12 Comic Book Film Adaptations Stuck In Development Hell

12. The Boys

It seems to be the law regarding Garth Ennis adaptations that they must serve their time in hell before being unleashed on the general public. A Preacher film has been discussed since 1996, and as is well documented, has been in the hands of various producers and directors, ranging from visionaries like Sam Mendes to comic adaptation terrorists like Mark Stephen Johnson. It may finally see the light of day via Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's version for AMC, but this hasn't stopped history repeating itself with Ennis' other epic work: The Boys. The problem filmmakers are likely encountering when trying to tackle Ennis is that there is very little room for compromise, at least without sanitising the work beyond recognition. The Boys adaptation was optioned by Columbia Pictures in early 2008, to be produced by Fast and the Furious producer Neal H Moritz, with a screenplay by Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi. Two years later in August 2010 Adam McKay of Anchorman and Step Brothers fame was attached as director. Fast Forward six years after it was first announced, and the only developments have been it being dropped by Columbia and subsequently picked up by Paramount. As far as it is known McKay is still slated to direct and Hay and Manfredi are still writing the script. Somewhere in a waiting room in the dark recesses of Development Hell, Wee Hughie is having a pint with the Reverend Jesse Custer.