It’s been 20 years since Supernatural premiered in 2005, becoming one of the longest-running fantasy series of all time, airing its finale in 2020 after 15 seasons. The fantasy horror series had its appeal with its monster-of-the-week and bigger season threats, but the main attraction was the storyline between the Winchester brothers.
Although the Supernatural fandom had its preferences between Dean, played by Jensen Ackles, and Sam, played by Jared Padalecki, both actors gave great performances throughout the show. Over the 15 seasons, both Ackles and Padalecki played their characters in different scenarios, whether without a soul, possessed, or embodying a different character. Speaking to CBR ahead of the release of his new show, Prime Video’s action series Countdown, Ackles revealed his approach to Dean Winchester, and highlighted that it also worked on The Boys’ Soldier Boy and Countdown’s Mark Meachum.
Although Supernatural was a fantasy show, the actor explained that, “I guess my approach, with anything in the sci-fi genre or even the horror world, like Supernatural, is that I always try to [play it the same]. In fact, we would tell guest stars coming on to Supernatural, “This is real. Like, play this as real life as possible. We are in the real world, and shit is going down, and you can’t explain it.” I always tried to play Dean as real as possible in a world that is unexplainable.”
I always tried to play Dean as real as possible in a world that is unexplainable.
He further detailed that “I feel like the more human you are with the characters in those genre-type of shows, the more relatable they are,” explaining that he would try to think of what someone would do in a zombie apocalypse, or if living in a haunted house. “So, I think you must approach any role and bring as much humanity to it as possible. Unless you’re playing f—ing Jabba the Hutt, you know?”
The actor continued, “I mean, I always put Dean in the real world. And I told the writers, “Listen, you can put him in any situation. You can put Dean anywhere. But I’m still going to play him as this person.” Not as a creature or a monster or, you know, some sort of a Nephilim or whatever you want to call it.” Ackles explained, “I’m going to play him as the human being that I know him to be in any situation.”
This worked with his other shows, as well, including the upcoming Countdown. “It was [the same approach] without the genre parts. Instead of it being ghosts and vampires and demons that I’m having to figure out how to kill, I have to figure out a way to kill a “bad guy” — a guy who wants to bring mass destruction to a city. So, he is also a monster, but a monster in a human sense.”
Jensen Ackles Used the Same Idea for The Boys
The actor also joined The Boys in Season 3 as the first Vought International “superhero” Soldier Boy. Both the Prime Video hit and Supernatural hailed from the same creator, Eric Kripke, which gave him the opportunity to connect with other Supernatural alums, including Jared Padalecki and Misha Collins, who are set to join in Season 5.
Soldier Boy is different from Dean Winchester, as Soldier Boy thinks he is a good guy, versus Dean, who is a good guy who has often sacrificed himself for the greater good. However, Ackles tried to see his good side. “I think approaching [characters] in the cartoon-y, twisty mustache approach like “Ha-ha, I’m the bad guy!” — that’s fine for certain things, but not for the real-world type of bad shit. I think that Soldier Boy doesn’t think he’s a bad guy. He thinks everybody else is stupid. He thinks he’s the guy that has got wisdom of age and all the answers.”
Supernatural is streaming on Netflix, while Countdown will premiere on June 25.
Source: CBR