Supernatural is heading into its incredible fourteenth season when it returns to The CW in the fall, and all signs point toward the series continuing for as long as stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles remain on board. Given that The CW has been home to a whole bunch of spinoffs over the years, it's somewhat surprising that none of Supernatural's prospective spinoffs ever made it to the air beyond a backdoor pilot. The latest spinoff that was in the works was Wayward Sisters, which was surprisingly nixed back in May. Now, The CW president Mark Pedowitz has revealed that Supernatural may never get a spinoff to air, saying this:
We were very happy with the women who were in the Wayward Sisters spinoff. We had only a certain number of slots this year, so it just didn't get there. If it's a good idea and they want to go forward with [it], we're open to listen. It is a great franchise. I am concerned, to be quite candid with your question, Supernatural may be Jared and Jensen -- and there may not be a franchise beyond that.
Wayward Sisters seemed like a sure thing for the small screen in the 2018-2019 season. Back in July 2017, Supernatural showrunner Andrew Dabb explained in detail why the time was finally right for a new show to branch off from the parent series. Unlike the first attempt at a spinoff, Wayward Sisters was stacked with fan-favorite actresses who managed not to be permanently killed off, the door was open for Sam and Dean appearances, and the backdoor pilot in January set up the premise perfectly. Throw in the fact that it was to be a female-driven series set in the Supernatural universe, and it felt bound to be a hit.
According to Mark Pedowitz at the TCA press tour (via The Wrap), however, it was simply not meant to be. The nixing of Wayward Sisters may be a sign of The CW's confidence in its other new series, especially given that the network recently added two new primetime slots to its weekly lineup.
All things considered, it sounds like The CW is ready to give up on pursuing Supernatural spinoffs. If Wayward Sisters didn't have what it takes to earn a slot on the network, I can't imagine that a spinoff with any other cast could be a hit unless Supernatural was someday willing to let go of Misha Collins as a regular on the parent show, and I don't see that happening. If Jody can't anchor a spinoff, who can? Supernatural has always been the story of Sam and Dean Winchester, and the franchise may stick with them.
As disappointed as I am that Wayward Sisters isn't going to happen, I can see where The CW is coming from. Supernatural would have undoubtedly flopped years ago if not for Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles as the brothers Winchester. They've sustained the series for over a decade now, and The CW has enough spinoffs of other series to worry about. If it doesn't 100% have faith in a potential expansion of the Supernatural franchise, perhaps it's best if the focus remains on the Winchesters and the other characters are kept in the peripheral rather than teased as stars of a show branching off.
You can find when Supernatural and many other series return to the airwaves on our fall TV guide. The CW has an Originals (and therefore The Vampire Diaries, in a way) spinoff set to premiere in the coming months, and the network just cast Batwoman for her prospective spinoff.
