Paul, a comedy film that often flies under the radar, turned out to be oddly prophetic in its anticipation of Amazon’s blockbuster superhero titles. Released in 2011, it is frequently seen as the unofficial fourth installment of the Edgar Wright Cornetto trilogy. The movie stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as a pair of British science fiction enthusiasts on a road trip through the American Southwest, where they encounter the laid-back gray alien, voiced by Seth Rogen.
How Seth Rogen’s Paul Foreshadowed Invincible and The Boys as Streaming Phenomena
Revisiting Paul today, viewers can appreciate its numerous nods to two relatively obscure comic book series: Invincible and The Boys. Both have become major successes on Amazon, celebrated for their subversive take on the superhero genre that includes graphic, R-rated twists. Given that Pegg and Frost’s characters are die-hard fans of comics and geek culture, their references to these properties seem almost like a prescient acknowledgment of what was to come.
Subtle References to Comics in Paul
One of The Boys‘ references is particularly noticeable, featuring one of the comic’s issues prominently displayed in a comic shop scene. Curiously, Hughie Campbell, a character from The Boys, was visually designed to resemble Simon Pegg. While Jack Quaid portrays Hughie in the series, Pegg contributes as the writer for the introduction to the first The Boys omnibus and appears in the show as Hughie’s father. Additionally, it’s noteworthy that Seth Rogen was instrumental in producing The Boys for Amazon.
Moreover, Pegg’s character dons a graphic tee featuring Invincible, which has blossomed into one of Amazon’s most treasured animated series. The guests don’t stop there—co-creators Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker, along with artist Ryan Ottley, make cameo appearances as government agents attempting to capture Paul in a pivotal scene.
Paul Indicates Seth Rogen’s Long-standing Affection for Invincible
Simon Pegg’s Connection to The Boys
The sheer scope of foresight is astounding when considering that Paul included homages to both comic series a full eight years before their adaptations debuted on Amazon. During its release, Invincible and especially The Boys were still largely under the radar, known mainly to dedicated comic book enthusiasts willing to delve beyond mainstream Marvel and DC narratives.
In the case of Invincible, Seth Rogen did not just produce the animated series; he also lent his voice to Allen the Alien, a character bearing similarities to Paul. This indicates his sustained interest in Invincible even before its rise to fame. Rogen’s commitment to steering a live-action film adaptation of Invincible further underscores this.
Ultimately, Paul stands as a testament to Pegg and Rogen’s early recognition of the potential success of adaptations for The Boys and Invincible. Their prescient references serve as a compelling reminder of how keenly they perceive promising material, making one wonder how many viewers of Paul caught these insights when it first hit theaters compared to the broader audience now familiar with these once-obscure comic series.