Jensen Ackles opens up about fallout with Jared Padalecki over the Supernatural prequel

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By Sam Prance

Jared Padalecki previously called out Jensen Ackles for working on a Supernatural prequel without including him.

Jensen Ackles has opened up about the Supernatural prequel and why he didn’t tell Jared Padalecki that he was making it.

It’s impossible to imagine Supernatural without Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki. For 15 seasons, the stars played demon hunter brothers, Dean and Sam Winchester. The duo starred in all 326 episodes including 2020’s emotional final episode.

Last year (Jun 25), fans were divided after Jensen announced that he was creating a brand new Supernatural prequel series and Jared Padalecki revealed that he hadn’t been told about it. He tweeted: “Dude. Happy for you. Wish I heard about this some way other than Twitter. I’m excited to watch, but bummed that Sam Winchester had no involvement whatsoever.”

Now, Jensen has explained why Jared knew nothing about it and whether or not the co-stars are on good terms now.

READ MORE: Supernatural’s Misha Collins confirms Castiel is gay and in love with Dean

Jensen Ackles opens up about fallout with Jared Padalecki over the Supernatural prequel. Picture: WENN Rights Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo, TCD/Prod.DB / Alamy Stock Photo

Talking on Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum, Jensen said: “I’m extremely superstitious when it comes to a few things. People who are in the industry may not understand but it’s an unwritten rule that you don’t talk about shit until it’s a done deal. This was my first venture into producing and creating content. I didn’t want to jinx it any cost. I shut up about it.”

Jensen added: “I definitely had people I was excited to tell. Jared being number one.” However, Jensen then explained that his plans to discuss the prequel with Jared were ruined when Deadline found out that the prequel was happening and he had to announce it earlier than expected: “I quickly had to write up a little something.”

Jensen continued: “I’m on a new set and they don’t do cellphones on this set. I get back out to my trailer to check that that went okay. It was emails of congratulations, texts of congratulations and then it just turned south. I had a long text from Jared. He was really bummed out and my heart just sank.”

As for how he felt about Jared’s tweet, Jensen said: “That could have been a step that was avoided but he did it and it happened. I wish he had just called me and said, ‘Yo dude, why didn’t you tell me you were doing this?’”

Dude. Happy for you.

Wish I heard about this some way other than Twitter.

I’m excited to watch, but bummed that Sam Winchester had no involvement whatsoever. https://t.co/bAcEvFKM7p — Jared Padalecki (@jarpad) June 25, 2021

No.

It’s not.

This is the first I’ve heard about it.

I’m gutted. https://t.co/1i8eC8YAdV — Jared Padalecki (@jarpad) June 25, 2021

Love you @jarpad …

Miss these talks. I forgot how much face time we always used to get. And I miss that too. I know you’re busy…as am I, but you’re still my brother. I miss you, pal. https://t.co/KtRKYkvc2K — Jensen Ackles (@JensenAckles) June 25, 2021

However, Jensen also said that Jared’s feelings were “totally valid” and he “should have at least clued [Jared] in before the world found out”. He continued to say that they’re on good terms now: “He and I, we’re great”.

Shortly after his initial tweet, Jared tweeted: “@JensenAckles and I had a great talk, as we do often, and things are good. Once brothers, always brothers.”

As it stands, there’s no release date for the prequel but it will tell the story of Sam and Dean’s parents as teenagers.

Jensen Ackles could appear in The Boys after season 3

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The actor also described his World War II–era character as “this curmudgeon, bigoted a–hole.”

Jensen Ackles says ’the door is not closed’ for his The Boys role after season 3

The Boys (TV Series) Close this dialog window Streaming Options

Jensen Ackles may be sticking around The Boys a bit longer than expected.

The Supernatural alum joins the cast of Amazon’s Emmy-nominated, R-rated superhero satire as Soldier Boy, a World War II–era supe who’ll make his debut in the upcoming third season, premiering June 3.

Appearing on Michael Rosenbaum’s Inside of You podcast, which dropped Tuesday, the actor said “the door is not closed” should the series’ writers find room for him in later installments.

The Boys is set in a world dominated by superheroes and superhero culture. Mega corporation Vought has used a serum called Compound V to genetically create superhumans, and turned them into a billion-dollar industry, complete with merchandising, TV shows, movies, and exclusive contracts for them to protect cities. With all that power and fame, supes often act like out-of-control celebrities, and the Seven, Vought’s premiere team, are the worst.

The Boys Season 3 Jensen Ackles as Soldier Boy Jensen Ackles as Soldier Boy on ‘The Boys’ | Credit: Amazon Studios

Season 3 will introduce Payback, which is essentially the Seven before the Seven came around. Soldier Boy led the group, which includes Crimson Countess (Laurie Holden) and Gunpowder (Sean Patrick Flanery), during WWII.

