Supernatural
Cast member Jared Padalecki (L) speaks next to writer Jeremy Carver (C) and co-star Jensen Ackles at a panel for The CW television series "Supernatural" during the Television Critics Association Cable Summer Press Tour in Beverly Hills, California July 18, 2014. Reuters/Mario Anzuoni

“Supernatural” star Mark A. Sheppard claimed his character Crowley is “pretty dead,” but he is probably just messing with the fans’ minds at the San Diego Comic Con during the weekend. The rest of the boys — Jensen Ackles (Dean Winchester), Jared Padalecki (Sam Winchester) and Misha Collins (Castiel) — are pretty much alive, though, and they were forthcoming with spoilers.

Moderated by Rob Benedict and Richard Speight Jr., who play the Prophet (God?) Chuck and the Archangel Gabriel respectively, the Q&A panel was also joined by executive producer Jeremy Carver and writer Andrew Drabb. Season 11, according to Carver, will be a “pre-biblical story that’s never been told” now that the Darkness has been released by the Winchester brothers.

“I think we’ll beat [the Darkness] because we’re not the Losechesters,” Padalecki quipped when asked how the boys will handle the Big Bad this coming season. Ackles added that like the first season, the brothers will be fighting together against a common enemy. There will be no more demon blood-drinking Sam or a Mark of Cain-infected Dean this time. They will be as “normal” as they were in season one. Later on, Drabb agreed with Collins’ assessment that Castiel will also be reunited with the boys, unlike the recently concluded season, in which the trenchcoat-wearing angel was basically doing his own thing.

No Destiel was mentioned, but the Dean and Castiel relationship is still present, according to Carver. When asked why Castiel has to have a favourite out of Dean and not Sam, Collins reasoned the height difference between Castiel and Sam is “too jarring” to have a Sastiel pairing.

Carver was tight-lipped as always about what will happen next, but he admitted some fan favourites will return. “But they are coming back in surprising ways,” he gave in without actually giving names. The moderators joked what they really wanted to know is if Chuck and Gabriel were returning. Carver did not answer.

A fan photo on Twitter, however, hinted at Samuel Campbell’s return. The image shows the two female fans posing with Sheppard, Ackles, Padalecki and Mitch Pileggi, who played Grandpa Samuel in the show.

Probably the best question came from a fan, who asked why was Charlie, played by Felicia Day, was killed when the show is already lacking more beloved female characters. The question was aimed at Carver and Drabb, but the actors were visibly glad they did not have to answer. Carver admitted he did not have a good answer to that, explaining people just die on the show. Fans fall in love with the characters, but unfortunately, some of them needed to die for the sake of the story.

Ackles added that Charlie was only supposed to be a one-off character, but the fans loved her so much that she was brought back for more episodes. “We should be thankful or the time we got to spend with her,” he said.

Padalecki, who has been open about his struggles with depression, received a battery-operated tealight candle during the Q&A. He later on realised it’s for Always Keep Fighting, his mantra to fight depression. He tearfully thanked the fans for the support as they raised their own candle in the air to acknowledge their idol’s words.

“Supernatural” season 11 will premiere in the U.S. on October 7.

Credit: YouTube/Flicks And The City

Contact the writer: a.lu@ibtimes.com.au

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