The Boys showrunner Eric Kripke has addressed fan theories over that very NSFW season four premiere, and whether Karl Urban really flashed his bum.
The latest series of the hit Amazon Prime program has already kicked off with a bang, thanks to a very graphic moment that was dubbed ‘worse than the Human Centipede’.
But one particular scene had viewers doing a huge double take, showing Butcher (Karl) punking Victoria Newman (Claudia Doumit) with a very close-up picture of his bottom.
Unsurprisingly, many had questions over the split-second scene, wondering whether it was really the actor’s bum on show, or whether TV bosses hired a body double.
Eric took to Twitter to broach the speculation, revealing that Karl wasn’t involved – but wouldn’t share whose bottom was shown.
‘Because hundreds of you asked: the butthole from #TheBoys Season 4, Ep 1 is NOT Butcher’s (or Karl’s),’ he tweeted.
‘We hired a model (I don’t know his name). I chose the pic, based on about 20 different butthole shots. Yep, Hollywood is a glamorous dream factory. @TheBoysTV.’
When one fan suggested Claudia ‘almost broke character’ when seeing the explicit image, he also shared a behind the scenes nugget from set.
‘This was Claudia’s real reaction at seeing the picture for the first time. All authentic,’ he penned.
In the episode in question, Butcher found himself making a deal with creepy politician Victoria, as he tried to get his hands on the virus which kills superheroes, in a bid to bring down Homelander (Antony Starr) once and for all.
She had her own demands, asking for the file that the gang have on her – something he initially agreed to.
However, in true Butcher form, he went back on it in spectacular fashion, sending her a message, which read: ‘Got Hughie’s files on you right here.’
When opening the ‘files’, she was instead greeted with the sight of a naked bottom, meaning she had to find another way to get those files…
The Boys follows a rag-tag bunch of vigilantes known as they battle to uncover the corruption of super-powered individuals who are celebrated as heroes by the public.
They are managed by Vought International, a powerful corporation which markets and monetizes the Supes, most notably the maniacal head of the group, Homelander.
As the newest season debuted on the streaming platform, Eric confirmed that the upcoming fifth and final series will officially be the last.
Alongside a picture of the script, he tweeted: ‘The Boys Season 4 Premiere Week is a good time to announce: Season 5 will be the Final Season!
‘Always my plan, I just had to be cagey till I got the final OK from Vought. Thrilled to bring the story to a gory, epic, moist climax. Watch Season 4 in 2 DAYS, cause the end has begun! [sic].’
Unpacking the decision with Variety, he shared that the program is now in production and will begin filming in November, and will be made up of eight episodes.
He told the outlet: ‘I’m thrilled to be able to announce it because it was just like a tiny bit frustrating to always answer, “I don’t know how long it’ll go! And maybe it’ll go forever! And who can say?”
‘But the truth was, I just wasn’t allowed to say yet. You can imagine getting permission to finally announce something like that is a pretty complicated deal. So I’m glad to just finally get it out there.
‘I can feel more relaxed, everyone understands and they can go into season four understanding the bigger shape of the huge five-season story. So I’m pleased to get it out there.’
Bring it on.
The Boys season 4 is available to stream on Amazon Prime now.
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