The Boys (franchise)

The Boys
Official franchise logo
Created byGarth Ennis
Darick Robertson
Original workThe Boys
Owners
Years2006–2012; 2020 (comics)
2019–present (television)
Print publications
Comics
Films and television
Short film(s)Mr. Butcher (2019)
Butcher (2020)
Television series
Web series
Animated seriesThe Boys Presents: Diabolical (2022)
Audio
Podcast(s)Deeper and Deeper (2022)

The Boys is an American media franchise, consisting of action-drama/satirical black comedy superhero television series which follow the residents of a world where superpowered individuals called Supes are recognized as heroes by the general public and work for a powerful corporation known as Vought International, which markets, monetizes, and (secretly) creates them, with most being selfish and corrupt outside of their heroic personas. Based on the comic book series of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, originally published by DC Comics under its Wildstorm imprint before moving to Dynamite Entertainment, the television franchise debut has garnered success both financially and critically.

The first season of The Boys, developed by Eric Kripke with executive producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, was released in July 2019, with an ensemble cast led by Jack Quaid, Erin Moriarty, Karl Urban, and Antony Starr. A second season, with Colby Minifie and Aya Cash, was released from September to October 2020, a third season, with Claudia Doumit and Jensen Ackles, was released from June to July 2022, and a fourth season was released from June to July 2024, with an animated spin-off anthology series, The Boys Presents: Diabolical, releasing in March 2022, and an Audible podcast, The Boys: Deeper and Deeper, starring Chace Crawford, Katy Breier, and Leigh Bush, releasing in June 2022. The series were released via Amazon Prime Video, while the promotional web series VNN: Seven on 7 with Cameron Coleman and sponsored promotional episodes of Death Battle! were released via YouTube from 2020 to 2022.

The franchise continued with a live-action spin-off series, Gen V, starring Jaz Sinclair, Lizze Broadway, Maddie Phillips, London Thor, Derek Luh, and Asa Germann, and centered around the franchise's young adult Supes, with a fifth and final season of The Boys also being in development.