1. Eric Kripke's original idea for what would become Supernatural was a show following a pair of reporters going to investigate urban legends and writing about them in their newspaper column. There was not a Winchester brother in sight! It also went under the name of Unnatural.
2. Once the concept of Brothers was finalised Eric Kripke originally named them Sal and Dean Harrison. Sal soon became Sam (because it was felt that Sal was an inappropriate name for a main character in 2005), but Kripke really wanted to keep the last name of Harrison as a nod to actor Harrison Ford, because he wanted Dean to have the "devil-may-care swagger of Han Solo". However, there was a Sam Harrison living in Kansas (the Brother's home state), so the name had to be changed for legal reasons. And so the Winchester Brothers came to be, but this name also presented a problem. The first name of Sam and Dean's father was originally going to be Jack, and there was also a Jack Winchester residing in Kansas! Jack became John and casting went underway...
3. Jensen Ackles was initially auditioned for the role of Sam, but then called back to read for Dean when Jared
came along. Apparently Jensen always preferred the role because he thought Dean was funnier.
Jared Padalecki as Dean Forester in Gilmore Girls
4. When he auditioned for the role of Sam, Jared Padalecki had just finished starring in the Gilmore Girls playing a character called Dean.
Jensen Ackles as Eddie G and Patrick Dempsey as Cass in Blonde
5. In 2001 Jensen Ackles featured in a TV movie biography of Marilyn Monroe called Blonde. His best friend was played by Patrick Dempsey, the character's name was Cass!
6. Eric Kripke's first version of the Supernatural pilot script ended with the Winchester brothers finding their Dad. He was dead on the ceiling!
7. Despite being cast as his Dad, Jeffrey Dean Morgan is only twelve years older than Jensen Ackles.
8.
Creator Erik Kripke had initially intended to give the brothers a 65
Mustang but went with an Impala because you could fit a body in the
trunk.
9. It does not say Federal Bureau of Investigation on Sam and Dean's FBI badges. That's because even if it's just being made for a prop on a TV show, it is illegal to make a fake FBI badge. Instead they read: The Federal Bureau of Justice, United States Department of Investigation.
10. At one time several of the cellphone numbers seen in the show were actually active. Initially if you called 866-907-3235, you'd hear Jensen Ackles reading the message "This is Dean Winchester, if this is an emergency, please leave a message. If you are calling about 11-2-83, page me with your coordinates.'' (that was the date of Mary Winchester's death). After a time the messaged was changed to "Dad? We really need to hear from you. Leave me a message, text me, check your jwinchester1246 email. Anything. We have new info." That email address worked too.
11. The large mental health facility, Riverview Hospital,was first used as the main set for the season 1 episode Asylum. Since then the location hass frequently appeared in different episodes, it has doubled for a prison, a regular hospital, and an apartment building on different episodes of the show. Look out for the very distinctive staircase which is a giveaway.
12. Bobby Singer (named after producer Robert Singer) was only supposed to be in one episode of Supernatural, Devil's Trap. However Jim Beaver's character proved so popular that he ended up appearing in 56 more (to date, as of the end of season 9).
13. The characters Alastair (white-eyed demon) and Crowley (King of Hell) were named in homage to notorious English occultist Aleister Crowley, and Lilith (also a white-eyed demon) is the name of Aleister Crowley's daughter.
14. Prior to landing the role of Cas, Misha Collins was running his own software company. However he soon shut it down when he realised that his acting jobs were supporting the business.
15. One of those early acting jobs could've been as Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack Of The Clones. In an interview Misha Collins revealed he went to Skywalker Ranch to talk with George Lucas about the role, but before the meeting took place he went exploring by a river and got pretty dirty. When he came back to speak with Lucas he was not looking very respectable. He didn't get the part!
16. Whilst we're on the subject of Castiel, the characters look was inspired by the Hellblazer comic character, John Constantine.
17. The role of Ruby was created with Kristen Bell in mind. But she turned it down, so Katie Cassidy was cast instead.
18. Keep your eyes peeled because there is a star-burst shaped clock that shows up in dozens of episodes. It's in many Motel rooms and homes of victims the brothers visit.
19. Both Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles nearly came close to playing Superman/Clark Kent prior to Supernatural. Jared Padalecki was in the running for McG's proposed reboot (which we wrote about here) while Jensen Ackles was the second choice to play the young Clark Kent in Smallville. Producers liked him so much they got back in touch when casting the character of Jason Teague.
20. Whilst on the subject of Superheroes, don't be surprised if you see Jensen Ackles playing a character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe after Supernatural finishes. Before the part was offered to Chris Evans, Ackles name was linked with the role of Steve Rogers in Captain America. Ackles later denied any involvement with the project, but multiple news sources claimed that he had auditioned for the part and was well liked by Marvel. So much so that Marvel later came back to Ackles to discuss the part of Hawkeye in The Avengers. It was likely just a brief discussion because he would've had to pass due to commitments to Supernatural. Further news stories suggested he had screen tested for the part of Star Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy! It seems Marvel are really keen to feature him somewhere. Maybe one day...
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