OK, count me in as Comic-Con's latest convert, because not only do the panels and the swag rule (I love you, Dexter bobble head), but I also got a little one-on-one time with the swooniest brothers the small screen has ever seen (sorry, Bo and Luke Duke): Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles of Supernatural.
Boss Eric Kripke joined the boys backstage to tackle my Q's, and the three of them spilled lots of scoop, including where the new season is heading, talk of a Ghostfacers spinoff and a 7-foot teddy bear, so click in for some Super scoop!
Where Season Four Begins: We’re joining up with the Winchester boys four months after we saw Dean hanging from chains in that blistering-hot place run by that dude Beelzebub (aka hell). Too bad for Dean, though, as hell seems to run in dog years. So what’s on deck for these poor, miserable souls? Nothing good...
Welcome to Rock Bottom: Over the first half of the season, we will learn what Sam did while he was by himself and what Dean endured in hell. “Sam’s turning a little reckless now that his brother is dead,” Jared revealed. And during his four months alone, Sam has cut off contact with everyone and has become wildly suicidal in his hunting attempts.
The Brothers Have Problems: The boys used to have an open relationship, but “now they have secrets from each other,” says Kripke. The good news? If you’re looking for that great (smartass) Dean charm, Jensen reassured us: “He’s still the same shoot-first-ask-questions-later kind of guy, but he’s trying to figure out how he got back from hell.” So it looks like Dean’s mystery will be a large focus this year. Kripke added, “The big question is not does he get out, but how he got out.”
More Ghostfacers! A.J. Buckley, Travis Wester and Brittany Ishibashi showed up to the Comic-Con panel, so you'd better believe we're going to see more of the Ghostfacers in the future. Said Kripke, “We’re always looking for ways to bring the Ghostfacers back in the actual series...We’re working on some new material, either webisodes, potentially cell phone content or basically an off-network Ghostfacers’ series." He likes the idea of them actually going to real haunted houses, though it seems the actors aren't too keen to be around the non-CGI ghouls.
Now for the Five W’s, Supernatural's Fourth Season:
Who’s Coming Back This Season? Nicki Aycox will be returning for at least one episode to reprise her role as Meg Masters. Also, we’ll get more John and Mary Winchester. Still, fellow Jeffrey Dean Morgan fans, don’t get too excited—we’re going to be seeing them at age 18, when the lovebirds met.
What About the Brotherly Love? Looks like this is the season of individuality; Sam and Dean aren’t going to be as close. Sniff.
When Does Season Four Premiere? It’s slated to return Thursday, Sept. 18, so prepare for what is said to be an “apocalyptic” season.
Where’s the Horror? Sometime this season we’re going to get a classic horror-film-style episode set in black and white. It’s said to be an homage to Dracula and Creature From the Black Lagoon.
Why Is There a 7-Foot-Tall Teddy Bear Roaming the Streets? Just another day in the life of Sam and Dean, really. However, this stuffed toy isn’t going to be fun to play with.
So how do you think Dean got out of hell? And what do you think of the boys' relationship being splintered? Sound off in the comments...
—Additional reporting by Natalie Abrams