‘The Best Job I’ve Ever Had’: The Boys Creator Shares What He’s ‘Really Looking Forward To’ When It’s All Over, And It Is So Relatable

by

After four mind-blowing seasons, The Boys Season 5 promises to make a striking impact among television’s final acts, with the intense showdown between Homelander and Billy Butcher planned by creator Eric Kripke. With filming having commenced in December 2024, it remains uncertain when new episodes will air as part of the 2025 schedule, but we can anticipate what Kripke aims to steer clear of when his tenure on The Boys concludes: avoidance of news-focused endless scrolling.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I’d say Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson’s comic series “The Boys” had a political edge that was quite common among fictional works prior to Donald Trump’s first presidential run – it was sneaky and full of secrets. However, when Eric Kripke started conceptualizing a live-action adaptation, the political and news landscapes were already in flux. Over time, he acknowledged that “The Boys” mirrored our ever-changing modern society. Now? He’d be more than content to free himself from the daily grind of keeping up with such societal reflections.

In an interview with Forbes, Kripke expressed that working on The Boys has been a notable pinnacle in his career and shared his expectations for the future.

Working on this project has been the absolute highlight of my professional journey so far. Saying goodbye will be tough, but I’ve grown incredibly fond of the exceptional cast and crew who feel more like family than colleagues. This team is not just talented; they’re genuinely wonderful people. The camaraderie we share while working on this project has been unparalleled – it’s been a blast unlike any other job I’ve had before.

I must admit, I’ve found myself becoming rather obsessed with keeping up with the news, something that I’m eager to step away from when this job ends. Immersing myself in current events has become an unavoidable part of my work, but I can’t wait to disconnect and enjoy some well-deserved peace and quiet. This project, more than any other, feels deeply personal to me as a cinephile and writer.

Although I’m far from sharing Erik Kripke’s life experiences, I completely understand the necessity of keeping up with the news in certain professions. Regardless of our efforts to maintain a positive outlook, being well-informed about current events can sometimes have unwelcome impacts on one’s mental health, whether these events are happening locally, nationally, or globally.

It’s clear that transforming all that research into an exciting collection of notable TV events during the years when The Boys airs episodes is likely beneficial. If the creative team behind this streaming series hadn’t caught everyone’s attention right from the start, it’s unlikely that Chace Crawford’s character arc as The Deep would have mirrored the story inspired by the Me Too movement, which viewers eventually witnessed. (Unfortunately, no justice can be served for his octopuses Ambrosius and Timothy.)

What Eric Kripke Learned About Superheroes From Working On The Boys

Given that Kripke dedicated years to infusing creativity into the struggle between good and evil on Supernatural, transitioning to a storyline centered around superheroes seemed like a logical move for his career. This change made him more aware of how contemporary viewers identify with characters on screen, but at the same time, Kripke expressed some less optimistic insights. In his own words:

It seems to me that I’ve arrived at an understanding: Superheroes in reality could pose a risk. However, superheroes in stories can be motivational because it appears people don’t perceive themselves as the one needing help when they watch superhero films; rather, they envision themselves as the savior. They identify with the superhero instead of the planet’s inhabitants. Consequently, it almost feels like they get a positive role model, which is beneficial. But in real life, strong men can be problematic. That’s about it.

In retrospect, I find it clear that real-life superheroes could be harmful. On the other hand, fictional superheroes can inspire us because when we watch these films, people often don’t see themselves as needing rescue; instead, they imagine themselves as the rescuer. They step into the superhero’s shoes rather than those of the planet’s inhabitants. This way, it seems they gain a positive role model, and that’s something good. However, strong men in real life can be challenging. That’s the gist of it.

Given that there’s still plenty of time until The Boys Season 5 wraps up production, post-production, marketing, and its release on Prime Video, let’s hope Kripke can rein in his news-hungry habits once filming is done, as scenes can no longer be adjusted on the fly. However, it seems extra dialogue might be recorded later to incorporate recent headlines…

It can be inferred that he likely won’t play a significant role in the creative aspects of Gen V Season 2, the Mexico-set spinoff currently in production, or the Jensen Ackles-led Vought Rising spinoff. Perhaps the latter show’s 1950s setting will allow for him to steer clear of any recent developments. Alternatively, it could mean that Kripke might be spending more time delving into historical records instead.

Read More

2025-01-21 01:07