Gen V Season 2: Major Character’s Return Plans Revealed By Eric Kripke

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Eric Kripke, the creator of The Boys, shared that a significant character who died in the first season of Gen V was nearly brought back for season 2. Kripke also co-creates and executive produces Gen V, the Prime Video series about young superheroes attending Godolkin University, which has strong ties to the original The Boys show.

In an interview with ComicBook, showrunner Eric Kripke was asked about the possibility of bringing back Luke Riordan, also known as Golden Boy (played by Patrick Schwarzenegger). This super-powered character was the top-ranked student at Godolkin University and was on track to join the Seven, but he died in the very first episode, which kicked off the entire series.

According to Kripke, the initial idea was to introduce Luke in season 2 through dream sequences, possibly appearing in the dreams of his brother, Sam Riordan (played by Asa Germann). Unfortunately, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s filming commitments for season 3 of The White Lotus prevented him from reprising his role in Gen V. You can read more from Kripke below:

Yes, we did. I recall a few dream sequences, though I can’t quite remember who was dreaming them – maybe Sam. I definitely remember those scenes making it into the early drafts where the character Golden Boy appeared. As for Patrick, he was filming a small, independent project about a hotel, as far as I know. It wasn’t widely seen, though [laughter]. He was also very busy with The White Lotus and all the related publicity, so we just couldn’t find a time that worked for everyone’s schedules, if my memory serves me correctly.

I was shocked to learn what really happened to Luke in season one – it all came down to the secrets of The Woods program and Sam’s involvement. But even now, in season two, Luke’s death still haunts Sam. He’s really struggling with his grief and trying to figure out who he is without letting anyone control him anymore.

I always thought it would have been amazing to see Luke appear in season 2. It felt like a perfect opportunity to really explore Sam’s inner turmoil and show him genuinely becoming a better person. Especially in that incredibly powerful episode where Sam goes home and makes peace with his parents – seeing Luke there would have added so much emotional weight and depth to that scene. It would have been fantastic!

Kripke isn’t sure if Luke showed up in Sam’s dreams, so it’s also possible he appeared in the dreams of Cate Dunlap (Maddie Phillips). Given Cate’s journey of self-improvement in season two, exploring her past relationship with Luke – and how she used her powers to control him – would have been a logical storyline.

This season of the show has largely revolved around the impact of Andre Anderson’s passing, as the story was significantly changed after actor Chance Perdomo’s death. Paying tribute to Andre has been a central theme, especially for his father, Polarity (Sean Patrick Thomas), and those closest to him.

Although Kripke has hinted at plans for season 3 of Gen V following season 5 of The Boys, there’s a possibility Arnold Schwarzenegger could reprise his role as Luke in the spinoff. This could happen through a dream sequence, particularly involving the characters Sam and Cate.

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2025-10-22 07:08