The Boys season 4 has come to a close, setting the show up for an epic conclusion. In the fourth instalment, Homelander became more violent and power-seeking than ever before. On the other side of the barricade, the near-death Butcher desperately searched for anything that would give him an advantage over his nemesis – and surprisingly, he found it.
The good news is that the fifth season is already in the works at Amazon. It may be in the early stages of development, but news and rumours are already emerging.
We’ve flown around the net with our laser eyes to round up everything we know to get you prepared for season four – keep reading to find out more.
What is the release date for The Boys season 5?
According to showrunner Eric Kripke, filming began in November 2024 and is still underway. It’s likely to conclude in the summer.
Production is estimated to take around two years, so season 5 will likely appear in 2026. This is further corroborated by Karl Urban’s Instagram post.
Spoiler warning for season four of The Boys. If you’re not all caught up on the plot, don’t scroll any further.
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The Boys season 5 cast – who is returning?
We expect the following cast members to reprise their roles in the final season:
- Antony Starr as Homelander
- Karl Urban as Billy Butcher
- Jack Quaid as Hughie Campbell
- Jessie T Usher as A-Train
- Erin Moriarty as Annie/Starlight
- Chace Crawford as The Deep
- Laz Alonso as Mother’s Milk
- Karen Fukuhara as Kimiko
- Tomer Kapon as Frenchie
- Cameron Crovetti as Ryan
- Giancarlo Esposito as Stan Edgar
- Valorie Curry as Firecracker
- Susan Heyward as Sister Sage
- Colby Minifie as Ashley Barrett
Jensen Ackles was confirmed to reprise his role as Soldier Boy after his cameo in the season 4 finale, and that’s not the only Supernatural cast member starring in season 5.
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Ackles will be joined by former Supernatural stars Jared Padalecki and Misha Collins, who played Sam Winchester and Castiel respectively.
This was announced in February, and the appearance of the iconic Impala car in Jared’s shot initially led fans to believe that Supernatural was being revived.
Instead, the two actors will join The Boys in guest roles, and they’ll share the screen with Jensen Ackles.
We also hope for the return of Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who portrayed Joe Kessler, Butcher’s extraordinary ‘friend’.
Season 4 sadly lacked Dominique McElligott as Queen Maeve, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed she will arrive for the last stand in season 5.
Sadly, in season 5, we won’t see Claudia Doumit as Victoria Neuman. The ambitious vice president met a violent end in season 4, and there’s probably no chance of her return – unless it’s via a flashback.
Who will play the new characters in The Boys season 5?
Season 5 will also feature new faces. As announced by the show’s creators, Daveed Diggs, known from the Snowpiercer series or his roles as Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in the musical Hamilton, has just joined the cast of The Boys. For now, it’s unknown who the actor will play in Amazon’s production, although he will be a series regular.
What is the plot for the next season of The Boys?
For now, there’s no official description for the fifth season of The Boys. However, we can predict what might happen in the new episodes based on the ending of season 4.
In the season 4 finale, the events turned apocalyptical.
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Ryan rejected Butcher’s request to go against Homelander and escaped the CIA facility after killing Grace Mallory.
Butcher, now devoid of hope, let his dark side take the wheel. He interrupted the Boys’ peaceful meeting with Victoria Neuman and her daughter and violently killed the vice president with his superpowers. After stealing the sample of the anti-supes virus, Butcher fled to an unknown destination.
In the political chaos following the death of Neuman, the police arrested Robert Singer for conspiring with The Boys to kill the vice president. Steven Calhoun, the Speaker of the House, became the new president of the US, and after declaring martial law, he gave up the power to Homelander.
Annie, Hughie, M.M., Frenchie and Kimiko decided to split ways and escape the country, but they became captured by Vought troopers led by Cate Dunlap and Sam Riordan. Only Annie managed to escape the ambush.
In season 5, we will see the final clash between Homelander, now possessing absolute power, and Butcher, mutated and ready to use the deathly virus.
As you can see in the post above, The Boys will be locked in Vernon Correctional Service Prison, a private prison owned by Tek Knight. Homelander probably wants them dead, and Annie will be their last hope. Considering that Starlight isn’t powerful enough to go against the evil super and his team alone, she will likely try to join forces with A-Train, who fled the US.
Two characters may play a key role in season 5 – Ryan, who may be as powerful as Homelander, and Soldier Boy, Homelander’s father who turned against him at the end of season 3. However, how they’ll be involved is for now, uncertain.
Also a big mystery is Ashley Barrett, aka Vought’s neurotic CEO. After she took a dose of Compound V at the end of season 4. We can’t wait to see her (presumably hilarious) superpowers.
Is there a trailer for The Boys season 5?
Currently, there’s no trailer for the fifth season, however, you can watch a short promo featuring Soldier Boy:
How to watch The Boys
If you want to catch up on the first four seasons of The Boys, you’ll need an Amazon Prime Video account. It’s not just entertainment that you’ll get with a Prime account – read more about the benefits of signing up to Amazon Prime.
Not sure whether there are enough shows on Amazon to pique your interest? Have a gander at the best TV shows on Amazon Prime Video and the best movies on Amazon Prime Video.
Will there be a sixth season of The Boys?
Unfortunately no. As Kripke officially announced, season 5 will be the finale of the entire story. In a social media post, the showrunner stated that this was his plan from the very beginning.
However, this doesn’t mean you have to bid farewell to the supes once and for all. At San Diego Comic-Con 2024, Amazon confirmed the second season of The Boys spin-off, Gen V, which follows a few students of Vought-sponsored Godolkin University.
Moreover, there will also be a prequel series to The Boys, set in the 1950s. Vought Rising will tell the story of Soldier Boy and Stormfront, the first true superheroes.