The Boys season 2: When is it released? Who is in the cast? Who is on the soundtrack? Everything you need to know

The Boys was Prime Video's biggest breakout hit of 2019 - loved by fans of the comic book series, it won a new legion of followers with its subversive and outrageous superhero action.

Season 2 was confirmed at a Comic-Con 2019 panel event which featured creators Seth Rogen and Eric Kripke and cast members Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Jessie T. Usher, Laz Alonso, Chace Crawford, Tomer Capon, Karen Fukuhara and Elisabeth Shue.

On Friday, June 26, 2020, The Boys cast reunited for a special lockdown livestream event and confirmed the release date, juicy plot details and new first-look footage at the opening minutes of season 2. 

Discover why everybody is watching Prime Video’s The Boys – the first three episodes are now streaming on the BT Player >

Here is everything you need to know about season 2 - including some outrageous (and slightly bloody) sneak-peek trailers...

The Boys season 2 - First reviews

It looks like it's been worth the wait for The Boys season 2 as the first reviews are in and everybody is raving about the show's bigger, badder and bloodier second outing.

The critics verdict:

AV Club: "Smarter, sharper, and more engaged with its stories and characters—not to mention Cash swooping in and pulling off a sneak MVP performance with her devilishly dry turn as Stormfront. "

Vulture: "The difference for The Boys is that while the heroes fight each other with familiar superpowers, they are all even more obsessed with soft power. Who has the better brand? How is this unexpectedly tough interview with Maria Menounos going...

"The show is really smart about media images and the all-powerful impact of a Q score, and it’s even better at thinking about how the soft power and the hard power wielded by these characters combine into a truly combustible, terrifying cultural hegemony."

Radio Times: "The Boys season two is off to a brilliant start on Amazon Prime Video. The series still packs a mighty wallop, but never loses sight of its sharp social commentary in the mess of blood and guts."

The Verge: "The Boys isn’t out to make profound points, but it is smart about what it has to say. Superheroes, and the corporate empires built around them, are an extremely American invention, both in the fiction of The Boys and in real life. And as season 2 goes on, cults of personality prove a more animating force than any superpower, as fandoms can be motivated in ways just as toxic as any political party can dream up."

Den of Geek: "In essence, The Boys season 2 explores the horrible power of abusive relationships, not only with Homelander as a father, but also between Billy and Hughie, in the backstory of Kimiko, and in some ways even within Vaught’s own history of exploitation, which takes on new depth this year."

Inverse:  "The Boys Season 2 is everything you loved about Season 1: gross, violent, disturbing, hilarious, and action-packed. Its exploration of what superheroes would actually be like if they existed in our own world continues unabated (short answer: they really, really suck), but on top of that, Season 2 uses its story of corrupt superheroes to weave a metaphor for American politics and the dangerous romance between mainstream conservatism and far-fight white supremacy that’s playing out every day on the news and social media."

AV Club: "Smarter, sharper, and more engaged with its stories and characters—not to mention Cash swooping in and pulling off a sneak MVP performance with her devilishly dry turn as Stormfront."

Collider: "The Boys remains incredibly true to itself, while also not being afraid to take some big new swings and push the boundaries of the cast, the writers, and the audience itself."

What time are The Boys episodes released? Season 2 release schedule in the UK

It's not long to wait now. The first three episodes of The Boys season 2 are scheduled to arrive on the UK Amazon Prime Video at 8.01am.

Further new episodes will arrive every week at the same time.

*Insert your own Billy the Butcher expletive here to celebrate*

The Boys are back in town: Watch the full season 2 trailer

Warning: Trailer contains adult material

Excitment levels just went up several notches for The Boys season 2 with the full official trailer released around the world today (August 4).

Giving fans their first proper look at new supe Stormfront, played by Aya Cash, and dropping some big hints at where The Boys and The Seven are heading in the second season, we're not sure we can wait a whole month to watch the first episode.

The trailer reveals that there will be tension between Stormfront and Homelander in The Seven, showcases the results of the already infamous whale scene that was revealed at Comic-Con and teases fans with a potential heartbreaking ending for Hughie and Starlight.

We presume the final shot of Starlight attacking Hughie has been cleverly edited together to shock and tease fans. But with The Boys, we wouldn't put anything past the show's writers at this point.

We didn't start the fire! Season 2 teaser trailer unleashed

Warning: This trailer contains adult content

Just in case you weren't already excited enough for the return of The Boys, Amazon Prime Video dropped this trailer and dialled our excitement levels up to 11.

There's so much to see in this Billy Joel-soundtracked teaser, including Billy the Butcher declaring "Daddy's home!", our first glimpses of Stormfront, a giant speedboat called My Big Wet Dream and more blood-splattering than a vampire convention. Enjoy.

When is The Boys season 2 released?

Amazon Prime Video announced that its hit superhero satire The Boys will premiere the first three episodes of its second season on Friday, September 4, 2020.

New episodes will be available each Friday, culminating in an epic season finale on October 9.

