Imagine a world where ‘The Boys’ wasn’t a wildly popular television series, but a blistering film trilogy. That almost became reality thanks to director Adam McKay, the comedic mastermind behind films like ‘Anchorman’ and ‘The Big Short.’
McKay revealed his attempt to bring Garth Ennis’ controversial comic book series to the big screen in the late 2000s. However, only to be met with a resounding “no” from Hollywood.
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Adam McKay’s Vision For ‘The Boys’
McKay, known for his sharp wit and willingness to tackle complex social issues through humor, saw immense potential in ‘The Boys.’ The comic’s scathing satire of superhero culture, and its exploration of corporate greed and media manipulation, all resonated with him.
He envisioned a trilogy of films that would deconstruct the superhero genre, exposing the dark underbelly of these supposed heroes. However, McKay’s dream project remained grounded. The year was 2008, a time when the superhero genre was still finding its footing in Hollywood.
Additionally, Iron Man had just launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, the gritty, R-rated world of ‘The Boys’ felt like a bridge too far for studios. McKay himself admitted in a recent interview with Rolling Stone, “It just came down to it being 2008, not 2018. I just don’t think they were ready for it yet.”
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McKay’s ‘The Boys’ Trilogy Idea Getting Rejected Might Be A Blessing In Retrospect
Fast forward to 2019, and the landscape of superhero entertainment has dramatically shifted. The success of darker, more mature superhero films like ‘Logan’ and ‘Deadpool’ paved the way for a more diverse range of stories.
This is when ‘The Boys’ finally found its home, landing on Amazon Prime Video as a television series. Free from the constraints of a theatrical release, the show embraced its R-rated nature, delivering the biting social commentary and outrageous action that McKay envisioned.
While it’s tempting to wonder what a McKay-directed trilogy might have looked like, there’s a certain poetry to the show’s eventual success on television. The episodic format allows for a deeper exploration of the characters and the world, something that might have been condensed in a film trilogy.
Additionally, the rise of streaming platforms has created a space for more mature and challenging content, which perfectly aligns with the spirit of the show. Moreover, McKay’s unmade ‘The Boys’ trilogy serves as a reminder of how Hollywood’s tastes can evolve. A project deemed too risky a decade ago thrives today.
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