Jensen Ackles to reprise ‘The Boys’ role in prequel

A prequel of the Prime Video series The Boys, called Vought Rising, was announced at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday and will star Jensen Ackles and Aya Cash. 

The Boys series executive producer Paul Grellong will be both executive producer and showrunner for Vought Rising. Ackles also said he will return as his character Soldier Boy for Season 5 of The Boys.

Superhero show The Boys follows a team of misfit vigilantes who fight corrupt super-powered people called “Supes.” The show's panel had a lively start with a comedic live musical performance of songs from the show, actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan throwing up his middle finger on stage, and a teaser trailer for Season 2 of the spin-off Gen V at the annual pop culture convention. Jessie T. Usher, who plays the speedster named A-Train, joined performers briefly on stage to perform a rap. Clips were projected on screen while performers sang, including the Season 4 song Let's Put the Christ Back in Christmas from The Boys' parody of Disney on Ice.

"In case you didn't know these guys, (they are) world-class Broadway performers," said Morgan, who moderated the panel and stars as CIA analyst Joe Kessler in Season 4. He playfully honoured the musical composer with a middle-finger gesture, echoing the show's crude humour.

The Season 4 main cast took the stage, including Antony Starr, who plays Homelander, the Petty leader of the “Supes,” Jack Quaid, Erin Moriarty, Chace Crawford, Laz Alonso, Tomer Capone, Usher and Karen Fukuhara. The show's creator Eric Kripke was also on the panel.

Season 5, which premieres in 2026, will be the series' last season as part of show director Kripke's vision for the comic-book adaptation. The popular series also spawned the animated series The Boys Presents: Diabolical.

Stars have returned to the San Diego Comic-Con after the 2023 writers and actors strikes led to a subdued event last year, with no A-list celebrities or Hall H panels, which are known for delivering some of the biggest industry news.

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