Image Credit: Jack Rowand/The CW; L. Cohen/WireImage.com
Your eyes don’t deceive, Supernatural fans. Once upon a time, in a far away land known as the Supernatural writer’s room, a man known as John Winchester (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) was briefly considered for a return in tonight’s episode, which finds Sam and Dean in an alternate reality after Balthazar unsinks the Titanic.
In a chat with EW, Supernatural exec producer Robert Singer (yes, uncle Bobby’s namesake!) tossed out this nugget of trivia along with much more in preparation for the finale episodes of the season.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: So tonight’s episode: What can you say about how it sets up the rest of the season?
ROBERT SINGER: We’re really building to this last sort of run; it’s very Cas-centric, if you will. Without giving too much away, certainly this episode has this element in it of pointing out how much the boys mean to Cas. But I think, conceptually, we wanted to play with this gimmick that we’ve always toyed around with. We finally found the right vehicle for it in this episode, using Cas as the anchor for all this sort of changing history and all that. This is a concept we’ve always wanted to do. This was a good springboard for that. We spend a lot of time as we get near the end of the season with the Cas/Sam/Dean relationship. It’s the first of a four-part arc.
I’m so happy to see Ellen (Samantha Ferris) back in this episode after she died last season. Tell me about the decision to loop her back in for an episode.
We knew we wanted to have a surprise in this world. We played with a number of ideas. We played with the dad idea; we played with Jo. We sort of settled on Ellen because A) she’s a fan favorite and B) in a perfect world, she probably would be a good mate for Bobby. We were kicking around a number of possibilities, and when we got to that one everyone said, “Yeah, that’s the right one.”
You seriously considered John Winchester?!
He was on the table. God knows if we could have even gotten Jeffrey [Dean Morgan]. We didn’t know. As soon as [we] came up with Ellen, we said, “Yeah, that’s right.”
Jo wasn’t in this one, though. Any plans for her to come back?
Not before the end of the season. Next season; who knows. We have to get a next season first!
Fans aren’t worried, I think. Are you all?
We hear, “Not to worry.” We’re proceeding as if we will get a next season, but we haven’t heard anything officially yet. There’s many a slip ‘twixt the cup and the lip. So we’ll see.
Amber Bensen is coming back, though. Correct?
Yes, Amber is in an upcoming episode. She was in one I directed many many years ago now. She was great then and really did a nice job for us. We like her a lot.
Same character?
Mmhmm.
Last pressing issue: You killed Rufus, Bobby’s bff. Is he dead/gone for good?
Nobody on this show is ever dead for sure. [Laughs]
Follow Sandra on Twitter @EWSandraG
Read more:
‘Supernatural’: Sam and Dean travel to the Old West in ‘Frontierland’ — EXCLUSIVE VIDEO
‘Chuck,’ ‘Gossip Girl,’ ‘Big Bang Theory,’ ‘Fringe’: Find out what’s next in the Spoiler Room
‘The Big Bang Theory,’ ‘Gossip Girl,’ ‘NCIS,’ ‘Modern Family’: Find out what’s next in the Spoiler Room
UPDATED: TV Survival Scorecard: Which shows will return (and which won’t)
I actually used to wonder if they’d ever bring Amber Benson (the vampire Lenore) back.
By the way, I’m kind of glad that John Winchester isn’t in this one. John Winchester’s return needs to be EPIC, like if God finally appears to the boys, he appears in the guise of John Winchester.
I agree. That would be interesting to see, yes. I would prefer to see him at the end, in Heaven with Mary and the boys, though (if they end up dead at the end)
Besides, imagine how hard it would be to turn things back to normal if John were alive. I’m not sure if Sam and Dean would be ok with this. The pain of losing him like this would be devastating.
So excited to see we will FINALLY have Cas Centric episodes. Have missed Misha Collins and my favorite character Cas soooooo much.
Do the show runners REALLY not know much fans would love to see John Winchester back!?!
Yeah – Ellen’s cool, but Jeffery Dean Morgan back as John would have been incredible. Ellen really doesn’t compare with that.
*Unpopular opinion time*
I’m pretty okay without John, for me he hasn’t been that big a part of the show, not ever. I wouldn’t be complaining if we never saw him again…
I love JDM, but really dislike the character of John. So I’m also cool without him back on this show.
Ditto. I was never *that* crazy about Ellen, either. I did love the episode when she died though, I felt like they finally did her and Jo justice. If we got more of her in that vein, I’d have liked her more. That’s just MHO though. Was never a fan of BDW. Love JDM anyway!
It would be great for John to come back, but I agree with the first poster. It needs to be epic. And it needs to be a surprise for the fans. I’m thrilled Ellen is coming back tonight, but disappointed that it won’t be a surprise for me.
i agree though any john winchester return would have to be epic.
I am really happy that the last part of the season seems to be Castiel-centric. He has been shamefully underused as a character so far this season.
I hope for a Season 7 and I hope Singer takes charge – liking his interviews so far. Also, please give Dean something solid to do in Season 7. This seasons first two “arcs” were comically bad!
I am quite OK with John not being back – I prefer Ellen!
Dean dreamed of wanting a normal life in 2 different episodes. I think he needed to live that life to see it wasn’t for him.
I’m not cracked up about the idea of Cas being the plot driver for the last four episodes. Sam and Dean have not been developed as characters at all this season.
Love to see Ellen and hope that this episode doesn’t diminish her death episode.
Agree with I’d rather see Singer interviews rather than anything Sera has to say, and I’d rather see almost anybody else be a showrunner than Sera if they have a better idea of what makes the Sam and Dean characters tick, the ‘road trip’ tone of the show, and some general idea of what gritty, edgy blue collar characters are. Maybe even someone who has seen the inside of a rural bar would be nice.
I’ve given up on all the storylines this season. I’ll watch the next couple of episodes for the eye candy, then I’m out until S7 (if summer spoilers give me some reason to come back). No interest in Lisa/Ben. No interest in Cas’s childhood relationships. No interest in Sam’s wall falling.
john was awsome ..the 1st and 2nd season were the best ..the guy escaped hell ..without help lol …seemed like he went to heaven , so no point bringing him back that’d be cruel lol …but id love to hear a refrence to him though ..maybe cas sayin ” demons have ambushed heaven,” dean ‘ you tellin me we gotta go to heaven to kill the basterds ‘ cas ‘ no , actually your father seems to be injoyin doin that ‘ lol
or even a flashback episode with them together hunting something before sam went of to college
John did have help getting out of hell.His sons opened the gate.
I have an idea for Jo to come back. Maybe Cas can bring her back or that she got possesed when Ellen let the hellhounds got it when they were about to blow the building. Or maybe that she returns as a demon.
I’m so excited for this Cass-centric episode! Misha and Jensen are so great! I hope Ash and Pamela are able to come back. Very excited to see the Cass-Rachel dynamic.
Maybe I’m being a bit precious about this but its Cas/Dean right? Their the ones with the profound bond.
grammar fail – I meant they’re
CAS!!!! Yay for more Cas! I love Sam and Dean and Bobby too!
please do not bring her back some people should really be left in peace, and her charatcter was annoying even in season 2, totally out of place in five
john sure if they can ever get him
can’t wait for the western episode – tonight’s episode made my head hurt! What happen to the great days of the Impala, great music and the boys getting laid and saving the world? Too much information tonight, too much information
I agree, if John came back it would have to be epic, so hopefully before the show is over! I like Cas and think he adds a little something extra. I didn’t watch Friday nights episode yet, but I know it is leading to Sam going crazy with the wall coming down. I just really want them to have a happy ending and not always messing with Sam!