Anchorman Director Adam McKay to Adapt Comic Series ‘The Boys’?

Brad Fuller isn’t the only member of the A Nightmare on Elm Street team talking about future projects. Director Samuel Bayer has been linked (or hopes to be linked) to an adaptation of the Garth Ennis comic series The Boys. But now he’s saying that he might not have the job, as the current favorite to direct is Anchorman and Step Brothers helmer Adam McKay. Holy directorial shift! Film School Rejects talked to Bayer, who said,

It’s so funny, I would die to do that comic book. From what I’ve heard from the producers on the movie is that Adam McKay is doing it. He did Anchorman, I guess. The studio is really hot on him and… Let’s have the movie [A Nightmare on Elm Street] come out this weekend and do really well. Then we’ll see how my stock is in Hollywood.

So, not a done deal that McKay would direct the film, but a hell of a notion. Making the move from pure comedy (with occasional action flourishes) to a dark, action-based, comedy-tinged movie with a sort of anti-superhero bent would be quite a switch for McKay. I’d love to see him actually manage it, because I’d expect the comedy to be insane. Bayer previously said of the comic,

There’s one comic book I really dig that I want to go after that’s bad-ass. I’d like to get it, it’s called The Boys. It’s about a group of mercenaries and they’re job is to kick the shit out of superheroes who get out of line. It doesn’t get any better than that. In the world of The Boys, superheroes are scumbags.

And, if you’re not familiar with the series, here’s a more official synopsis:

This is going to hurt! In a world where costumed heroes soar through the sky and masked vigilantes prowl the night, someone’s got to make sure the “supes” don’t get out of line. And someone will! Billy Butcher, Wee Hughie, Mother’s Milk, The Frenchman, and The Female are The Boys: A CIA-backed team of very dangerous people, each one dedicated to the struggle against the most dangerous force on Earth - superpower! Some superheroes have to be watched. Some have to be controlled. And some of them, sometimes, need to be taken out of the picture. That’s when you call in The Boys!

Tomer Soiker wrote:It'll be sad to see this happen before Preacher. How come Ennis' greatest creation can't get a decent movie treatment, dammit?

Tomer Soiker wrote:It'll be sad to see this happen before Preacher. How come Ennis' greatest creation can't get a decent movie treatment, dammit?

jaydee74 wrote:

Tomer Soiker wrote:It'll be sad to see this happen before Preacher. How come Ennis' greatest creation can't get a decent movie treatment, dammit?

Agreed. Having read this and not being all the interesting in the comic although I like the character that looks like Simon Pegg, they are going to have to tone this down JUST to get it to an "R" rating.

superdoug wrote:I'd love to see this happen, although to really capture the feel of the comic, the movie should really go for the NC-17 rating.

Debaser77 wrote:I haven't read The Boys and have only read a little Preacher, but judging from what I have heard and read about them, I think both would be better off as pay-cable series than movies.

BlueMaxx wrote:Preacher was rumored as an HBO series. But development was cancelled. It was Stevenson, the guy who "adapted" Daredevil, Elektra, and Ghost Rider...so big loss. Hopefully they can restart interest. A tv show would do it more justice, like Gaiman's Sandman, Robinson's Starman, and Ellis' Transmetropolitan.

Spaced4SimonPegg wrote:

BlueMaxx wrote:Preacher was rumored as an HBO series. But development was cancelled. It was Stevenson, the guy who "adapted" Daredevil, Elektra, and Ghost Rider...so big loss. Hopefully they can restart interest. A tv show would do it more justice, like Gaiman's Sandman, Robinson's Starman, and Ellis' Transmetropolitan.

Yikes with that dudes resume I am glad he is not involved. Preached does need the series treatment via a HBO or Showtime network.

Tomer Soiker wrote:After HBO shelved the roduction, the movie rights relapsed and Sam Mendes was last rumored to direct it with John august to write the script, but it has been over a year since I heard any news about this.

Silent K wrote:Go Hard R for the theatrical release, but then go "Unrated" for the DVD. Problem solved.

deadbolt85 wrote:

Silent K wrote:Go Hard R for the theatrical release, but then go "Unrated" for the DVD. Problem solved.

But then you have the "waaaaaah, all the uncut stuff should have been in there from the beginning" whiners.

CHUD recently asked could-be The Boys director Adam McKay if he'd want Simon Pegg — who was the inspiration for protagonist Wee Hughie — for the film. McKay's not signed on definitely, but he's all for the idea.

Here's the exchange CHUD's Devin Faraci had with McKay:

[McKay] told me: 'I haven't officially signed on yet, so I haven't had any conversations with anyone, but he's got to do it. It has to be.'

'So if you sign on it has to be with him?' I asked.

'For sure,' McKay said.