Soldier Boy Returns to The Boys, Gets Spin-off
***SPOILERS for The Boys Season 4***
For some reason, Soldier Boy rejoining The Boys is being touted as news. Additionally, however, Jensen Ackles and Aya Cash announced at the San Diego Comic-Con that their characters, Soldier Boy and Stormfront, are leading a Boys spin-off titled Vought Rising. The Boys showrunner and producer Eric Kripke and executive producer Paul Grellong said this before unveiling the news with their stars: “We are excited to bring you the next deranged series from the world of The Boys.” And here’s the show’s synopsis:
“It’s a twisted murder mystery about the origins of Vought in the 1950s, the early exploits of Soldier Boy, and the diabolical maneuvers of a supe known to fans as Stormfront, who was then going by the name Clara Vought… We cannot wait to blow your minds and trouble your souls with this salacious, grisly saga drenched in blood and Compound V.”
Vought Rising has an impressive roster of producers backing it, including, obviously, Eric Kripke and Paul Grellong. Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, Neal H. Moritz, Ori Marmur, Pavun Shetty, Ken Levin, Jason Netter, Garth Ennis (author of the comics), Darick Robertson, and Michaela Starr join them. Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios, in association with Kripke Enterprises, Point Grey Pictures, and Original Film, are behind the show on the studio end. At this time, that’s all we know about Vought Rising, courtesy of Deadline and the Comic-Con announcement.
Jensen Ackles announces a new prequel #TheBoys series called #VoughtRising.
He will reprise his role as Soldier Boy and the show will centered around the origins of Vought. pic.twitter.com/pfmgT7hUSJ
— Rotten Tomatoes (@RottenTomatoes) July 26, 2024
The Boys already has a spin-off, Gen V, set in a superhero college, and the animated anthology Diabolical. The Boys: Mexico is also coming from stars and producers Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal. The Boys itself will end with season 5, which will see Ackles’ Soldier Boy return as a series regular.
I really enjoyed season 1 of Gen V, although The Boys’ attempts to reference the spin-off this season fell flat. They essentially included a couple of important characters and two no-names in the background. Cate got one line that I recall, pledging herself to Homelander. I’m not sure what I expected, but this didn’t do much for me. These wink-and-nod moments felt like the showrunners trying to assure us that Gen V is important rather than actually making it important. And you can count me as a fan of Gen V; it was funny, touching, and dealt with some slightly different territory from its sister series. I see no reason Cate and Sam, especially, couldn’t have actually had something to do.
Introducing the next deranged entry into the world of The Boys: VOUGHT RISING, starring Jensen Ackles and Aya Cash. Set in the 1950s, exploring the early exploits of Soldier Boy and a supe you know as Stormfront. Only advice for now is keep your hands off the fucking shield. pic.twitter.com/Ss9lqnnbP3
— THE BOYS (@TheBoysTV) July 26, 2024
I liked Soldier Boy and Stormfront a lot as villains. Unlike Firecracker, those characters were entertaining and somewhat unpredictable, not just evil. I find Firecracker annoying, and I’ll be glad to see Soldier Boy back on The Boys as well. I’m especially interested in seeing the history with them and Mr. Vought, Stormfront’s husband and founder of this despicable cesspool of manipulation and murder. When I heard The Boys’ season 4 finale was bringing back a major character, I first thought of Maeve. I’m actually glad it wasn’t her in retrospect; it’s nice to let at least some characters have a happy ending. Some story threads should be meaningfully tied up rather than endlessly rehashed. Homelander and Soldier Boy were a fascinating duo both because they are family and due to their truly wild interactions. So, in The Boys, I’m most looking forward to seeing Soldier Boy paired back up with Homelander. I wonder if he’ll be played against Ryan for any drama. In terms of Vought Rising, the sky’s the limit! I liked these characters, and their backstories were interesting enough to engage us without laying it all out there. I hope they know how to quit while they’re ahead, but I’m hopeful.
What do you think about Soldier Boy’s return, his upcoming spin-off Vought Rising, or anything else having to do with The Boys? Let us know in the comments below!
