that are happening at that school that are both in reaction to season 3 of The Boys. There’s Soldier Boy, etcetera.”
“But also some new storylines that are happening in that season of the spin-off that we have to pick up and take into season 4 of the show.”
Sinclair, Perdomo, and Broadway are joined by Maddie Phillips as mind empath Cate Dunlap, London Thor and Deruk Luh as gender shifter Jordan, Asa Germann as another young super known as Sam Riordan; in addition to Patrick Schwarzenegger as Golden Boy, Sean Patrick Thomas as Polarity, Marco Pigossi as Doctor Edison Cardosa, Clancy Brown as Richard “Rich Brink” Brinkerhoff; with Shelley Conn, Jason Ritter, and Alexander Calvert.
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The cast will also guest feature some familiar faces like Jessie T. Usher as A-Train, Colby Minifie as Vought exec Ashley Barrett, Claudia Doumit as Head Popper/vice presidential candidate Victoria Neuman, P.J. Byrne as Vought Studios director Adam Bourke, and even Jensen Ackles as Soldier Boy. All of whom are obviously reprising their roles from the main series.
Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters (Law & Order: SVU, Reaper, Agent Carter) serve as showrunners and executive producers for Gen V; while original series creator Eric Kripke, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, Neal H. Moritz, Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, plus more also serve as executive producers.
Gen V officially premieres on September 29th, 2023 — keep an eye out for it on Amazon Prime Video and check out the brand new trailer above.
