‘That Was Such a Cool Idea’: The Boys Showrunner Eric Kripke Reveals He Got the Idea for Billy Butcher’s Season 4 Arc from Diabolical

Showrunner Eric Kripke deftly weaves many stories together in The Boys 4 season finale, building to a climactic scene that will leave fans in disbelief. Amid the aftermath of yet another shocking turn of events, Billy Butcher, played by Karl Urban, emerges as a representation of icy resolve.

As the sinister Homelander consolidates control, the core group takes an unexpected turn when Victoria Neuman (Claudia Doumit) dies. The tragic event inspires Jack Quaid’s Hughie to rally his friends and advocate for the protection of Neuman’s daughter, Zoe (Malia Singh).

Butcher’s Unexpected Transformation: A Closer Look

Butcher’s mysterious behavior during the climax emphasizes his complex role in the story. Famous for his determination and confrontational attitude, his actions at this critical moment call into question his loyalty and willingness to sacrifice.

Set against a backdrop of rising tensions and Homelander’s looming ambitions, Butcher’s actions have far-reaching consequences for the group’s survival and the larger struggle that plagues the series.

The Boys’ most troublesome member appears to have had a change of heart after witnessing Ryan (Cameron Crovetti) unintentionally kill Mallory (Laila Robins) and run into the wind.

When Butcher resurfaces at the group’s safe haven as they prepare for Neuman, everyone is shocked to discover that his Temp V-enhanced tumor has grown so large that he can now control super-powered, evil extensions that protrude from his chest.

He renders Zoe unconscious with his newfound power, then cuts Neuman’s body in half and ingests the final dose of the virus that kills Superman.

Eric Kripke, the showrunner, told Entertainment Weekly in a late May interview that the inspiration for the current plot twist came from their animated anthology spinoff. He acknowledged the claims and elaborated on the idea, characterizing it as an intriguing notion akin to a more advanced type of cancer.

Kripke’s reflections on The Boys Universe and Diabolical

Kripke praised the creative storytelling of the show’s universe. However, he was unavailable for interviews during the season finale of The Boys 4, leaving fans and critics to speculate about the implications of this narrative development.

During its one-season run in 2022, The Boys Presents: Diabolical delivered eight standalone stories in a variety of animation styles, all set in the world of The Boys. A few were considered canonical to the primary series. A few were not. The first of these was John and Sun-Hee.

The story follows John, an old janitor at Vought headquarters. His wife, Sun-Hee, has cancer and is in the hospital. At work, he breaks into a restricted area in a desperate attempt to save her life and she takes vials of Compound V.

Her life is saved by the super-created drug, but it also amplifies her cancer, which spreads from her body in bright blue extensions to protect her during stressful moments.

When discussing the development of the power in The Boys, Kripke explained that he had consistently pushed for it to resemble Cronenberg’s work. He stressed the importance of avoiding ethereal, blue lighting and instead using truly terrifying images such as throbbing tumors.

Kripke’s reflections and plans

Kripke chose what he called the Cronenberg version when reflecting on his own attempt to portray this concept. He explained that he originally considered the John and Sun-Hee episode canonical because it explored the disturbing concept of cancer going supercharged.

This was another interpretation of the concept. Kripke noted how the shows influenced each other and appreciated their mutual impact. He mentioned that they had asked Amazon for payment on multiple occasions. He went on to say that starting a letter-writing campaign for Amazon would be necessary for additional action.

Kripke said he wanted to do more, but wasn’t sure he could. Kripke stressed that they plan to influence Amazon despite this uncertainty through an upcoming web campaign that everyone will launch in response to the issue.