The even more intense, more insane season 2 finds The Boys on the run from the law, hunted by the Supes and desperately trying to regroup and fight back against Vought.

In hiding, Hughie (Jack Quaid), Mother’s Milk (Laz Alonso), Frenchie (Tomer Capon) and Kimiko (Karen Fukuhara) try to adjust to a new normal, with Butcher (Karl Urban) nowhere to be found.

Meanwhile, Starlight (Erin Moriarty) must navigate her place in The Seven as Homelander (Antony Starr) sets his sights on taking complete control. His power is threatened with the addition of Stormfront (Aya Cash), a social media-savvy new Supe, who has an agenda of her own.  

On top of that, the Supervillain threat takes centre-stage and makes waves as Vought seeks to capitalise on the nation’s paranoia.

Fans get first look at wild whale scene at Comic-Con

Warning: This clip isn't suitable for younger viewers

If fans needed any evidence that season two has raised the bar, the first clip revealed at Comic-Con takes the show to a whole new level. If you thought the dolphin scene in season one was bad, wait until you see what happens with The Deep and a whale.

Talking at Comic-Con about how they filmed the scene, Karl Urban, who plays Billy the Butcher, said: "The way we shot that, we had all of us in the boat and we were actually doing it.

"You never get to do anything for real anymore it’s usally all green screen, but we were out there on the water doing horrendous speeds and having fun. Except for Jack [Quaid].

"We actually end up in the whale and it was a pretty surreal experience. It was a hot and stinky experience in the Canadian summer."

Writer Eric Kripke said: "The crew said, 'we’re not really building this whale right?' We said, 'yes we are!' It’s going to be 40ft long and 11ft high.

"We had to start long before episode one. We were deep into building that whale. It was seriously expensive that whale. It makes the scene work because they’re involved in this real thing and inside its belly. It’s not just CGI."

The Boys season 3 is confirmed

During The Boys panel event at Comic-Con, the show's exec producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg revealed that a third season of The Boys has been confirmed.

Writer Eric Kripke said: "Amazon, in a bold and historic push to expand their ‘weirdo’ demographic, has greenlit season 3 of The Boys.

"The writers and I are hard at work in the (virtual) writer’s room and we’re sad to say, the world has given us way too much material. We hope to be shooting in early 2021, but that’s up to a microscopic virus."

Just don't ask anyone when it's likely season three will be released, because it's all up in the air right now.

"When can we film season three, anyone’s guess?" said Rogen. "We hope sometime this decade.

"You may see superheroes in essentially sealed outfits that don’t allow people’s breath to interact with other people’s breath. That’s just a costume choice."

The first casting for season 3 has also been revealed with Supernatural star Jensen Ackles confirmed to play Soldier Boy.

Jensen Ackles will portray Soldier Boy - the original Superhero. After Soldier Boy fought in World War II, he became the first super celebrity, and a mainstay of American culture for decades.

Showrunner and Executive Producer of The Boys Eric Kripke said: "When I was a child, I had a crazy, impossible dream - to provide Jensen Ackles with gainful employment.  I’m happy to say that dream has come true.  

"Jensen is an amazing actor, an even better person, smells like warm chocolate chip cookies, and I consider him a brother.  As Soldier Boy, the very first Superhero, he’ll bring so much humour, pathos, and danger to the role. I can’t wait to be on set with him again, and bring a bit of Supernatural to The Boys.”

Meet new Supe Stormfront

The Boys fans got their first look at Aya Cash as a new member of The Seven, Stormfront, in a teaser clip for season 2.

Needless to say, Homelander and Queen Maeve don't seem best pleased by their new colleague...

The Boys is getting a spinoff show - Prime Rewind: Inside The Boys

You know a TV show has made it when it gets its own spinoff show. And when The Boys returns for season 2, it will be joined by new after show, Prime Rewind: Inside The Boys.

Inside The Boys will be presented by actress, comic and talk show host Aisha Taylor.

"The Boys is one of the smartest, most irreverent, unapologetically badass shows streaming," said Taylor.

"I became a fan during season 1 and this season I’m stoked to be flying fans into the heart of the show as host of Prime Rewind: Inside The Boys. Season 2 is bigger, badder, and more audacious than ever before, so join me after every episode as we dig through the rubble pile of our feelings.

"I promise, we’ll get through it like The Boys —dysfunctional, but together."

Who are the cast of The Boys?

We don't want to spoil who survived and who didn't at the end of season 1, but anyone from the main cast who got out alive will return.

The central cast for season 1 are The Boys: Hughie (Jack Quaid) Billy Butcher (Karl Urban), Mother’s Milk (Laz Alonso) Frenchie (Tomer Capon) and The Female (Karen Fukuhara).

The Supes of The Seven are Homelander (Antony Starr), Starlight (Erin Moriarty), Queen Maeve (Dominique McElligott), A-Train (Jessie T. Usher) The Deep (Chace Crawford) and Black Noir (Nathan Mitchell).

Meet the cast of Amazon Prime Video's The Boys >

It was revealed at Comic-Con 2019 that You’re the Worst star Aya Cash is joining the series as the 'Supe' Stormfront.

