Though “The Boys” is known for its over-the-top violence and supe-related sexual mayhem, what it must be most well-known for is its absurdly non-New York depiction of New York Metropolis. The present’s first 4 seasons had been filmed in Toronto, and the ultimate season will likely be filmed there too; this is not a brand new apply for American TV, however hardly ever has a present put so little effort into disguising what it is doing. Even “Scream VI,” a film whose setting was simply identifiable as Montreal to any Canadian viewers, put extra effort into the New York aesthetic than “The Boys” has.
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Maybe the best instance of “The Boys” shamelessly displaying off Toronto is with the Vought Tower. Within the present, the tower is an imposing skyscraper, with a prime ground that the Supes within the Seven can use to gaze down on the metropolis. A lot of the constructing is faux, however the base of it’s Roy Thompson Corridor, which is used for orchestra concert events, lectures, film screenings for the Toronto Worldwide Movie Competition, and extra. When Homelander is not utilizing the constructing to torment his co-workers, some subtle musician will likely be utilizing it to carry out for a flowery viewers. Are you aware how generally we’ll hear violin music when Homelander has a psychological breakdown? Effectively, possibly that is simply an RTH live performance enjoying downstairs.
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The Vought Tower has the actual Roy Thompson Corridor as its base, after which the present digitally plopped a large tower on prime. It is like RTH is carrying a large prime hat. The Vought Tower is featured within the image above, and you may see what the actual RTH seems like right here.
Not solely did the present use RTH’s exterior for establishing photographs, however they filmed lots of their scenes contained in the Vought Tower within the RTH as nicely. It is contained in the constructing that RTH turns into most acquainted; Marvel followers may acknowledge it as the identical location the place Professor X confronted Magneto within the first live-action “X-Males” film in 2000. Followers of “The Expanse” may acknowledge it because the futuristic location of the U.N. within the 2350s.
Toronto is the key coronary heart and soul of ‘The Boys,’ and loads of reveals and movies
RTH has an imposing, futuristic aesthetic to it that is irresistible to a number of filmmakers. On the subject of “The Boys” wanting to determine the sheer energy of Vought Worldwide, few different buildings might’ve carried out the trick.
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The remainder of “The Boys” will make use of Toronto landmarks like David Pecaut Sq. or Yonge Avenue, and even the bushes within the background of some photographs will give the present away as probably not being filmed in New York. Nonetheless, the present does make some makes an attempt to disguise itself. In these season 1 scenes inside what’s presupposed to be the New York subway, the manufacturing staff took the time to place some NYC-specific signage on the Toronto’s Decrease Bay Station. Eagle-eyed New York commuters might in all probability inform this wasn’t their subway, the Boys had been strolling in, but it surely appeared shut sufficient to not break the immersion.
And naturally, you may’t actually blame the present for not filming at an precise New York subway station, as that’d be fairly costly. The Decrease Bay station was the extra affordable selection, since it has been out of use because the ’60s and is now largely used for coaching new Toronto practice operators. The station might not be deemed match for passenger use, but it surely’s been saved in simply ok situation to make for the right filming location for any film/present involving a subway. It’s possible you’ll not have thought you had been conversant in Decrease Bay Station, however in case you’ve seen films like Guillermo Del Toro’s “Mimic” or Gary Fleder’s “Do not Say a Phrase,” you positively are.
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Ultimately, Toronto’s a fairly nice location to base a present’s manufacturing round. Sure, the unhealthy climate can typically complicate issues (as was the case with filming Will Ferrell’s season 4 cameo), however if you take the tax incentives and the sheer variety of cool, New York-esque places, town’s a no brainer. Toronto’s been the not-so-secret residence of “The Boys” for 4 seasons now, and it is served its position nicely.
