Supernatural: Some facts about the hit series which ran over 15 seasons

Today we will discuss some lesser-known facts about the long-running American Dark Fantasy Drama. Supernatural made it to the international audience and has garnered enough appreciation for its portrayal of two paranormal hunters who fight to ward off demons, monsters, and all other supernatural elements who live on Earth but are not visible to the average eye.

The sensation around the new trailer

The new trailer of Supernatural Prequel is already making rounds amongst the show's fans. Nevertheless, it is said from the point of view of Dean Winchester, who goes back to his ancestors and their hunting nature. The Winchesters will also cover the family of Winchesters and how they formed a legion to fight off the demons and monsters and send them back to hell.

The backstory of the Supernatural

These two hunters come from a family of monster and ghost hunters who have previously warded off demons from the Earth. The two brothers take up their family business and go on a mysterious journey to various realms to free the world of all the vampires, werewolves, and ghosts. They take the company after their father, John Winchester, goes missing, and Dean decides to hunt down those supernatural beings to bring back their absent father.

Season 1 of Supernatural

Supernatural Season 1 is much better on DVD than on streaming. New fans who have just been introduced to this American Sci-Fi drama should know that the DVD of the show has been released, and they can buy the whole fifteen seasons for their binge-watching. Season 1 introduces the characters, and Sam Winchester, thinking of leaving his father's life, was forced back to the supernatural world after Dean persuaded him to join him in the mission to find their dad.

The initial start of the show

Supernatural started on The WB network for one year, from 2005 to 2006. They showed Season 1 on the network until it shifted to The CW network. The longest-running The CW show, it started its original broadcast in 2005 and ended in 2020. However, it was initially under the Warner Bros Production Distribution. Nevertheless, the creators shifted the show to the production house of Wonderland Sound and Vision. The show's success was a bolt out of the blue for everyone.

Supernatural cast then and now

The Supernatural cast has changed over the years as each prominent cast member and co-star works on different projects and is happily married in real life. Although talks are going on, some of the original cast members might reprise their roles in the upcoming Supernatural Prequel, but nothing has been finalized by the casting team yet. Jenson Ackles is eager to bring his close pals Jared and his wife Genevieve Padalecki in the upcoming Prequel. 

The five seasons' contributions

The final production house of the show was Kripke Enterprises. The show lasted more than expected, and Eric Kripke was himself surprised with the overall success of the show. Initially, Eric Kripke thought of making the show for only three seasons. But, seeing the show’s positive response, Kripke changed the plan and added two more seasons to the show. He was not expecting to go on with the further upcoming seasons.

The creator stepped back

Eric Kripke wrote the Supernatural script until the fifth season; after that, he took a backseat and came back and wrote one episode for Season 5. However, he directed one episode of Season 2 and one episode of Season 4. Eric went on to take up new projects, and Sera Gamble handled the show running department from Season 6. 

The reason behind backing down

Eric Kripke thought Sera Gamble could give a new perspective to Jared and Jenson’s paranormal hunting story. Eric always imagined Sam and Dean Winchester fighting the demons, rising in the ranks, and finally fighting Lucifer. He also said that in the initial draft of his script, he never considered angels. He further said that he did not think of the story furthering Season 5, so it would be better if Sera could add new storylines.

The upcoming Prequel

Winchesters’ Spinoff is coming on October 11, 2022, and Jenson Ackles is hoping for a possible cast reunion. Although he is the one who is telling the back history of his Winchester Family, possibilities are also there for the other actors to make a comeback. He is excited about this new project as it will bring another aspect of the Supernatural story. John Winchester wants to find the back history of his father and crosses roads with Mary Campbell, who is already a demon hunter.

The surprising success of the show

So, the start of the show Supernatural was utterly unexpected. The creator Eric Kripke was surprised to find the American Dark Fantasy drama so well-received by the public back in 2006. The cast and crew were surprised, and on the hundredth episode, they even threw a party to celebrate the long-running show. The CW still couldn’t believe the show was on the air until 2017, with the audience loving Dean and Sam as the supernatural hunters. 

The storyline of the Prequel

The Premiere date for Winchesters’ Spinoff on The CW is Fall 2022, and the cast and crew members are already excited to plunge into the world of supernatural beings. The story talks about the parents of Sam and Dean Winchester and how they come together to create history and save the world. Dean takes the Supernatural fans to the world of John Winchester and Mary Winchester and how they fought demons much before Sam and Dean took up their respective roles in the family business.

