Dianne GarciaSee more photos in “San Diego Comic-Con 2011 Preview Night,” “San Diego Comic-Con 2011 Day One,” “San Diego Comic-Con 2011 Day Two,”“San Diego Comic-Con 2011 Day Three” and “San Diego Comic-Con 2011 Day Four.”
The Supernatural panel graduated to the infamous Hall H this year at San Diego Comic-Con. Previously, the television show held its panels at Ballroom 20, the convention's second largest room. Fans were both thrilled and nervous about the upgrade, with some camping out the night before in order to guarantee a spot inside this gigantic 6,000+ seats room. Sera Gamble (executive producer) and Ben Edlund (writer), Jensen Ackles (Dean Winchester), Jared Padalecki (Sam Winchester), Misha Collins (Castiel), Jim Beaver (Bobby Singer) and Mark Sheppard (Crowley) attended this year to say hello to the fans, aka the “Supernatural family.” They've often given credit to the fandom for keeping the show on air for six seasons with a seventh one premiering this upcoming fall.
“It's an amazing thing that the internet gives you this chance of seeing what people think. That's pretty amazing. We definitely take it in,” Ben Edlund said on how much they pay attention to fans online. “It gives us an indication of what viewer expectation is and that helps us play tension against viewer expectations. We want to scare people and surprise them and make them worried.”
Ben Edlund; Credit: Dianne Garcia
Season six ended with an angel, Castiel, becoming a God. Fans wonder what direction the story will go since it seemed to have peaked at its most epic plotlines, which included the Winchesters preventing the apocalypse in season five and then having that cause a civil war in heaven in season six. But of course, they kept it tight-lipped inside the press room.
“My first pitch for what happens in the beginning of season seven is, basically, we are in a world where Castiel is God and there's like a 900 foot tall statue of Castiel in every city,” Edlund revealed with a giggle. “A man in a trench coat pointing and have Sam and Dean go 'fuck!'.”
“It's time to even go crazier, obviously,” Edlund said of the seventh season.
The main attraction for most fans are of course are the Winchester brothers. Throughout the years, each brother has already died several times and both have gone from hell and back, as in literal hell where actual demons lived. I asked producer, Gamble, if this is going to strain the relationship between Sam and Dean.
“In certain ways it's a strain but as usual Dean is worried about Sam. Sam is worried about Dean,” Gamble answered. “These are dynamics that are as old as Supernatural and will probably never go away. But it's not our plan to have this be a wedge that's driven between the brothers on a 'Ruby-like' level.” She is referring, of course, to when a demon named Ruby had tried to drive the brothers apart and got Sam addicted to drinking demon's blood.
Sera Gamble; Credit: Dianne Garcia
Are you still with me here? I know, the show has been quite a rollercoaster.
Sam has taken the biggest beating for the last couple of seasons having been forced to be Lucifer's vessel (yes, as in the fallen angel and as in Satan himself), falling into hell to be tortured and coming back on Earth without his soul.
Jared Padalecki; Credit: Dianne Garcia
“My favorite Sam is always soulless Sam,” Padalecki explained. “I love the kind of cold, calculating side of Sam that we don't see very often. I don't know if I like that just because Sam is usually the soulful, heartfelt, thoughtful guy but it's fun to kind of be cold and calculating and ruthless for a little bit… I've always a had a fun time playing the bad guy version of Sam. I don't get a chance to do it a whole lot.”
Credit: Dianne Garcia
Padalecki also revealed that the next season will pick up immediately right where the last one left of. New guest stars such as Jewel Staite (Firefly) will show up in the new season and previous favorites like Alona Tal (Jo) will be returning. Colin Ford who has consistently played the role of young Sam Winchester will also come back in an episode directed by Jensen Ackles. My favorite villain, Crowley as played by Mark Sheppard only discovered that day inside the press room that he too will be returning to the show.
“Hey Sera!” Sheppard had yelled across the room to confirm. “I'm coming back?!” To which Gamble had looked at him strangely and nodded a yes. Sheppard pumped his arm and mouthed a silent: 'yes!'
Mark Sheppard; Credit: Dianne Garcia
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