Amazon Greenlights Comic-Based Superhero Drama

Amazon has greenlit the original one-hour superhero drama The Boys, based on a comic book from Garth Ennis (Preacher) and Darick Robertson.

The Boys centers on a group of vigilantes—known informally as “the boys”—who set out to take down corrupt superheroes with no more than blue-collar grit and a willingness to fight dirty. The series is scheduled to begin filming in the spring of 2018 for a 2019 release.

The eight-episode Prime original series will be co-produced by Sony Pictures Television Studios and created and written by showrunner Eric Kripke (Supernatural), and directed by Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen (Preacher). The show will be executive produced by Kripke, Goldberg, Rogen, Original Film’s Neal H. Moritz (Prison Break), Ori Marmur (Preacher) and Pavun Shetty (New Girl), as well as Point Grey Pictures’ James Weaver (Preacher).

“In a landscape saturated with superhero shows, The Boys is the next evolution in this popular genre,” said Sharon Tal Yguado, the head of scripted series at Amazon Studios. “With Eric, Evan, Seth and Original Film all behind this series, we are excited to adapt this popular comic, from the visionary minds of Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, for television.”