Comic-Con 2007: Supernatural Roundup
While we weren’t able to attend Comic Con (damn those travel schedules!), we have been wallowing in the news from the pop-culture geekfest. Our friends at Supernatural made quite a splash; here’s a roundup of the best stuff we found.
The folks at Movieweb have some great interviews with Jensen Ackles, Eric Kripke and executive producer Ben Edlund (Jared Padalecki, alas, was unable to make it – we’re beginning to think he’s allergic to conventions or something). Both Jensen and Ben look exhausted – they flew down from Vancouver – and we love the fact they were willing to stick around and do interviews despite the fact that they must have been longing for bed.
Jensen talks about Dean having a year left to live: “He wants to do the right thing, but he also wants to have a little fun and enjoy his last days, which of course makes Sam crazy because all he wants to do is save his brother.” He also shares some ideas for demon fighting: “We’re going to be using a lot of Holy Water. With demons, it’s a bit of a different ball game. The rock salt, the shotguns, they kind of are a bit useless.… You know, we ought to just mount one of those old-style sprinkler systems on top of the Impala and have it spit out Holy Water.” We like it!
(Also, Jensen calls Kripke “Stinky,” which we find perversely adorable. Way to suck up to your boss when he controls your fate, Jensen!)
Ben talks about the beasties we can expect this year: “We’ve been talking about a kind of a demon bestiary, different breeds of demons or demons that accomplish things via different means. Rounding out what it’s like in hell is going to be something too – we won’t see it, I don’t think, but we’ll hear more about it.” He also talks about the differences between working on Supernatural and on other shows he’s been associated with: “In Eric’s Brain [there’s a plan] I’ve heard of it. The pacing of it is fluid, but… we know where we’re going, which I like. I’ve been on shows where we don’t know where we’re going. You can tell, even when you’re watching…” Any guesses on which show he’s talking about?
Finally, Kripke spills about the overall plans for the show: “Basically we have these terrorist cells of demons all across the country, and Sam and Dean and other hunters have to deal with that, and they’re closing in on the endgame of the end of the world… it’s not so much anymore “what’s this yellow-eyed demon doing, and how can we decipher its fairly complicated plans, it’s let’s go to war, let’s pick a side, let’s save the world.” The other part of the story? Dean’s potential last days. “He’s looking to get his hedonism game on as much as possible, and drink and hook up with chicks and kill demons and have as much fun as possible. Sam, there’s a lot of static with that, because Sam is like you’re leaving me, you’re abandoning me in a year, and you don’t even seem to care about it.”
Plus, Kripke spills a bit about the season opener, talks about new and old weapons, and says that maybe, just maybe, there’s a Supernatural movie he’d like to do. Bliss!
Sign On San Diego touted Jensen as one of the hardest working men at the con: “I've got just a few more hours before I hit a wall,” Jensen told the site, after his late night of filming and early-morning flight to San Diego. Plus, he continues to be fabulous to the fans. Take this anecdote: “[A]fter the interview, Ackles honored the Comic-Con tradition of giving fans a little something for their emotional goodie bags,” Sign On San Diego wrote. “’I love you, Jensen!’ came a yell from the panel audience. And Ackles smiled into the sea of faces and cameras and said, with utmost sincerity, ‘I love you, too.’” Swoon!
Finally, the Comic Con panel discussion gave us some more hints about what’s coming up this season, including more blasts from the past. According to Buddy TV, we can expect some flashbacks that will give us a glimpse of how they were raised and how they became the Hunters they are. Sounds intriguing.
Did any of you go to Comic Con, and if so, did you sit in on the Supernatural panel? Do you have any other scoop to share? And what do you think of the interview and the news we’ve gleaned? Tell us!
Comments
YEA ME 2 LIKE THEY'LL EVER COME KALISPELL MT
Posted by: KARLA PHELPS | September 2, 2007 3:57 PM
I think Jensen is fiercely protective of Jared! lol. Calling Kripke "Stinky" later was way cool! At the panel interview Kripke said Kim Manners's affectionate nickname for Jared was Sasquatch ("Playthings?"). Jensen was a pro, he didn't miss a beat at the panel interview. Dean's "denial" mode in S3 is cos' Sammy "will drop dead" if he tries to weasel out of the contract. I feel it's a temporary phase,and he'll regain his edginess real quick! lol.
