Although The Boys is coming to a close with its fifth season, it looks like one spinoff may also have been shelved, according to showrunner Eric Kripke. The series has spawned three spinoff shows, including the upcoming prequel series, Vought Rising, Gen V, and animated series The Boys Presents: Diabolical. It seems that while the former two shows are just getting started, the latter may have been a one-and-done occurrence.
As the first spinoff from the Prime Video superhero series, Diabolical was an adult animation that included several non-canon stories, as well as a few that could fit into the events of the main live-action franchise. However, it looks like the 2022 series, which scored a near-perfect 97% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes is not one of the projects that is likely to be returning after the conclusion of The Boys. Speaking to The Wrap, Kripe said of Diabolical:
“I don’t think there’s going to be a Season 2 of “Diabolical.” It’s not for lack of us pushing. I think ultimately the viewer numbers weren’t there to justify a second season, sadly. Although, we love it and Simon [Racioppa], the showrunner, would be game to do it, but we haven’t gotten a go ahead on that.”
Animated shows linked to popular franchises are still often seen as inferior to the flagship series that spawn them, and their ratings are never comparable. This has happened with Marvel Studios’ What If…? Series, and the more recent Marvel Zombies, and also with Netflix’s The Witcher. Even the cinematic Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim was a box office flop, despite being highly praised. With this in mind, and so many other The Boys projects being worked on, the quiet demise of Diabolical is probably not the most surprising outcome.
‘The Boys’ Will Continue in Several Live-Action Spinoffs
While fans are gearing up to say goodbye to Homelander, Starlight, Billy Butcher and the rest of the good, bad and ugly characters of the comic book series that turns the superhero genre on its head, behind the scenes, Kripke and his team are working on keeping the franchise moving forward with several new projects.
Gen V is currently in its second season, and has been a dominant presence on Prime Video since throughout its new run of episodes. So far, there has been no word on whether the series will get a third season, but so far everything appears to be heading in the right direction for the residents of Godolkin University.
Jensen Ackles will be reprising his role of Soldier Boy in The Boys Season 5, but will also be playing the role in the new prequel series, Vought Rising. The show will go back in time, and is described as “a twisted murder mystery about the origins of Vought in the 1950s, the early exploits of Soldier Boy, and the diabolical maneuvers of Stormfront, with Aya Cash returning to her former role.
In addition to this, The Boys: Mexico is also still moving forward and has been in development for some time now. Another spinoff, this series is believed to be led by Werewolf by Night’s Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna. Although the show is said to be “a while away,” it does seem that this could be the next spinoff of the franchise to come to fruition.