The world of The Boys is an interesting, shocking, and downright gripping place. Based on the shared universe originally crafted in Garth Ennis' thrilling comic book series, Prime Video's Vought Cinematic Universe has featured many unique, unnverving and highly original characters who make viewers feel all kinds of emotions throughout their time on our screens. And the saga officially became a TV shared universe with the introduction of first spinoff Gen V.
Starring a multitude of talented young stars, Gen V ran for two seasons on Prime Video, showcasing the next generation of Supes in a world that was full of them. Unfortunately, the adventures at Godolkin University School of Crimefighting ended prematurely when the streamer cancelled the series over six months after its second season concluded, halting all hopes for Gen V season 3.
Gen V season 2 viewership saw a decline after an initially strong start
The deciding factor in Prime Video's decision to pull the plug on Gen V season 3 was down to the age old issue of viewership. While the second season started extremely strong - seeing the spinoff's highest audience on the Nielsen Streaming Charts with 424 million minutes viewed for its premiere week - it eventually saw a decline throughout the course of its eight-episode run. Due to the high production costs of a show like Gen V that wasn't enough to justify renewing it for another run. It goes without saying that this was a darn shame.
While Gen V wasn't intricately tied to The Boys in the way that other spinoffs have been closely interlocked with their motherships, it was building towards a bigger crossover between the two. As the series is about the next generation of Supes, there were plans to bring them into the fifth and final season of The Boys - plans that they were ultimately able to put into effect. But it's hard to deny that announcing the cancellation halfway through the original show's heavily-anticipated final season - before these characters appeared - really took the wind out of the long-awaited crossover's sails.
As Marie Moreau (played by Jaz Sinclair) has been revealed to be one of the most powerful Supes across the entire VCU, that made her one of the most likely candidates to help take down Homelander in The Boys' series finale. And with that, fans were looking forward to her potential appearance. Even seeing her cameo in the penultimate episode didn't have the desired effect because, as Boys showrunner Eric Kripke confirmed, the original show would not provide the fulfilling closure that fans were hoping to see for Marie and the rest of the Gen V crew.
What Gen V season 3 would have looked like (and when Marie could return)
The good news is that Eric Kripke, along with fellow showrunner Evan Goldberg confirmed that we will see the characters again down the line, adding:
"While we wish we could keep the party going another season at Godolkin, we’re committed to continuing the Gen V characters’ stories in The Boys Season 5 and other VCU projects on the horizon... You’ll see them again."
Gen V is now the second series in the Boys franchise to be cancelled after animated offshoot The Boys Presents: Diabolical had its run ended with just one season. But the franchise is set to continue with two new spinoffs on the horizon. The first of those is Vought Rising, a prequel series spotlighting the beginnings of Vought International and starring Jensen Ackles' Soldier Boy, while the second is The Boys: Mexico. Although it's unlikely that the characters of Gen V could resurface in the former given that it's a prequel, there is a chance that we could see Marie and the gang in the latter.
As for what season 3 of Gen V would have looked like? It turns out that this would have placed even more of a focus on Marie as she hones her limitless power. In an interview with TVLine, Kripke confirmed that the third season would have been the character's "training-with-Yoda season", showcasing her attempt to control her powers based off of Starlight's comments to her in the penultimate episode of The Boys season 5.
"Were there to be another season of 'Gen V,' that would be her training-with-Yoda season where she really learns how to take the next step."
He also confirmed once again during the press run for the final season of The Boys that there are plans to bring the Gen V characters back, adding that they are "already kicking around ideas" as to how to do that. And that, more than anything, is going to be music to the ears of the spinoff's fans.
Here's hoping that they figure it out soon, because Gen V's storyline deserves a conclusion.
Gen V seasons 1 and 2 are streaming on Prime Video.
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