Posted by: samdeansoulbros | August 30, 2007 2:30 AM
I love to watch smaalville and supernatural!!!
Posted by: katelynn | August 29, 2007 2:03 PM
I totally love smallville and supernatural and think it would be cool to put the demon world and the alien world as one show...kinda like mass chaos with the best three "justice" fighters out there:)
Posted by: ls | August 6, 2007 1:00 PM
Wish I could of gone but I love reading and watching everything that happened. Can't wait for season 3!!!!
Posted by: Amy | August 4, 2007 3:33 PM
Thanks for the Comic Con coverage. I enjoyed reading/hearing what Jensen, Eric, Sera and Ben had to say.
Jensen is indeed a class act and I'm thrilled that we've had so much extra-curricular Jensen during this hiatus. He just gets more adorable every time I read/see/hear something new about him.
I have to say that I'm really looking forward to what they come up with in season 3. I think the new girls (especially Bela) have real potential to bring out new and interesting facets of Dean and Sam. Not that I think some fans will actually give them a chance. But I hope they are well-written and well-acted because I really want to like them. And if Kripke feels that one or both are not working, well Sera can always find some fantastically gruesome ways to off them without to much trouble.
Two months down, two to go.
Posted by: fangirl | August 3, 2007 8:10 PM
hey! i cant wait for the third season! i love Supernatural!!! i watch it all the time! Jensen n Jared r amazing!!! <3<3<3
Posted by: Rose | August 3, 2007 12:17 PM
I, too, am worried about the show moving away from its initial appeal. Everything that's been coming out, in interviews and in the script sides themselves, have me feeling that I'm losing my show. So many things that I was drawn to in the first place are being pecked away at and it just leaves me pretty wary of the direction they're heading.
Posted by: Ande | August 2, 2007 7:34 PM
Bardic and Sarah:
Thank you for your coverage on ComicCon!! Bardic special thanks for posting a link on this website, I had problems with the link on your TVGuide blog.
Sounds like Kripke & Co. have some interesting surprises planned this season. Can't wait til Oct 4.
Posted by: jas | August 2, 2007 3:13 PM
Stacy Lee: Not sure if your reply was directed at my comment, but just wanted to say I was only teasing about Jared being missing. Hence, the 'pull a Jensen' and wink. =)
Posted by: Dana | August 2, 2007 2:54 PM
I also totally trust the Kripke to provide a wonderful season three.
Do you also trust the CW to let Kripke provide a wonderful season 3?
The CW want two hot girlies so romance down the line and plenty of T&A along the way. Let's hope the Krip can turn this overdone crap around.
Posted by: pixie-lated | August 2, 2007 2:15 PM
Sarah, I was wondering where you were with the Comic-Con word!
I was there, and wrote my detailed account of what I remembered from the panel on my LJ once I made it home. Anyone who wants another eyewitness account can find it here:
http://bardicvoice.livejournal.com/13639.html
I had an absolute blast! I also totally trust the Kripke to provide a wonderful season three.
Posted by: Bardicvoice | August 2, 2007 12:23 PM
Liv -- Trust us, we appreciate Jared something fierce, but it amuses us that he seems to miss cons a lot -- Chicago Fangoria, Asylum, this. We know he has good reasons every time, but it's starting to get ridiculous. We love the boy, but that's not going to stop us from poking fun at him.
Posted by: Sarah | August 2, 2007 10:56 AM
Um, Jared wasn't at comic con because he was filming until 6am and the flight left at 8am. NOT his fault.
Posted by: Stacy lee | August 2, 2007 10:55 AM
Roxanne: that's Dean. He does have one year to live and also equates pleasure with happiness. Dean was "hooking up" at the back end of season 2, so what's the problem?
If you had one year to live wouldn't you be prone to doing things that make you happy?
