Gen V is the second spin-off of The Boys. The first spin-off was the animated series titled The Boys Presents: Diabolical, but only three episodes of that show are considered canon. So, what about Gen V? Is Gen V canon?
RELATED: Gen V: Meet the Cast & Characters of The Boys Spin-off
What is Gen V About?
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.
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?
Is Gen V Canon?
Yes, Gen V is canon. The spin-off takes place concurrently with The Boys. Gen V takes place between Season 3 and Season 4 of The Boys and will set up The Boys’ upcoming season.
The Boys showrunner Eric Kripke said in a July 2022 interview with Deadline that there are things that will happen in Gen V that are in reaction to events that occurred in The Boys Season 3. Kripke said:
"There’s definitely crossover, and we’re doing our best to design a universe that sees some of the issues and storylines in Season 3 hand off to the first season in Varsity (the former working title of the spin-off). Like there’s a presidential campaign happening in the background of that season, and there’s certain things that are happening at that school that are both in reaction to Season 3 of The Boys. There’s Soldier Boy, etcetera, but also some new storylines that are happening in that season of the spinoff that we have to pick up and take into Season 4 of the show."
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly conducted prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike, actress Claudia Doumit revealed that Gen V lays a lot of the “groundwork” and “foundations” for The Boys Season 4. She 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 said that “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.”
So, we will be seeing some crossovers, and we can expect some The Boys references in the spin-off, Gen V.
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.
You can watch the trailer for Gen V below:
READ NEXT: Is Gen V Based on The Boys Comics?
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!