Eric Kripke accepted the unexpected

In 2015, the American Dark Fantasy became the longest-running live-action series. Supernatural had over 260 episodes in 2017 and the cast and crew members were surprised, joyful, and excited that the show was still going strong. In an interview, Eric Kripke said he didn’t expect to write for the show's five seasons. He was unprepared, but he found it a challenge to cover up.

Sam and Dean’s parents

The supernatural Prequel is set to bring Jenson Ackles and Danneel Ackles together with writer Robbie Thompson. The series will delve deeper into the pasts of John Winchester and Mary Campbell and how they have a whole legacy of ancestors working on fighting supernatural elements over the years. They will talk about how Sam and Dean’s parents met back in time and together became part of the Winchester family business.

Detective Pike in the show

Alan Roger Ackles has a long-running acting career, and with his son’s hit series being internationally acclaimed, Alan Ackles got the chance to showcase himself in the show. Jensen Ackles’ father did a cameo role in the series. Alan Ackles has experience with over twenty film and television projects. So, working with his son was a perk for Jensen Ackles. Moreover, Alan Ackles is proud of his son and his success in the entertainment world.

The father-son duo

Jenson Ackles is honored to share screen space and time with his real-life dad, as not every television actor gets the opportunity to work alongside their family members. However, it was an excellent opportunity for Jensen Ackles to work with his father, even briefly. Alan Ackles appeared briefly in Season 8, donning the role of Detective Pike. In the hit American sitcom Friends, Matthew Perry’s father, John Bennett Perry, also plays a cameo role. The history of every successful web series repeats itself.

Castiel - the angel

Castiel is an angel of God, so the creator wanted to keep the name something along the line. The name Castiel came from a Google Search, which was said to be a spur-of-the-moment search to select a word. However, Castiel is a fan-favorite character as he successfully brought Dean Winchester back to Earth from hell. In the show, Dean and Castiel become best friends after Castiel is seen watching the back of Dean and Sam throughout the series. 

Eric Kripke and the name Castiel

Eric Kripke even tweeted back in 2015 that the show was airing on Thursdays, and they needed a name for a new character. So, Kripke searched ‘Angel of Thursday,’ and the name Castiel popped up. So, he kept the title as he found himself lucky enough to find a suitable name for his new character. The sarcastic fact was that Misha Collins, the actor playing the role of Castiel, initially thought he was playing the role of a demon. 

Misha Collins portrayed as Castiel

Misha Collins and Jenson Ackles are both married in real life. So, they connect on various terms and are still friends after the show ends. Misha Collins even said that when he auditioned as an actor, Collins thought he would get portrayed as a demon; however, on the first day of shooting, Misha came to know that the character he was going to play was an angel. The writer Eric Kripke kept it a top secret that Castiel is an angel.

The confirmation of Season 1

Jenson Ackles wants Jeffrey Dean Morgan in the Supernatural Spin-Off. Since Jenson is also one of the creators of The Winchesters, he wants to cast Jeffrey Dean Morgan as his aged father in the show. As for now, only Season 1 has been confirmed with at least twenty episodes. The fans have to wait to watch out for more.

The famous Winchester mystery

The Winchester surname has a scary story in the background. The creator took Dean and Sam Winchester from the famous Winchester mystery house in San Jose, California. The Winchester family house once belonged to the widowed woman Sarah Winchester. Her husband was a firearms magnate William Wirt Winchester. The Winchester mystery house is in the Guinness Book of World records for its most prolonged ongoing construction till Sarah Winchester died.

Sarah Winchester - the widow

It was after the death of William Wirt Winchester that, through a seance, Sarah learned that her late husband wanted her to move to the West and build a mansion for all the spirits who have fallen under the firearms created by the Winchester Repeating Arms company. Sarah Winchester went to San Jose, California, and started building the house. The house is considered haunted as it is said to be housing various spirits who fell from the company's firearms. 

The Winchester mystery house

Not all is known about the real-life Winchester mystery house and whether it houses thousands of spirits killed by the rifles of William Wirt Winchester, but at least Dean and Sam have a mysteriously paranormal backstory. Moreover, Eric Kripke wanted inspiration for his new concept, so he drew the title Winchester from America’s famous mystery home. 

The back history of casting the actors

Not many know that Jenson Ackles was initially chosen to play the role of Sam Winchester. But, as Jared Padalecki came on board, the casting director thought that Jared would be the perfect actor to portray Sam. So, Jenson was given the role of Dean Winchester, and he accepted it. The final output gives the fans the idea that the casting director accurately did the casting. 

