Key takeaways:
– Eric Kripke, the showrunner for ‘The Boys,' asked his cast, including Jensen Ackles, to avoid immersing themselves in the original comics.
– Both Amazon's ‘The Boys' and Marvel's ‘Secret Invasion' adapted the same approach, but with different outcomes.
– Kripke's focus was on crafting an authentic performance while Marvel focuses on loyalty to source material.
– The diverging outcomes suggest that different narratives may require different adaptation strategies.
Steering Clear of Comic Books for ‘The Boys'
Diverging from the traditional route of comic book adaptations, Eric Kripke, the showrunner for Amazon Prime's hit series ‘The Boys,' took an unconventional route. He encouraged Jensen Ackles, who plays Soldier Boy in the show, along with the other cast members to avoid reading the comics. This differed greatly from the regular work practices of Marvel Studios, which places a heavy emphasis on adhering to the original comic book content.
The revelation came during an interview where Ackles shared Kripke's advice. This advice could ruffle the feathers of die-hard Marvel fans, especially in the wake of the failure of Marvel's ‘Secret Invasion,' despite following similar guidelines for its adaptation.
To Comic or Not to Comic in Character Preparation
Ackles was advised to avoid the comics entirely. He had asked Kripke if he should brush up on his character's background from the comics, and he was told to steer clear of that. The reasoning was so that the comic's depiction of Soldier Boy would not influence his performance.
Kripke's Different Creative Direction
Kripke's directive signifies a clear departure from the adaptation norms. Marvel studios, in general, follow a particular formula while adapting their comic book heroes for the screen. Kripke's approach with ‘The Boys,' however, deliberately deviated from this formula.
A key factor he highlighted was the trust placed in the cast and the script. He believed that staying away from the original comics would enable the actors to bring in fresh, genuine performances, backed by the unique narrative of the series.
A Similar Approach with ‘Secret Invasion,' But a Different Outcome
Interestingly, Kevin Feige of Marvel Studios attempted to implement a similar approach with ‘Secret Invasion.' The director, Ali Selim, was advised not to indulge in reading the comic books. However, unlike ‘The Boys,' ‘Secret Invasion' did not receive the same positive reception and was a failure on Disney+.
Breaking Down The Success and Failure of the Two Adaptations
Where did ‘Secret Invasion' go wrong, and how did ‘The Boys' thrive using similar methods? The answer seems to lie in the story's basis. Kripke maintained that ‘The Boys' strayed vastly from its source material. In contrast, Feige's ‘Secret Invasion' stayed true to its comic, which might have stilted creative innovation.
Kripke believed his narrative vision and his trust in his creative team were behind his decision. Kripke confessed to Variety, “It's wildly graphic. You cannot read that book in public.” His approach was to diverge from the controversial graphic comic and serve viewers something new and interesting.
On the other hand, Feige's loyalty to his comic purists might have restricted the storyline's potential. Sticking closely to the original narrative may have limited their ability to explore other creative outlets.
In conclusion, the different outcomes from ‘The Boys' and ‘Secret Invasion' suggest that every comic narrative demands its own unique adaptation technique. Both are available for streaming, ‘The Boys' on Amazon Prime Video, and ‘Secret Invasion' on Disney+.
This case study of Eric Kripke and Marvel's approach provides an interesting perspective on the different methodologies of comic book adaptations, and one is not necessarily superior to the other. It all lies within the narrative's context and how the creative teams choose to unfold it to the viewers.
