The CW’s Supernatural cast had just participated in an emotional final panel at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con when they arrived in the press room for roundtable interviews. 15 years is an incredible run, and series stars Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, Misha Collins, and Alexander Calvert were obviously touched by the send-off they received from fans fortunate enough to have snagged a ticket to the sold-out Con.
During our roundtable interview, Jensen Ackles reflected on the show’s impact and legacy. He also talked about speaking to the writers about the series finale.
What are you most excited to tackle with Dean in this final season?
Jensen Ackles: (Laughing) “Cas. Just like a full football tackle. That’s it. No, I think the big kind of looming mountain to climb is going to be that final episode. We have an idea of what we’re going to do, and already knowing that is going to take some mental preparation.”
So, you know the ending?
Jensen Ackles: “We have an ending right now. Obviously, we’re nine months away from that; things could change. But we have – yes – we’ve all kind of signed off on an ending.
Jared and I flew out to LA about a month ago…a month and a half ago…and sat down in the writers room – which we’ve never done in 15 years – and said, ‘Okay, how are we going to do this?’ And they knew we were coming. They were prepared and they had all the writers in there. They gave a full pitch to Jared and I.
It was heavy. It was emotional. Jared seems to think you can’t please everybody and not everybody is going to like it. I don’t know. I think you’d be hard-pressed to see if somebody is just like, ‘No, that sucked!’
You guys truly had a hand in the ending?
Jensen Ackles: “Yeah. That was what we wanted to do. We didn’t want to just be like, ‘I don’t care.’ It’s been 15 years, you know?
It’s so important to us. We really, truly care about these characters and about this story. They’ve been a part of our lives for 15 years now. I’m very protective of Dean and I will always be. Like Jared said at the panel, these characters are a part of us and will always be a part of us. So, I’m looking forward to tackling that.”
What do you hope the show’s legacy will be?
Jensen Ackles: “There’s many things I’m very proud about. I’m proud of the fans that we found or that found us and how good they are to each other and how good they are to us. I’m proud of the crew that we’ve sustained. A lot of times in television, crews come and go. You know, they’ll have grips that will come in and then they’ll go on to another show. A new crew will come in. Camera operators might get their bump up to director of photography and they’ll go off and do another show. We’ve had an incredible retention of crew members on our show for going on 15 years now. So, they’re all like family.
I’d say one of the things that I’m going to be most proud of is our set. […] Our set has a reputation. Every set has a reputation and that reputation comes from the tone that is set by the producers, the actors, the director. I get so much satisfaction from a guest star or an actor or director coming on our set and saying, ‘Guys, you have the best reputation.’ Or, ‘I had so much fun with this show I had to come back and direct another one.’ Or after a guest star comes, they’re like, ‘You know, I’ve guest starred on countless TV shows. This is the most fun set I’ve ever been on.’ Those are the comments that I really, really love.”
Is there anything from the set you want to steal? Are there dibs on set pieces already?
Jensen Ackles: (Laughing) “No, not yet. I don’t think we’re allowed to. It’s all Warner Bros property.”
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Supernatural season 15 will premiere on October 10, 2019.
- Jared Padalecki Interview on Supernatural Season 15
- Misha Collins Interview on His Hope’s for the End of Castiel’s Story
- Alexander Calvert on Where We Pick Up with Jack in Season 15
