Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg Set To Adapt The Boys For Cinemax
Because one Garth Ennis comic isn't enough for these two.
For anyone who has been patiently waiting for somebody - anybody! - to do something with Garth Ennis' brilliant comic series The Boys ever since superhero fever hit, the news that writing partners Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have signed on to adapt it as a TV show for Cinemax is sure to inspire cries of: "Well, it's about freakin' time!"
It's a somewhat unexpected announcementgiven that Rogen and Goldberg - who penned the scripts for comedy flicks Superbad and This is the End - are already involved with another Garth Ennis adaptation, Preacher, over at AMC. How they'll find the time to oversee both projects whilst also juggling their film careers, who knows? Still, given the early buzz surrounding Preacher, it's probably a good thing that this has fallen into their capable hands.
For those unfamiliar with the comic's juicy premise, The Boys (which ran from 2006-2012) hones in on a group of shady government workers who are paid to keep the world's superheroes in line - at any cost. This can involve bribery, manipulation, and horrific acts of degradation and violence. Whatever it takes, really.
It's a dark and brutal comic, filled with profanity and sex - one that feels highly suited to the sensibilities of Rogen and Goldberg (and a great bet for Cinemax as they attempt to establish themselves as a new home of quality TV). Let's just hope that it doesn't end up being anything like the pair's awkward adaptation of The Green Hornet.
The Boys has been rumoured for development for years, but the reports never led to anything concrete being put into production; frustrating for anyone who knows how awesome this comic will play out as a live-action adaptation. In fact, it was probably better that the rumoured film version over at Paramount never happened in light of Cinemax's involvement, as The Boys seems a lot more suited for that of television's serial format than as a fully-fledged feature.
The pilot for The Boys will be written by Eric Kripke of TV's Supernatural, with Rogen and Goldberg on directorial duties. Now all we need to hear is that Simon Pegg is involved, given this Ennis used his likeness for the character of Wee Hughie. You never know!