The news of a “Supernatural” prequel took one of its stars completely by surprise. Jared Padalecki, who played Sam Winchester on the hit TV series, expressed his feelings on Twitter after hearing about the prequel through a Deadline article shared by his former co-star Jensen Ackles. Padalecki congratulated Ackles on the opportunity but expressed disappointment that Sam Winchester would not be involved in the project.
Shortly before Padalecki’s tweet, “Supernatural” showrunner Eric Kripke praised Ackles and his wife Danneel Ackles for their involvement in the prequel. Kripke mentioned that the prequel, which focuses on the earlier life of the Winchester parents, will be narrated by Ackles but will largely take place before Sam’s birth. Padalecki’s absence from the prequel makes sense considering he is currently starring in the WB’s “Walker,” a remake of the ’90s series “Walker, Texas Ranger.” The prequel, which has a script commitment, will explore the love story between John and Mary Winchester and their efforts to save their love and the world. This untold origin story has not been explored in the “Supernatural” canon.
Ackles expressed his excitement about exploring this story, stating that his character Dean would have wanted to know more about his parents’ relationship. Chaos Machine Productions, a company formed by Ackles and Danneel Ackles, signed an exclusive deal with Warner Bros. Television Group last year. They are working with Renee Reiff and Robbie Thompson, both veterans from “Supernatural,” on the prequel. Thompson is serving as an executive producer and writer. “Supernatural” enjoyed a loyal fan base and ran for 15 seasons, with the finale airing in November 2020. Padalecki received support from his fans after expressing his disappointment about not being involved in the prequel. Some fans speculated if Padalecki was aware of the project, as he had allegedly discussed it with Ackles in a previous livestream. Despite the initial backlash, Padalecki clarified that he and Ackles had spoken and everything was fine. Representatives for Padalecki and Ackles have not commented on the matter.