Jack Quaid had many reasons to be grateful to his hero Simon Pegg, the most significant being his contribution to making The Boys possible. Fans of Garth Ennis’ comics knew that the original Hughie was modeled after the Shaun of the Dead star. Interestingly, illustrator Darick Robertson did not get permission from the actor before using his likeness for the comics.
Quaid thanked Pegg for not suing the comic book franchise, which could’ve hindered the production of such a critically acclaimed show. There were plans to make the series way back, with Pegg playing the role of Hughie, but it eventually did not materialize. Pegg got to be a part of the series nevertheless, playing Hugh Campbell Sr.
Jack Quaid Is Grateful To Simon Pegg For Making The Boys Possible
When Jack Quaid was first cast as Hughie, he revealed that he had the pressure of living up to Simon Pegg since The Boys fans were familiar with his face as the character. However, when the Mission: Impossible actor was cast in the role of his father, Quaid couldn’t believe that he got to star alongside his hero.
During his latest interview with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, he shared that Pegg had been his North Star since the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy. He shared that when he started researching the comics for his role, he learned that Hughie was modeled after Pegg.
He got to know a bit about how Darick Robertson illustrated the character after the actor without getting his permission. Quaid shared that the number one reason for him to thank Pegg was for not suing the comics. He shared that if Pegg had chosen to sue the comics, the TV show would’ve never happened.
He shared that most people would take legal action if they saw their likeness being used inappropriately. But he imagined Pegg would look at the comics and would consider it as a cool acknowledgment. Quaid shared on Happy Sad Confused:
When I first started doing my research into The Boys, the comic book, I would read the comic book and I was like that guy looks familiar. So if no one knows, in the comic books Hughie is modeled after Simon Pegg circa Spaced.
Because Darick Robertson who I know illustrated those comics beautifully but they did not clear it with him before they did that.
Quaid continued:
I’d like to thank Simon Pegg for a number of reasons but first and foremost, I have a theory that The Boys the TV show would not be a thing if not for Simon Pegg. Because most people would have seen that and been like I’m suing immediately. But Simon Pegg probably looked at it and was like, “Ah sick.” He didn’t sue and I’m so grateful.
Jack Quaid also talked about the emotional final scene with Simon Pegg in the fourth season of the series. Quaid shared that the filming itself was emotional for him as he had to say goodbye to his days acting alongside his hero in The Boys.
Simon Pegg Wasn’t Informed Of His Likeness Being Used For The Boys
The Boys illustrator Darick Robertson revealed in his notes in The Boys Omnibus Vol. 6 that he drew inspiration for Hughie from Simon Pegg’s British sitcom Spaced (via ScreenRant). Pegg played Tim Bisley, a comic store worker in the show. However, he never bothered to ask the Star Trek star about using his likeness.
Simon Pegg wrote the foreword to the collected edition of The Boys Vol. 1 and shared that he learned about his likeness being used from a colleague. He wrote, “Had I not been a comic fan, or indeed an admirer of Garth’s previous works, I might have been a little p****d off” (via ScreenRant).
Pegg also shared that Robertson would’ve never thought that he would become famous beyond his “culty British television”. He admitted that he too never believed that he would get the mainstream attention until it was brought on by “a cricket bat and a zombie outbreak in Crouch End, North London.”
Robertson also confirmed that he never thought the reference would get much attention. Pegg went on to become an established actor after his roles in Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, landing him roles in big franchises like Star Trek, Star Wars, and Mission: Impossible.
The Boys is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
