Word came yesterday that Supernatural has shut down production of its final season, due to the coronavirus threat. It was the right decision. But what does it mean? There were only a couple of months left in filming, a handful of episode left in the season in order to close out the show in total. Jared Padalecki is set to start filming his next series immediately after Supernatural was supposed to finish. Will he be unable to “come back” if they start up production again? Will the season be just left AS IS? This is a horrifying thought. At least in the truncated Season 3, they were able to “cut to the chase”, and close it out with an appropriate ending. I am truly concerned, although I applaud them for making the decision, which had to have been very tough. (Everything I had plans to attend in April has been canceled. TCM Film Festival – it was going to be my first time going! – as well as Ebertfest right after. I wonder about Cannes. I am sure that will be canceled, especially in lieu of France’s recent ban on “gatherings”. I mean, they canceled SXSW. !!! And DISNEYLAND shut down. New York City is a ghost town.) Safety is a priority for the entire cast and crew of Supernatural, and everyone behind the scenes – from costuming to craft services – in close quarters in Vancouver. With all that TOUCHING of equipment … and each other. We’ll know more as this thing progresses.
Meanwhile, I am practicing social distancing (not much different from my real life, to be honest. I work from home already), and binge-watching Babylon Berlin. I already watched it, but there’s a new season out, and I decided to catch up before I launched into it.
With the news of the Supernatural shut-down, it makes me think:
1. They predicted this in Season 2 with the Croatoan virus.
2. I guess I wrote that piece on Supernatural for Ebert at just the right time, huh?
Stay safe out there.
Just a couple of WEEKS left it says! What a bizarre way to close out fifteen years of filming, good lord. Can you imagine?
Will the season be just left AS IS? This is a horrifying thought
This is a nightmarish thought, how dare you. I think they will finish it out, especially because it’s only two more episodes to film. The CW is a joint venture of CBS and WB studios; WB makes SPN, and CBS is making WTR; and CBS TV is halting a lot of productions as well. Pilots all over the place Perhaps the 2020-2021 season will get pushed back or truncated. Maybe Jared will just get a shorter holiday!
Such a bummer about all the cancelled festivals. I really feel for everyone involved. There’ll be knock-on effects for years to come.
I think of many businesses that will not recover – including the arthouses in New York – hopefully landlords will be lax with the rent, although I’m not counting on it.
When You say “two episodes left to film” that feels more do-able to me … maybe they could have got ‘er done in the last week, knowing that shutdown was imminent (although all of this really seemed to happen in a 24-hour period. Like, in just 24 hours I am shocked that NY public schools are still open).
It’s horrifying to think 15 years would taper off into an unresolved ending …
I can’t imagine what it must be like for JA and JP right now. You know, you want closure – you want a proper ending.
Reminds me of the old Hellatus (hiatus) days when they teetered on the brink of not being able to finish early seasons due to ratings. Anxiously awaiting funds ordering the rest of spring shows. Only right that there would be interruptions here. Hope they get to finish.
Very much enjoyed the Ode to Supernatural. I saw few broadcast episodes from Season 1. Fortunately I was able to catch up via one of the Turner networks around 2008 or so when I was loafing around the house more or less retired in my new nest while somebody else (early watcher) went to work. I am more enthusiastic than he is now. Supernatural has mostly felt like a gift.
Nevermind all those scenes when Sam’s hair looks stringy and separated because it is raining in Vancouver , but not hard enough to acknowledge or stop shooting :) Ah, thrift. Bad motel decor. I actually enjoyed the bunker when it arrived. So much comfort for Sam’s little rootless psyche.
Always a sucker for wit and sly charm. The boys have that in abundance. I remember chuckling over the LARPing episode when the boys come face to face with fans who peg them as the same. Not all rabbit holes are equally enjoyable, but overall it has been a great ride. And your blog love for it has been a great pleasure. Thank you.
KathyB – // Anxiously awaiting funds ordering the rest of spring shows. Only right that there would be interruptions here. //
wow, that was before my time. Very anxiety-provoking!
Call it my gallows humor, but I started giggling at the idea of a show ending with something left unexplored?!? after 15 seasons/320ish episodes.
Right now they’re probably on their third bottle of wine, watching the final scene of the Sopranos and wondering….
Scott – hahahaha I know. It’s so surreal.
Talk about going out “not with a band but a whimper.”
I still mourn what we lost to the writer’s strike (Sam saving Dean from hell!) but at least then they had an idea and could try and get scripts out to be filmed at a later date. This is just a shut down in the middle of EVERYTHING! My hope is that because it’s affecting literally everyone, when things ramp up, they’ll be allowed to do what they would have done if it hadn’t shut down. The thought of scrapping the last two eps of the show, or trying to condense them, is just…please no.
// but at least then they had an idea and could try and get scripts out to be filmed at a later date. //
Yes – and at least to me – Season 3 has an amazing coherence and tightness – even though it’s shortened.
But this gaggle of writers has tossed so much shit at the wall – that who knows what the arc even is? Once upon a time, there was one overall Arc – which focused everything (and was so strong they could afford to go off in tangents.)Now it all feels just like tangents. So I don’t know where they are going ANYway.
// The thought of scrapping the last two eps of the show, or trying to condense them, is just…please no. //
I wonder what will happen. Will they make an announcement of how they will handle it? I am trying to picture what life must be like for JA and JP right now (besides the adorable pictures they are posting on Instagram of hanging with their families). This must be so WEIRD for them.
I’m so torn about it too: I of course want the cast and crew to be safe, but I am scared that they may just NOT END it!!! Just give us what they have and move on. Oh, please, no! Not after 15 years! (OK. I’ve only been watching since 2014, but STILL!)
I’ve thought a lot about the ending: what would be good, what would be corny, what would be heart-breaking. I don’t even know what I want; I just want it to be good, to fit with who they’ve been (at least in seasons 1-10!) Will they live or die? Will they be together or be separated? Will one die while they other lives on? If so, who? Will the ending be clear or ambiguous? Will they go down fighting? Will they be the heroes or will Jack?
However, out of all the potential endings, I never imagined the season getting cut off by a pandemic and possibly never being finished at all!
New meme for Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky today features Dean.