An update on Adam McKay’s adaptation of The Boys

Two years ago Adam McKay discussed the possibility of bringing Garth Ennis’ The Boys comic book series to the big screen. Since that time there have been many rumours of the project being shut down. However, new information has emerged via a conversation between McKay and a fan on Twitter. The fan tweeted to the Anchorman director, “Just saw that The Boys is no longer happening. Sorry to hear it! Would have loved to see your adaptation” to which the filmmaker responded, “Actually Paramount [studios] picked it up and we’re still developing”. It may be a casual address to fans of both McKay and the comic series, yet they’re hearing what they want to hear.

The Boys is a twisted tale of a CIA squad who are hired to protect ordinary people from superheroes, lending a less-super but equally useful set of skills to keep the world in order. It may sound like another welcome (or unwelcome – depending on your opinion of the superhero craze) addition to the genre but it will by no means be a familiar take on the subject. The story and style is more in keeping with Alan Moore’s Watchmen but even more violent, sexual and explicit. Ennis’ previous work includes the sanguine sacrilegious saga Preacher which raised the bar on the “graphic” in Graphic Novel; Boys is even more unrestrained in its approach to story-telling.

It is unusual to think of McKay working within this territory when very few of his films deal with so much sexuality and brutality (not forgetting the trident to the heart in Anchorman, of course) but his sharp wit is certainly fitting for the comic’s adaptation.

Will he be casting a few of his regulars to bring The Boys’ troop to life? The lead in the story, Billy Butcher, is a burly beast – a physique many Hollywood actors can be seen sporting – no chance for Will Ferrell then, maybe Mark Wahlberg. The next notable character, Hughie Campbell/“Wee Hughie” is Simon Pegg, absolutely no question, ruling out John C. Reilly. The remaining characters could be up for anyone. It’s Pegg that ideally needs to jump on board – there’s no escaping his resemblance to Wee Hughie and so, like Samuel L. Jackson playing his comic-book double Nick Fury in the Marvel films, Pegg needs to embrace his drawn doppelganger.

No word on release date yet and with McKay’s sketchy relationship with Paramount (taking the studio a few years to produce the pined-for Anchorman sequel) we may be looking a good few years. The comic series is still running, giving McKay plenty of time to choose a certain plot-line to inspire a feature-length adaptation.