End of Diabolical: Season 2 Cancelled; Kripke Blames Ratings, Bets on Next Spinoffs

If you were hoping for more episodes of the chaotic and bloody animated anthology The Boys Presents: Diabolical, we have bad news. The universe’s co-creator, Eric Kripke, confirmed in a recent interview with The Wrap that the series will likely not return for a second season on Prime Video.

Despite being a creative and acclaimed gamble, the verdict was clear: the audience just wasn’t there.

Goodbye, Diabolical: Why Season 2 Isn’t Happening

The answer is straightforward: numbers. Even with the creative team’s best efforts, the series didn’t attract enough viewers to justify investing in a new season.

“I don’t think there will be a second season of Diabolical,” Kripke said. “It’s not for lack of trying on our part. I think, at the end of the day, the viewing numbers just weren’t there to justify it, unfortunately.”

Kripke stressed that both he and the animation’s showrunner, Simon Racioppa, were eager to produce more, but the Amazon Prime Video decision appears to be final.

The Contrast: Critical Success, Ratings Failure

The cancellation is especially frustrating for fans, given the series’ extremely high quality. Released in March 2022, Diabolical delivered eight standalone episodes, each with a unique animation style and tone.

The anthology featured a heavyweight lineup of writers and creators, including names like:

• Seth Rogen
• Evan Goldberg
• Awkwafina
• Andy Samberg
• And even Garth Ennis, the co-creator of the original The Boys comics.

That creative effort earned an impressive 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, cementing the series as a critical success. Yet, as Kripke noted, in the streaming world acclaim couldn’t outweigh the need for a mass audience.

The Boys Universe Lives On: 3 Spinoffs in the Works

The end of Diabolical is far from the end of the expanded The Boys universe. In fact, the franchise is more alive than ever and gearing up for a robust future even after the main series ends (scheduled to wrap with season 5).

Kripke confirmed the focus is now on three other live-action projects:

1. Gen V

The first live-action spinoff was an absolute hit. Gen V won over audiences by exploring Godolkin University, an institution run by Vought for young “Supes.” The series is already established and keeps expanding the main narrative, connecting directly to the events of the parent show.

2. The Boys: Mexico

A new spinoff is officially in development. Tentatively titled The Boys: Mexico, the project is being written by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer (the writer of Blue Beetle).

“Mexico is being developed right now,” Kripke confirmed. “The pilot script is being written. Gareth is a wonderful writer and I find him hilarious. I hope it gets made, but it’s just at that development stage.”

3. Vought Rising

Perhaps the most ambitious project, Vought Rising will be a prequel focused on the origins of Vought International. The series will bring back Jensen Ackles as Soldier Boy and Aya Cash as Stormfront, exploring the corporation’s early days in the 1950s.

The Future Depends on the Fans

Eric Kripke ended the interview with an important reminder that applies to every new project: success depends on the audience. The creator knows Prime Video has greenlit expanding this universe, but the business demands returns.

“The same applies to the first season of Vought Rising,” Kripke added. “We have plans for a second season, if we can. They [Prime Video] have supported us and are giving us our opportunities. But it’s a business and we have to deliver too. So hopefully the audience shows up.”