Prime Video’s ever-expanding ‘The Boys’ universe is gearing up for even bigger crossovers, and fans are unsurprisingly excited. With ‘Gen V’ season 2 right around the corner and the prequel series
‘Vought Rising’ is officially on the horizon, and showrunner Eric Kripke has dropped some fascinating details about how the spinoffs will connect. While the mainline ‘The Boys‘ story barrels toward its fifth and final season in 2026, the world is getting fleshed out in unexpected ways. One of the most intriguing connections involves Thomas Godolkin, a key figure who may play a crucial role in tying together the satirical universe.
Thomas Godolkin Bridges ‘Vought Rising’ And ‘Gen V’
When Kripke revealed that Ethan Slater’s Thomas Godolkin will appear in both ‘Gen V’ and ‘Vought Rising’, fans immediately understood the weight of that statement. Godolkin isn’t just another supporting character; he’s the namesake behind Godolkin University, the infamous campus where young supes are molded, manipulated, and sometimes destroyed.
Related: Antony Starr Shares Emotional Farewell For Homelander As ‘The Boys’ Wraps Final Season
Slater, who many may recognize from his Broadway role in ‘Wicked’, has been cast as the younger Godolkin in ‘Gen V’ season 2. However, Kripke made it clear that the character’s influence will stretch far beyond just one show. In fact, ‘Vought Rising‘, which dives into the origins of Vought in the 1950s, will explore Godolkin’s earlier years. It will show audiences how his philosophies and actions helped create the institution that later became the “Harvard for Supes.”
“If Vought Rising works and we can keep doing more [seasons], I think we’d be insane not to put Ethan Slater’s character in that show. He’s right there, lined up for a younger Thomas Godolkin. We’ve discussed it,” Kripke explained to Entertainment Weekly. This connection is more than just fan service. It adds historical depth to ‘The Boys’ universe.
It also illustrates how shady experiments and power-hungry decisions from decades ago still haunt the modern-day supes. And it doesn’t hurt that Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles) and Stormfront (Aya Cash) will also headline ‘Vought Rising’. It’s safe to assume that there will be no shortage of explosive personalities anchoring the prequel.
How ‘Gen V’ And ‘The Boys’ Crossover Will Be Handled
Of course, crossovers are a tricky business. Kripke himself referenced Disney’s ‘The Book of Boba Fett’ as a cautionary tale, a series that sidelined its titular character in favor of ‘The Mandalorian’ for nearly two episodes, leaving many fans confused and frustrated. Kripke has promised that ‘The Boys’ will avoid this kind of storytelling pitfall. For ‘Gen V’ season 2, the spotlight will remain firmly on Marie Moreau and her classmates.
In case you missed it: ‘The Boys’ Season 5: Why Fans Should Be Excited For The Grand Finale
However, cameos from Homelander and other ‘The Boys’ characters are expected. “I’m very sensitive to the fact that Gen V should be primarily about the characters from Gen V and The Boys should be primarily about the characters from The Boys. While there can be crossovers and assists and help, it’s a little bit of a rug pull … I don’t wanna do that. We have stories to tell in each one.”
People didn’t fall in love with ‘Gen V’ because it dangled Homelander in front of them; they connected with Marie, Andre, Cate, Emma, and Jordan, who represent the next generation of supe chaos. By keeping the main arcs character-driven, Kripke ensures that crossovers feel like organic expansions. That’s not to say there won’t be crossovers at all. The ending of ‘Gen V’ season 1 already stunned audiences with Homelander, and season 2 promises more surprises.
