Supernatural may have ended its 15-season run in 2020, but the world of the Winchester brothers continues to find ways to bring its stars back together.
The series ran for more than 300 episodes, making it one of the longest-running fantasy shows on television. While its mythology, monsters and supernatural storylines helped keep viewers coming back, one of the biggest reasons for its enduring popularity was the relationship between Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, who played brothers Sam and Dean Winchester.
The chemistry between Padalecki and Ackles made Sam and Dean feel like genuine siblings, both on and off screen. Their dynamic became one of the defining elements of Supernatural, which is why seeing the two actors reunite in another series was such a significant moment for fans.
That reunion eventually happened on The Boys, the Prime Video superhero series created by Eric Kripke, who also created Supernatural. Rather than simply recreating the Winchester dynamic, however, Kripke gave the actors characters who were almost complete opposites of Sam and Dean.
‘The Boys’ turned Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles into enemies
One of the things that made The Boys different from many other superhero shows was its approach to superheroes. Its so-called “Supes” are often deeply flawed characters who indulge their worst impulses while enjoying the protection and power of the Vought corporation.
Ackles joined the series as Soldier Boy, a patriotic-themed Supe whose behavior puts him among the show’s more disturbing characters. The character also has a major connection to Homelander, played by Antony Starr, as Soldier Boy is revealed to be his biological father.
For years, Supernatural fans had hoped to see Padalecki join The Boys alongside Ackles. However, Padalecki’s commitments to other projects meant that the reunion had to wait until the final season.
Kripke had previously spoken about his efforts to bring Padalecki onto the series during an interview with Variety, joking that he still had one major Supernatural star left to bring into The Boys.
“He’s been busy the last few years, so schedules haven’t worked out…And I feel like I have to complete my game of ‘Supernatural’ Pokémon and I have my one big one — very big one — left to catch.”
Kripke eventually got his reunion in Season 5, in the episode “One-Shots.” Padalecki appears as Mister Marathon, a speedster who crosses paths with Ackles’ Soldier Boy and Homelander.
Mister Marathon initially pretends to help the pair but actually wants Soldier Boy to help him kill Homelander. Instead, Soldier Boy turns on him and leaves Marathon grievously wounded.
The scene is a striking contrast to the brotherly relationship between Sam and Dean. After spending 15 seasons watching Padalecki and Ackles fight side by side as the Winchester brothers, The Boys deliberately put them on opposite sides of a brutal confrontation.
Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles weren’t the only ‘Supernatural’ stars to appear
The connections between Supernatural and The Boys go beyond Padalecki and Ackles.
Jim Beaver, who played Bobby Singer on Supernatural, appeared in The Boys as politician and presidential hopeful Robert “Dakota Bob” Singer. Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who portrayed John Winchester, also joined the superhero series, playing Joe Kessler, an old friend of Billy Butcher, played by Karl Urban.
Another Supernatural reunion came in “One-Shots,” when Misha Collins appeared as the Supe Malchemical. Collins famously played the angel Castiel on Supernatural, making his appearance alongside Ackles another deliberate callback for longtime fans.
Malchemical’s fate was considerably different from Castiel’s relationship with Dean, however, as Soldier Boy ultimately kills the character. Once again, the reunion worked as a darkly comic contrast to the relationships the actors had portrayed on Supernatural.
Although The Boys has now concluded, its connection to Supernatural is set to continue through Vought Rising. The upcoming prequel will feature Ackles in a starring role, with Kripke involved as a producer.
Because Vought Rising takes place years before the events of The Boys, Padalecki is unlikely to appear as Mister Marathon. However, the long history between Kripke and the Supernatural cast leaves plenty of room for other familiar faces to potentially return to the world of The Boys.