In the comic series, Stormfront’s public-facing image is that he is a reincarnated Viking with electrical powers and the ability to control the weather – but his true origin story is much darker.

He is one of the most powerful, evil 'Supes' and is part of a team called Payback.

At Comic-Con 2020,  Cash said that she was surprised to get the role, revealing that she text her agent while waiting for the audition to say that she had no chance of getting the part.

Talking about how Stormfront will shake up season two, she said: "What I love about it is that it’s so topical. It allows us to look at real issues but from a distance. Often when you talk about current events, you take things too personally.

"That’s not to say there weren’t really hard moments playing someone I violently disagree with, but my job as an actor is to find the humanity and go to the ugly gross side of ourselves.

"It’s Eric’s job to decide what happens to that character. He allows her humanity and also, hopefully punishes her."

Shawn Ashmore is another new 'super' in season 2, playing the infamous Lamplighter.

Shawn Ashmore has joined the cast of The Boys season two as Lamplighter, a former member of the Seven before he left under mysterious circumstances to be replaced by Starlight. 

Lamplighter was involved the break-up of The Boys eight years ago, so his arrival will have a big impact on Billy the Butcher's gang.

Ashmore is best known for playing Bobby Drake / Iceman in the X-Men movies.

Showrunner Eric Kripke said: "We were thrilled that Shawn - who is, let’s be honest, an OG superhero - wanted to play the crucial part of Lamplighter.  

"He brings so much depth, menace, and world weary humanity to this former member of the Seven.

"And Shawn is a really good guy. We’re grateful to have him join our bloody little family.” 

Goran Visnjic and Claudia Doumit, who co-starred in Boys creator Eric Kripke's previous series Timeless, are also joining the second season.

Visnjic will portray Alistair Adana, the charismatic and shadowy leader of a mysterious church.

Doumit will play Victoria Neuman, a young wunderkind congresswoman.

Deadline, also confirmed Malcolm Barrett will be returning as Seth Reed, a Vought Marketing executive.

Other recurring stars in season 2 include Colby Minifie, Shantel VanSanten, Cameron Crovetti, PJ Byrne and Laila Robbins returning as Grace Mallory.

Who is on The Boys soundtrack?

One of the many joys of The Boys is the absolutely banging soundtrack, which brings together pop, rock, hip-hop and a score from Christopher Lennertz which helps capture the grissly gore and dark humour of the series.

Classic tracks that appeared in season one included Heart's Barracuda, The Clash's London Calling, The Runaways Cherry Bomb, Ricky Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up and, of course, Wannabe from the Spice Girls.

It looks like we can expect more of the same in season two with We Didn't Start The Fire by Billy Joel soundtracking the insane trailer.

First look - season 2 trailer

Lucky fans in Sao Paulo, Brazil, were the first people in the world to watch the official teaser for the second season.

Cast in attendance at the event included Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Jessie T. Usher and Karen Fukuhara and the short trailer featured some hints about what we can expect when the show's return including significant roles for Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad, The Mandalorian) as the head of Vought and Billy the Butcher's pet bulldog Terror.

It also looks like we can expect blood. Lots of it.

Warning: Trailer not suitable for younger viewers... 

What happened in the season 1 finale? (spoilers ahead...)

The finale of season 1 was typically dramatic and jaw-dropping, even for a show that revelled in pushing the boundaries of decency. Here's what happened:

• Billy the Butcher and Homelander both discovered the shocking truth about Becca (Shantel VanSanten) - Billy's wife - who were both decieved into thinking she was dead.
• Becca is alive and has given birth to Homelander's son. Homelander was told that she died giving birth to his child. Billy believed Homelander and the Seven had killed her.
• Homelander killed Madelyn Stillwell (Elisabeth Shue) after discovering the truth about Becca - and saved himself and Billy.
• Terrorist Supes are coming! Homelander revealed that he was behind new super-powered terrorists, confessing that he had been giving them Compound V to give him an enemy to fight and to guarantee the Governement gave Vought more control.
• In the comics, that final twist was very different. Billy saw Becca get killed and in revenge Billy kills Homelander's son. That won't be happening in season 2.
• Showrunner Eric Kripke told Entertainment Weekly: "You have this kid who's half human and half monster; half the person Butcher loves most in the world and half the person Butcher hates most in the world. That's just too perfect a character to not keep alive."
• Vought know the identities of The Boys and want to bring them down.
• The death of Madelyn means that her boss Stan Edgar (Giancarlo Esposito) will be stepping forward to fill the power vacuum at the top of Vought.
• Starlight knows the truth about her superpowers. She realises that she was injected with Compound V rather than being born with her special gifts. And she helped save The Boys escape from A-Train.
• A-Train suffered a heart attack from overdosing on Compound C, but Starlight saved him and stayed with him at the end, rather than escaping with Hughie.

This video about the Homelander and Billy the Butcher story is a useful catch-up guide ahead of season 2...

The Boys season 2 premieres Friday, September 4 on Amazon Prime Video.