Supernatural may be a series where characters refuse to stay dead, but the same can’t be said for its spinoff or near-spinoff series. A revival series featuring the Winchesters is now among the list of the deceased, getting the ax before any work started.
The show’s stars teased fans with subtle hints that Sam and Dean might get revived for a 16th season of the original series or return for another spinoff at the 2023 Creation Honolulu convention. When asked what their characters were up to these days… you know, in the new and improved Heaven… the pair said the answer would require a series revival.
Jared Padalecki (Sam) said, “I have some ideas, and I hope that now that the writers are back and the actors are back, that we all get together.” Jensen Ackles (Dean) added, “Stay tuned on that. There are some conversations regarding that conversation that are being had.”.
However, The CW’s president of entertainment, Brad Schwartz, has put those rumors to rest. Schwartz confirmed that while the series was wildly popular and helped establish the network as a prime player, there have been no talks about bringing back the boys.
“We’ve had no discussion about any kind of spinoff,” said Schwartz, according to TVLine. “Supernatural was one of the Top 10 most-streamed shows last year. And it’s an incredible franchise with an incredible legacy, incredible history. We’re really excited about the new season of Walker with Jared [Padalecki].”
Supernatural spinoffs haven’t been well received by the network and tend to be more short-lived. The most recent spinoff, The Winchesters, was a prequel series starring Meg Donnelly and Drake Rodger as Mary and John Winchester, Sam and Dean’s parents. The series debuted in 2022 and was met with enthusiasm, then confusion as the series strayed into an alternate timeline and showed the duo to be already well-versed as hunters. Ackles narrated the series, which was canceled after one season.
Other attempts at making a spinoff series have had backdoor pilots featured on Supernatural, including Wayward Sisters, featuring a foster family of hunters with characters Jody Mills (Kim Rhodes), Donna Hanscum (Briana Buckmaster), Alex Jones (Katherine Ramdeen), Claire Novak (Kathryn Love Newton), Patience Turner (Clark Backo), and Kaia Nieves (as well as Dark Kaia) (Yadira Guevara-Prip), but wasn’t picked up for a full series.
This was show creator Andrew Dabb’s second attempt at a spinoff series following Bloodlines, previously titled Supernatural: Tribes. The almost show also had a backdoor pilot on Supernatural during the 20th episode of the ninth season. It was to explore the different types of hunter and monster cultures in Chicago, directed by Robert Singer and written by Andrew Dabb. Supernatural show creator Eric Kripke was set to co-executive produce with McG and Jeremy Carver. But in May of 2014, The CW declined to pick up the series.
Ghostfacers had an 11-episode web series with Harry Spangler (Travis Wester) and Ed Zeddmore (AJ Buckley). Supernatural: The Anime, titled The Animation in Japan, with Padalecki, Andrew Farrar, and Harry Standjofski, lasted for a single 22-episode season, making it the most successful Supernatural spinoff to date.
It seems the magic of the original series is key to its success, but it hasn’t panned out well for potential expansions on other beloved characters who contributed to the original series’ lasting appeal.
Image credit: The CW