Gen V and The Boys creator Eric Kripke has a stark message for fans who want Amazon to greenlight Gen V Season 3.
“We’re fortunate in that we’ve always gotten a lot of support. We still have to deliver ratings,” he explained to The Wrap in a recent interview in which he was asked about how leadership changes at Amazon might affect the show going forward. “It’s a very classic, old-school TV thing, but we need viewers to show up to justify more of them.”
Kripke then got blunt with the outlet:
“We have a plan for Gen V Season 3, and we’re psyched about it, but we need enough viewers to watch Season 2 to justify Season 3. Now’s the time that they’re paying attention to the numbers. So don’t watch even a year from now. Turn on Prime [Video] and watch it now. If enough people watch then we’ll get a Season 3. Same applies to Vought Rising Season 1. We have plans for a Season 2, if we can. They’ve been nothing but supportive, and they’re giving us our opportunities. But it’s a business and we also have to deliver. So hopefully the audience shows up.”
Last month, Peter Friedlander was named Amazon’s new global head of TV after spending 14 years as an exec with Netflix. That said, it does seem, like Kripke said, as though there is generally the same expectation placed on most if not all shows for Kripke’s work, even with the change in leadership. A steady, demonstrable viewership will always lead toward a greenlight.
Vought Rising - First Look Images from The Boys Prequel Series
And Kripke really wants that greenlight — because he definitely has more work he wants to do within the universe of The Boys and Gen V.
“As long as there’s an interesting story to tell and new facets to reveal, I’m in. Without spoiling anything, I think the universe post-’The Boys’ Season 5 is such a fascinating universe, there’s a lot to explore,” the showrunner told the outlet. “It’s so much more of the wild west in terms of, like, f–king anything goes — without giving anything away. And I think that would be a blast to put the ‘Gen V’ kids in the middle of.”
You can say that again. The fifth season of The Boys is expected to premiere next year, while the second season of Gen V is currently airing weekly on Prime.
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.