The appropriate casting of actors

David Nutter, who directed the pilot of the show Supernatural, thought that Jenson Ackles could easily play the role of Sam Winchester. Still, Jared Padalecki’s audition impressed David Nutter and Eric Kripke so much that they signed him for the part of Sam Winchester. However, fans think that Jenson Ackles is perfect for the role of Dean Winchester and Jared Padalecki is accurate for Sam Winchester.

The funny fact about the brothers

Eric Kripke and David Nutter were impressed with both the actors and signed them for the show, which is now an epic series. In the whole series, Sam and Dean are seen as brothers who settle their dilemmas and feuds with the conventional way of rock-paper-scissors. However, Sam Winchester used to win consistently because Dean Winchester always picked scissors so that Sam could predict ahead of time and choose rock. Dean is shown as the protector of his brother Sam throughout the show. 

The recurring role of Bobby Singer

The creator Eric Kripke initially decided on the character Bobby Singer as a one-time appearance. But, surprisingly, the character was so well-portrayed by Jim Beaver that he went on to be well-appreciated by the audience. As a result, Bobby Singer is seen in more than fifty more episodes of the show. He left a considerable impression on the audience with his character. He was that one sidekick who even created bullets for the Colt revolver. So, the storyline does consider him a pivotal character.

Allergy to the feline world

Dean Winchester is seen to be allergic to cats in the series, and it is something related to the occult. As cats are considered the doorway to hell, Dean Winchester has uncanny trouble with the feline family. Dean and Sam Winchesters always look at each other’s backs, with Dean considering him the self-appointed guardian. The actors, in real life, are good friends and still hold a good connection even after the show ended. 

The history of the revolver Colt

The creator decided on the initial title of the show to be Unnatural; however, they later changed it to Supernatural. The supernatural revolver Colt was built by the most excellent hunter of all time - Samuel Colt. Samuel Colt belonged from the nineteenth century, and it created this invincible revolver. Samuel Colt added the Latin inscription on the colt's barrel was ‘non-timebo mala.’ This inscription is taken from Psalm XXIII:4, which means ‘I will fear no evil.’ Dean Winchester finds the revolver in the series with thirteen bullets.

The changes in the script for Season 4

Sam Winchester and Ruby were going to be married in Season 4. In the meantime, the actor Jared Padalecki announced to his crew about his real-life engagement with the actor Genevieve Padalecki who played the role of Ruby. The creators found it too obvious to portray them as an onscreen couple when fans already know about their real-life chemistry. As a result, the writers changed the story at the end of Season 4. 

Supernatural Then and Now

A new Supernatural Then and Now Podcast has launched for all show fans. The Podcast has already completed Season 1 and received a higher rating from the critics. The pilot episode even starred Jenson Ackles and Jared Padalecki. The hit podcast is thinking of coming back with a Season 2. The fans are loving the Podcast already.

The initial decision regarding the car

Dean Winchester’s Chevy Impala was initially decided to be a 65 Mustang in the early stages of production. However, as the production went on to its final stages, the show producers and props directors decided that Impala would look better than Mustang, as it has a rougher look on it. The license plate on the Impala used in the show reads KAZ 2Y5 - which refers to the Winchesters’ House in Kansas and the year when Supernatural started in 2005. 

The record-breaking show running

Moreover, producers, creators, and the director wanted a car for Dean and Sam Winchester to have enough space to hold a body in its trunk. So, Impala fitted the description and was finally chosen for filming. It was the Season 11 of the show that made Supernatural the longest-running consecutive Sci-fi series holding a Guinness book world record. However, the record was previously held by The CW’s series Smallville, but it was taken over by Supernatural in 2016. 

The initial voice message on Dean’s phone

The number 8669073235 is Dean Winchester's phone number in the show; during the filming of the series, if anyone called the number, the voice message of Dean Winchester could be heard, saying to the caller to leave a message in case of an emergency. The announcement further states they should page Dean Winchester with their coordinates if the caller is there for 11 283. 11283 is the date of Mary Winchester's death. 

The updated voice messages

In the later seasons, they changed the Dean’s voice message for the number 8669073235 to something around the line - “Dad, and we need to hear from you, leave a message or text Me. Check with your John Winchester 1246 email anything. We have info.” However, they removed all the voice messages from the number as the show moved on to its later seasons.

Jenson Ackles turned down a role

Back in the time when Marvel was deciding to expand their cinematic world with superheroes, they chose Jenson Ackles to play Captain America. However, Ackles turned them down as it clashed with his filming dates for Supernatural, and he wanted to concentrate on the series. So, it is just not David Schwimmer who turned down the Men in Black movie series for Friends; Jenson Ackles has also done the same for his series.

