Although The Boys began as an R-rated spoof of superhero sagas like the MCU, the show has since grown into an ever-expanding franchise in its own right. But that success could be in peril if the showrunner's warning to fans isn't heeded.
The Boys' comic book source material was first published in 2006, but it was when the live-action adaptation landed on Prime in 2019 that the franchise really started to hit its peak level of fame. Since then, spinoff show Gen V has added brilliantly to the show's canon, taking over between the later seasons of its parent show.
It is possible to watch Gen V without first seeing The Boys, and vice versa, but you'd only be getting a partial experience if you engaged with the story in that way. The intention is for both shows to be enjoyed together to create a larger, intertwined narrative. The man in charge of it all has similar plans in the franchise's future, but there's no guarantee he'll get to see them through.
Eric Kripke needs the fans' help to make Gen V season 3 happen
Speaking with Forbes about Gen V's future beyond season 2, franchise leader Eric Kripke has explained what it will take for his plan to continue the show to come to fruition. To put it plainly, fans need to watch season 2, and they need to "watch it now."
Kripke made it clear that now is the time when Prime will be monitoring the season 2 viewing figures more closely, so waiting a year to catch up could harm Gen V's future prospects. Prime will use recent metrics to gauge active audience interest in Gen V and whether it's worth picking up for another season. Kripke put things pretty succinctly: "If enough people watch, then we'll get a season 3."
I love the idea of another run of Gen V, as I feel it offers certain things that can't be found in The Boys. That said, I'm also surprised that Kripke has plans to continue the spinoff beyond the upcoming conclusion of its parent show. Either way, I've been tuning in pretty much immediately after each new Gen V episode has dropped, and I think you should too.
More upcoming The Boys spinoffs will also rely on help from fans
2022's The Boys Presents: Diabolical was technically the superhero show's first spinoff, but the animated anthology isn't set within the same canon. So, the honor really goes to Gen V. Whether or not Gen V season 3 happens, fans won't be left with nothing to watch as Vought Rising is still on the way, which will feature Jensen Ackles as Soldier Boy in a prequel to The Boys.
A star like Ackles in a successful franchise like The Boys already sounds like a winning spinoff formula, but Kripke has also been quick to point out that viewing figures upon release are still vital in ensuring a show's renewal. He said in the same Forbes interview that Vought Rising is not intended to be a one-and-done series, but that he and the writers already have plans for season 2.
The spinoff that Kripke didn't mention while discussing the future of the franchise is The Boys: Mexico. Although still in production, very little information has been made available about the show. Regardless, it will presumably rely on the same thing as its predecessors. As fans came out in droves to watch The Boys upon release throughout its run, they will also need to do the same for Mexico and the other upcoming spinoffs.