THE BOYS TV Series in Development at Cinemax

I don't suppose Simon Pegg is available to play Wee Hughie?

Deadline has word that Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and Neal Moritz are bringing another Garth Ennis comic book series, The Boys, to cable television.  Cinemax has put the drama series in development from the Preacher team of Rogen and Goldberg’s Point Grey, Moritz’s Original Film and Sony Television.

According to the article, the TV adaptation is being developed by Rogen, Goldberg and Supernatural creator Eric Kripke, and written by Kripke.  Rogen and Goldberg, who helmed the Preacher pilot, are set to direct.  Serving as executive producers are Original Film’s Moritz, Pavun Shetty and Ori Marmur; Point Grey’s Rogen, Goldberg and James Weaver; Kripke; as well as Ken Levin and Kickstart’s Jason Netter (Preacher).  Ennis and co-creator Darick Robertson will serve as co-executive producers.

The series is set "in a time where most of the superheroes are corrupted by their celebrity status and often engage in reckless behavior, compromising the safety of the world.  It centers on a CIA squad, known informally as 'The Boys,' whose job is to keep watch on the proliferation of superheroes and, if necessary, eliminate some of them."

The Boys, which ran for 72 issues and three 6-issue limited series from 2006-2012, was published initially by Wildstorm (#1-6) and then by Dynamite Entertainment.  Filled with extreme violence, sexual situations and dark humor, the series began with an Englishman named Billy Butcher who learns of a presidential directive charging the CIA with monitoring all superheroes.  He uses the directive to get the backing required to reform "The Boys," a black ops team designed to police the superhero community.  Butcher brings together Mother's Milk, the Frenchman, and the Female (of the Species), but the Boys' fifth member, Mallory, refuses to return as his grandkids were murdered due to his involvement with the group.  Requiring five in the team, Butcher recruits a Scottish conspiracy theorist named "Wee Hughie" Campbell, whose girlfriend was accidentally killed by A-Train, a reckless member of major superhero team The Seven.

The Boys will be the second comic book series for Cinemax, following Outcast by The Walking Dead co-creator Robert Kirkman.