Amazon offers product placement in The Boys: why the creators said no!

Did you know that the creators of the series The Boys refused a product placement offered by Amazon? Let’s discover together the reasons for this unexpected choice and the implications of this decision on the artistic integrity of the series.

Amazon offers product placement in The Boys: why the creators said no!

Amazon wanted to exploit new technology product placement personalized in the series “The Boys”, allowing change the products displayed based on viewer demographics.

This innovative idea was, however, refused by the series’ creative team.

What is personalized digital product placement?

THE virtual product placement is a technology that allows products to be inserted into shows after they have been produced.

Amazon wanted to use this method in “The Boys” to adjust products according to the target audience.

For example, an IPA beer could be replaced with cognac for black viewers. This personalization, while revolutionary, has its own challenges and limitations.

The reaction of the creators of “The Boys”

Eric Kripke, screenwriter of “The Boys”, revealed that the team turned down Amazon’s offer.

Although they found the idea interesting, they ultimately decided to make fun of it on the show.

In the episode “Beware the Jabberwock, My Son”, a Vought+ featurette shows this product customization, angering fictional black viewers.

Why this refusal?

Creators have several reasons to say no:

• Artistic integrity: Changing elements of the series for commercial gain may alter the creators’ original vision.
• Ethics: Excessive personalization for different demographic groups could be perceived as insensitive or discriminatory.
• Technical complexity: The implementation of this technology is still far from perfect, generating risks of dysfunction or controversy.

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