Gen V is a new series that is set in the universe of The Boys. But when is the show set in The Boys timeline? Does it come before or after The Boys? Is Gen V a prequel or a sequel to The Boys? Here’s what we know.
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What Is Gen V About? The Boys Spin-off Explained
Gen V follows a group of young adult supes who are trained to be the next generation of heroes. The series takes place at Godolkin University, which is run by Vought International.
These aspiring heroes compete for the university’s top ranking. However, when the university’s dark secrets come to light, the students think about what type of heroes they want to be.
Gen V is loosely based on The Boys comic book story arc "We Gotta Go Now" by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson.
The young supes in Gen V include Marie Moreau, a supe who can manipulate blood; Emma Meyer, a size-shrinking supe; Cate Dunlap, a supe with empath abilities; Jordan Li, a supe who can change between male and female forms; and more.
The official synopsis for Gen V reads:
“Set in the diabolical world of The Boys, Gen V expands the universe to Godolkin University, the prestigious superhero-only college where students train to be the next generation of heroes—preferably with lucrative endorsements. You know what happens when supes go bad, but not all superheroes start out corrupt. Beyond the typical college chaos of finding oneself and partying, these kids are facing explosive situations … literally. As the students vie for popularity and good grades, it’s clear that the stakes are much higher when super powers are involved. When the group of young supes discover that something bigger and sinister is going on at school, they're put to the test: Will they be the heroes or the villains of their stories?”
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Is Gen V a Prequel or a Sequel to The Boys?
Gen V is a spin-off that is set between The Boys Season 3 and Season 4. Gen V is neither a prequel nor a sequel to The Boys, as the show takes place concurrently with the original series.
Gen V takes place after the events of The Boys Season 3 and will set up the upcoming The Boys Season 4.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly conducted prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike, The Boys actress Claudia Doumit revealed that Gen V lays a lot of the “groundwork” and “foundations” for The Boys Season 4. Doumit said:
"It was great to shoot Gen V because they tee up a lot of stuff that's going to happen in season 4 for The Boys. Gen V lays a lot of the groundwork and a lot of the foundations that season 4 will be built on for The Boys. So, watch it because it gives you a lot of information."
Vernon Sanders, head of television at Amazon and MGM Studios, also talked about the connection between The Boys and Gen V. Sanders told Entertainment Weekly:
“The thing we asked for, and the thing they delivered, was to create a show that lives on its own — that has its own engines — and then we can have fun with the ways in which the worlds collide. So, over the course of the season, there are definitely some crossovers, and Gen V pays off some of the direction of where we're going in season 4 of The Boys in great ways.”
There will be some crossovers, and we can expect some The Boys references in Gen V too. So, it is important to watch the first three seasons of The Boys first before Gen V, and to watch Gen V before The Boys Season 4.
Confirmed The Boys characters who will appear in Gen V include Jessie T. Usher as Reggie Franklin/A-Train, Colby Minifie as Ashely Barrett, Claudia Doumit as Congresswoman Victoria Neuman, P.J. Byrne as Adam Bourke, Jensen Ackles as Ben/Soldier Boy, and Chace Crawford as Kevin Moskowitz/The Deep.
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