Posted by: Anonymous | August 2, 2007 8:28 AM
Thanks to fellow fan, Roz, letters detailing the fan campaigns for charity at Fandom Rocks were delivered to Eric and Jensen. One was prepared for Jared, too, but alas he pulled a Jensen and missed his flight. ;-)
Included with the letters were notes from donors who chose to send in a personal message.
We are one month away from the end of the first campaign, and I am so proud to be part of this fandom. I was so happy to see the SPN fans turn out en masse. Add me to the list of people who wishes they could've been there if it weren't for work, life, stuff, and travel.
Can't wait for Season 3!
Posted by: Dana | August 1, 2007 9:56 PM
Not sure about that flashback comment. In response to more Wee Chesters Kripke said this:
"broken up story ideas through the first ten at this point. There’s currently no plan for that, but we love that idea. "
Much of it has to do with the fact that they can't get JDM with his crazy schedule to do the flashbacks.
Posted by: cynthia@cynthiaboris.com | August 1, 2007 9:18 PM
Aw poor Jensen. I hope he got some sleep.
I love SN, but I hope it's not all demons this season. I like the rock salt and the shotguns. And I like a good mixture of demons, and other ghosts etc...
Posted by: Casey | August 1, 2007 8:20 PM
Jensen is a class act. Edlund is kinda weird and Kripke looks significantly less at ease these days about his show.
Is he really on board with the shiny 'new' Supernatural with added young hotties, mass demons and a world-ending war? And anyway I think they stole this apocalypse idea from 'Angel', because something seems very familiar ...
What was wrong with two brothers (who are also best friends) on the road, hunting evil through the medium of urban legends and American folklore under difficult personal circumstances? What I'm hearing sounds like the show is moving away from this and 'opening up' the hunter world - almost as if Kripke is ditching the urban legends and just making up his own. I think they need to be very careful that they don't end up diluting the trademark understated intensity of the show. I couldn't bear for them to substitute cheap sensationalism for real edge.
I didn't think that the Comicon panel addressed any of these widely-expressed concerns in depth, instead going for 'bigger, better, messier - with added girls!', and that in itself is notable.
Posted by: Inferi-tremen | August 1, 2007 6:52 PM
Thank you for the Supernatural coverage at the Con. It appears from the various articles and blogs that Supernatural was one of the largest draws, especially the line for Jensen's autograph!
Thanks to Erik, Ben, Sera, and especially Jensen (who is hopefully getting some well deserved sleep) !
Posted by: Kim | August 1, 2007 6:40 PM
Um, great report - but I'd like to point out that Jared missed his flight because he was working until the early hours of the morning on the day. So how about some appreciation for *both* hardworking stars, hm?
Posted by: Liv | August 1, 2007 5:53 PM
That BuddyTV guy needs to pay attention. Kripke said he'd like to do more flashbacks but without JDM, it's going to be pretty much impossible. So there aren't going to be flashbacks.
Posted by: jt | August 1, 2007 5:41 PM
“He’s looking to get his hedonism game on as much as possible, and drink and hook up with chicks and kill demons and have as much fun as possible. Sam, there’s a lot of static with that, because Sam is like you’re leaving me, you’re abandoning me in a year, and you don’t even seem to care about it.”
As a Dean girl THAT kinda ticks me off. Spend all second season growing him up shedding that childish skin, building him into the Dean Winchester that has hunters in awe, to what... have him revert ??? I truly hope that it isnt as bad as it sounds. Do I expect some of that... oh yes and I look forward to it but please...hedonism I will need a few dozen Purple Nurples before that sits right.
Oh a better note, how cool was Jensen being at the Con on like no sleep still looking HAWT !!!
Posted by: Roxanne | August 1, 2007 4:37 PM
Sorry for the delay, folks -- network problems have poleaxed me for the last couple of days, and I begged the staff for the opportunity to write the Comic Con post. I hope you all think it's worth the wait!
Posted by: Sarah | August 1, 2007 3:45 PM
I love "Supernatural"!
Jensen's my dog -- reppping Texas to the fullest!
Posted by: Brandon | August 1, 2007 3:40 PM