Some bits of pieces and facts

Marvel was highly impressed with Jenson Ackles and wanted him to play a role in Hawkeye and even to portray the role of Star-Lord from the Guardians of the Galaxy. But, none of them worked as Jenson was working on another series. In Season 4 of Supernatural, Castiel wore over eighty trench coats just because after filming every scene, the creator Eric Kripke used to burn the coats worn by the actor Misha Collins. Now, the reason behind the burning of trench coats is still not known.

The sets and filming of the series

The show organized Bobby Singer’s room in a manner that portrays his character as one who is a bookworm. The set director George Newman has stated that the place of Bobby Singer is organized with five thousand to six thousand books. The whole series has been extensively shot at various outdoor locations. The show saw success every season, so their funds allowed them to go for outdoor shoots.

The outdoor filming

Since the show Supernatural has ended, the places where the show makers didn’t film are easy to list. The sites are Utah, Arizona, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, West Virginia, and New Hampshire. In contrast to this information, the cast and crew visited Illinois the most for their extensive outdoor filming. Now, fans have to wait and see whether the show makers of the Prequel visit these places or not. 

The Agony of Sam Winchester

In Season 8, Sam Winchester was seen enduring demon trials; fans were concerned with the actor Jared Padalecki’s health as the actor portrayed sheer agony. Sam’s character was shown as a beaten one suffering at the hands of the demons; as a result, the writers spread the news that Jared Padalecki was sick to help justify Sam in front of the concerned fans. However, after the show ended, the cast and crew revealed that Jared Padalecki was in excellent form during the shooting of those scenes.

The acting skills of Jared Padalecki

All the fans agree that Jensen Ackles is incomplete without Jared Padalecki in the Supernatural series. Jared Padalecki is such a fabulous actor that he was successfully able to portray the sheer agony of Sam Winchester during the demon trials. Although Jensen Ackles is the brothers' fan favorite, the show's viewers cannot deny the unparalleled contribution of Jared as an actor in the series.

The acting skills of Jensen Ackles

Dean Winchester has assassinated all the most potent and prominent antagonists of the whole series, including Dick Roman, Ruby, and Eve. Dean Winchester is a strong character, whereas Sam Winchester is shown as a bit sensitive character in the show. Dean is shown to travel to entire known realms, which include heaven, hell, purgatory, and Avalon. 

The best friend of Dean

Castiel was initially signed in for three episodes, but the fans loved him as a sidekick for Dean and Sam, so Misha Collins was seen to reprise the role of Castiel in the regular seasons. Castiel turns out to be Dean’s best friend and the third brother of the show. Misha Collins is appreciated in the front, along with Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki. 

The increase in the budget

Season 1 of the show had a total budget of twenty-thousand dollars, including the salary of the cast members and the expense of the special effects. However, the show’s success brought in enough money for the show makers that Jensen Ackles has turned into a creator of the Prequel.

Adam and Eve descendants

Sam and Dean Winchesters are the direct descendants of Cain and Abel. According to biblical history, Cain and Abel are the first and second born of Adam and Eve. Cain is shown as the greatest of all demons who has raised the Knights of hell in the show. Dean Winchester killed him in the series as Cain went on a killing rampage. 

The dedication to various rock groups

Sam and Dean Winchesters used the names of Steven Tyler and Joe Tyler from the rock group Aerosmith when they used to go undercover as FBI agents in the series. At another time, they named themselves Angus and Young, inspired by Angus Young from AC/DC. Some other popular rock group celebrity names they used in a combination when they went undercover at any time of the series.

The initial concept of the show

The original concept of the show Supernatural was based on the story of a reporter who is into investigating urban legends around the world. The reporter’s job was to write newspaper columns on these investigated urban legends. However, the creator Eric Kripke changed the concept, went for a different storyline, and created the final manuscript from the show's initial episodes.

Disney Princesses coming in

In the series, the Winchesters had to take care of various sirens on their way to destroy demons and monsters. However, the creator gave the Disney Princess names to all the sirens. One siren that Dean Winchester took care of had the name Belle, shown in Season 4, Episode 14 back in 2009.

One of the top shows

Supernatural is one of the top shows on Netflix and garnered enough popularity over its 15-season run. Even though Jenson Ackles and Jared Padalecki have moved on with various projects, they are still remembered as Dean and Sam Winchesters from the hit sci-fi show. Jensen Ackles is working on The Boys, and Jared Padalecki is working on The Walker.