Early plans for Prime Video's The Boys had Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg directing the series premiere, but scheduling conflicts led to Dan Trachtenberg taking the role. The episode, titled The Name of the Game, established the show's irreverent tone in 2019. Rogen and Goldberg remain executive producers on the series.
The Boys, a Prime Video series known for its irreverent take on superheroes, launched with Season 1, Episode 1, titled The Name of the Game, in 2019. This premiere introduced viewers to a brutal worldview, featuring characters like Hughie, played by Jack Quaid, who joins Billy Butcher, portrayed by Karl Urban, in a crusade against Vought International's superhero team, The Seven. Key members include the erratic Homelander, played by Antony Starr, and the cocky A-Train, played by Jessie T. Usher.
Initially, Seth Rogen and his producing partner Evan Goldberg were slated to direct this pivotal episode. However, due to Rogen's busy schedule as an actor and producer, the directing duties shifted to Dan Trachtenberg. At the time, Trachtenberg was recognized for his work on the 2016 thriller 10 Cloverfield Lane and the Black Mirror episode Playtest. Despite his limited television experience, Trachtenberg set the show's identity through brutalities, pitch-black satire, and a chaotic introduction to its factions.
Rogen had prior directing credits, including the films This Is The End in 2013 and The Interview in 2014, as well as four episodes of the Garth Ennis adaptation Preacher. He and Goldberg explained their support for Trachtenberg in a 2018 statement to Deadline: "Dan's a massive fan of [Ennis and Darick Robertson's The Boys] comic like us, and we're massive fans of his, so we're excited to have his more talented skill set brought to the show."
Though they did not direct the premiere, Rogen and Goldberg hold executive producer credits on The Boys. Trachtenberg later directed The Predator and an episode of Stranger Things Season 5. Recently, their series The Studio won multiple Emmys in 2025, with Goldberg receiving three awards and Rogen four.
