Jensen Ackles, reprising his role as Soldier Boy, set a prerequisite for his guest appearance in Gen V
Jensen Ackles blew audiences away with his portrayal of Soldier Boy in The Boys, but when reprising the character in Gen V, he wanted to make sure it was just as memorable.
Set in the same universe as The Boys where all super-abled characters are used for profit, Gen V demonstrates a cast of characters before they have been corrupted. Taking place at the supe college Godolkin University, blood-bending Marie Moreau (Jaz Sinclair) learns to hone her powers and her ambition to become one of The Seven. But as with The Boys, not everything is as it seems in Gen V. Even though many of the characters still have their innocence, some are already being used for their gifts.
In Gen V episode 6, “Jumanji,” the characters experience the ramifications of this as an imaginary Soldier Boy leads them through Cate’s (Maddie Phillips) mind. Ackles returning to the stage is a delight for fans of the series. However, the actor had one idea he asked the production to adhere to when he reprised his role.“His only request was, ‘It needs to be funnier,’” showrunner Erik Kripke explained to The Nerdist. “And I said, ‘Totally,’ and I was actually going to be there in Toronto at the time anyway. So I’m like, ‘I will be on set, I will be standing next to the camera, and you and I will riff until you are happy.’”
Kripke and Ackles have had many years of collaboration. Before being cast in The Boys, Ackles met the showrunner through a little-known show called Supernatural. Though Kripke handed over creative control of the series well before the long-lasting show ended, the two maintained their long-standing creative relationship. Ackles’ portrayal of Soldier Boy is about as far from Dean Winchester as one can get, and they doubled down on this when he came back in Gen V.
Soldier Boy’s appearance in The Boys spin-off is short and sweet but completely unforgettable. After being dragged into Cate’s mindscape, Soldier Boy opens up to the college kids most unsurprisingly and inappropriately. After explaining many graphic details of Cate’s early sexual experiences, he gets struck by lightning. For Soldier Boy to turn up again, this was about the only way to do it. In The Boys‘ current timeline, Soldier Boy is being held under lock and key after his unrestrained villainy. But Ackles is a fan favorite, especially in the world of Kripke, and it is always a joy when he returns. Ackles could not have done better, even if it was only for one episode.
The Boys seasons 1-3 and Gen V season 1 are streaming on Amazon Prime.