Ackles revealed new details about Soldier Boy to Rosenbaum, saying that, in essence, “He’s a jackass.”

“He’s a grandpa. He’s from the ’40s. He fought in World War II, and he’s just this curmudgeon, bigoted a–hole,” Ackles added. “He doesn’t age, so he’s this 40-year-old superhero who’s really 80 years old or 90 years old. There’s just so much material there… He’s [got] a taste for people who were of his era.”

Ackles, who grew a heavy beard for the role, also teased how the new season unveils his character. “They find me and I’ve been essentially in captivity for a while,” he said. “And so, when they do, I’m bearded and I look like [I’m from the movie] Cast Away, but then they clean me up and I get my superhero outfit back on and I go to town.”

The Boys Season 3 Jensen Ackles on ‘The Boys’ | Credit: Amazon Studios

Season 2 featured Stormfront (Aya Cash), a Nazi supe from Soldier Boy’s era who incited a public resurgence of white supremacy and racism in the present day. (Sound familiar?) Showrunner Eric Kripke previously teased to EW that season 3 will use Soldier Boy’s story to track how we arrived at this moment.

“There’s always been systemic racism and conflict and a lot of ugliness, yet always a fight to make things better,” Kripke said. “Certain politicians like to pitch this somehow idyllic ‘good old days’ where everything was perfect and calm. That is complete and utter bulls—. It was never that way. So, by exploring the history of Vought in the history of America, we get to make some of those points. There was never an America when they said, ‘Make America Great Again.’ It was always a struggle. That’s the point. It’s a struggle to make things better.”

The Boys season 3 premieres June 3 on Amazon Prime Video. Listen to the full episode of Inside of You With Michael Rosenbaum here.

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6 shows like The Witcher to watch while you wait for season three

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6 shows like The Witcher to watch while you wait for season three Want a new sprawling, epic world to get obsessed with? Look no further

There’s no denying that The Witcher has breathed new life into the fantasy genre. The Netflix series starring Henry Cavill recently returned to screens for its second season and many viewers, ourselves included, didn’t waste a single second before getting stuck in.

MORE: See what the incredible cast of Netflix’s The Witcher look like out of costume

However, now begins the long wait for season three, which is fortunately already in the works. But what about in the meantime? Well, you’re in luck as we have gathered together the best fantasy series set in sprawling, epic worlds that we think fans of The Witcher will love. Check out our recommendations here…

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WATCH: Are you a fan of The Witcher?

The Wheel of Time

The Wheel of Time made a huge splash when it landed on Amazon Prime Video last year. Based on a series of much-loved fantasy novels by the same name, it focuses on a sorceress named Moiraine, played by Rosamund Pike, as she goes on a journey to find the Dragon Reborn - the reincarnation of a powerful sorcerer who could save or end the world.

Have you given The Wheel of Time a try?

Shadow and Bone

Shadow and Bone is not as dark as The Witcher, but we think that fans can get on board, given that it’s full of drama, romance and magic too. The series, which will soon return to Netflix with new episodes, follows an orphan mapmaker named Alina, who discovers she has an extraordinary power that could change the fate of her war-torn world.

Shadow and Bone is also available on Netflix

MORE: Shadow and Bone: major difference between book and show revealed

Supernatural

If your favourite part of The Witcher is the monster-hunting, why not check out Supernatural? The series, which ended its 15-season run in 2020, starred Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki as brothers Dean and Sam Winchester who hunt all sorts of otherwordly beings, including demons, ghosts and monsters in the modern world.

Supernatural is about modern-day monster hunters

The Mandalorian

While it might not seem like an obvious choice, scratch the surface a little and you’ll find that Disney+’s Star Wars spinoff series The Mandalorian actually has a lot in common with The Witcher. Both focus on a quietly brooding warrior whose everyday life consists of travelling the land in search of jobs for coin until he discovers that he has to protect a much younger and innocent character.

Why not try The Mandalorian?

The Umbrella Academy

While a touch more superhero than supernatural, The Umbrella Academy is one to add to your watchlist if you’re particularly blown away by the complex and creative storytelling elements of The Witcher because it is also helmed by writer Lauren Schmidt Hissrich. The series, which stars Elliot Page, Robert Sheehan and Tom Hopper, follows a family of former child heroes who have grown apart but must reunite to continue to protect the world.

The Witcher fans might enjoy The Umbrella Academy

His Dark Materials

Starring many familiar names including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ruth Wilson and James McAvoy, BBC/HBO’s His Dark Materials blends magic with modern-day and, like The Witcher, centres on a young girl who finds herself at the centre of a great prophecy in a world where extraordinary beings and dangerous secrets exist. If you’ve not checked it out yet, make it a priority.

His Dark Materials is also set in a fantastic fantasy world

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