The Boys creator Eric Kripke has revealed the foul-mouthed pitch that would go on to convince Amazon to stream the series for five seasons.
Taking to Twitter, Kripke went for a trip down memory lane, back to 2015 and the 'mission statement' that would go on to form the crux of his adaptation of Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson's comic book series.
"Since then, hundreds of actors, thousands of crew, and millions of viewers embraced this insane idea. I'm grateful beyond words, and proud that all these years later, we stayed true to this mission statement," Kripke wrote.
The full pitch, which you can read below, includes a killer starting line ("Fuck superheroes") and an intriguing pitch (Deadpool meets Inglorious Basterds meets The Raid) that perhaps doesn't quite resemble the finished product.
Still, it's shocking in how confident, complete, and – crucially – anti-superheroes it all sounds. Remember, this was the MCU's heyday in the run-up to Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. Going against that must have felt like career suicide at the time – but Kripke clearly had faith in his idea.
Where it all began: my first pitch for @TheBoysTV eleven years ago. Since then, hundreds of actors, thousands of crew, and millions of viewers embraced this insane idea. I'm grateful beyond words, and proud that all these years later, we stayed true to this mission statement.… pic.twitter.com/5fCpde2SWJJune 13, 2026
The Boys debuted to great fanfare in 2019, captivating fans with its inimitable blend of gore, guts, and can't-look-away humor. Several orgies, exploding heads, and shocking deaths later, the Prime Video superhero series signed off with a crushing defeat for Homelander.
But not everyone was impressed by the final season, with audiences pointing to a lack of narrative focus and 'filler' episodes.
In response, Kripke told TVLine, "Everyone's entitled to their opinion, of course, and I'm sorry if I disappointed you, but it was the story I wanted to tell. You just have to put it into perspective of it being a reasonably small, vocal audience when the vast majority seem to be happily tuning in."
Next up in The Boys-verse (or the VCU, as it's officially known now) is Vought Rising, a 1950s prequel starring Soldier Boy actor Jensen Ackles and Stormfront actor Aya Cash.
Need something new to watch? Here are our picks for the best shows on Amazon Prime. Then, dive into the blood-splattered breakdown of The Boys season 5 ending.
