Summary

Supernatural season 16 may be in development, with Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki commenting on a possible future.
Bringing Dean back from the dead may be necessary for the new season, but resurrection an overused trope that lacks excitement.
There are other options for a Supernatural Season 16, including prequel expansions and new characters

Although Supernatural had a shockingly long run of fifteen seasons, which ended in 2020, it seems that the show may be revived for Supernatural season 16. However, in order for the series to continue with the same main characters, a new season would have to involve one terribly overused trope. Supernatural is a paranormal drama series that first began in 2005. It stars Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki as brothers Dean and Sam Winchester, who have been raised since childhood to kill monsters. Though the series had a fairly final (and divisive) ending, it seems that Supernatural (like the Winchesters themselves) simply won't die.

Despite the fact that Supernatural officially ended in 2020, at the 2023 Creation Honolulu convention, Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki gave affirming comments about the series coming back. In particular, Padalecki said, "I have some ideas, and I hope that now that the writers are back, and the actors are back, that we all get together," while Ackles confirmed, "Stay tuned on that. There are some conversations regarding that conversation that are being had," according to Collider. These quotes indicate that Supernatural season 16 is not just a possibility, but could soon be in development, leading to many questions about the logistics of the series making a comeback.

Supernatural Season 16 Could Fix The Controversial Series Finale

A New Season Would Have To Retcon The Existing Finale To Make Sense

Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester and Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester Shaking Hands in Supernatural's Finale

The most significant effect that Supernatural season 16 could have on the larger franchise is fixing the series' controversial ending. The 2020 finale, 'Carry On', started with the Winchesters going back to their monster-of-the-week roots, before Dean dies in a routine vampire nest clear out. After his shocking death, Dean found himself in a new Heaven, where the souls of all the people he loved are waiting, in a peaceful setting that he can now enjoy. Sam, meanwhile, goes on to get married and have a son, who is also trained as a hunter, before he dies of old age and s Dean. The ending was divisive because of how anticlimactic Dean's death was - and how unbelievable. After everything the Winchesters had been through, defeating even God in their battles, seeing Dean die because of an average vampire felt impossible.

Luckily, though, Supernatural season 16 could fix the ending. A new season means that Sam and Dean would presumably have to return in some capacity and keep their story going, which in turn, means that their story would not truly be finished where it left off during the Supernatural season 15 ending. In some shape or form, Supernatural would have to negate Dean's death to reunite the Winchester brothers, or at the very least, follow Dean in Heaven, making him less dead than he seemed before.

Supernatural Would Need An Overdone Trope For Season 16 To Work

Dean Has Already Returned From The Dead Multiple Times

Unfortunately, the way in which Supernatural season 16 keeps the story going may be a huge problem. As previously mentioned, if the new installment is going to include both Padalecki and Ackles, then it will have to bring Dean back from the dead somehow, and this taps into a trope that has been very much overused by Supernatural. Over the years, Sam and Dean found themselves in dangerous situations constantly, and the show was not afraid to go the distance and kill its characters. However, the Winchesters never stayed dead for long. In fact, Dean Winchester died and was resurrected approximately 111 times in Supernatural. Sam, on the other hand, dies and is returned to life 8 times, with a final death of old age bringing his total to 9.

The majority of Dean's deaths occurred in the episode, "Mystery Spot," wherein Sam lives the same day over and over again and cannot stop Dean's impending death.

Clearly, Dean Winchester in particular has seen enough of being revived from death. But, unfortunately, that is one of the few routes the show can take with Supernatural season 16. Either Dean remains in Heaven and plays out his story there, or he is brought back from death to reunite with Sam. Though this would help keep Supernatural alive, it would be the kind of plot twist that isn't all that exciting. In fact, Supernatural fans are probably expecting it.

Bringing Dean Back From The Dead Makes No Sense

With Sam Dead, There Is No One To Bring Him Back

Sam and Dean's resurrection has become a running joke within the show, and one of the best parts of the finale was that it makes yet another resurrection impossible. If only Dean had died, the expectation would be another season where Sam brings Dean back from the dead. However, 'Carry On' ends with both brothers dead and in Heaven, along with all their loved ones (except Sam's son) - meaning that there is no one alive to bring either Sam or Dean back from the dead. While Castiel or Jack may have been poised to do so, even with both brothers dead, neither has a reason to. Jack ended the series becoming God, so it's possible that he could bring both Winchesters back to life, but the show would have to come up with a very good reason for him to do so. Castiel's fate is a little less clear - he sacrificed himself to the Empty, but Jack hints that he is no longer there in the end - however, both Cas and Jack would theoretically be able to access Heaven, should they wish to see Sam and Dean again.

A Winchester return would also have to retcon the final scenes of the finale. Even if someone brought both Sam and Dean back, Sam died of old age, and would presumably be resurrected as an old man - as none of the previous resurrections involved de-aging! Alternatively, a new season that sees Sam bring Dean back sooner would involve re-writing the finale.

How Supernatural Could Have A Season 16 Without Retconning The Series Finale

Prequel Seasons & Side Stories Can Work (But Not Spin-Offs)

Jensen Ackles Supernatural spinoff The ghostfacers

Despite the issues with bringing Dean back from the dead, there are other options for a sixteenth season of the show. The most obvious option to keep Ackles and Padalecki in the mix without changing the existing timeline is to play with the idea of an alternate universe, or a series that expands on their previously untold adventures. The Multiverse was established in Supernatural canon, and although it was wiped out by God, Jack restored it. This makes an alternate universe Supernatural a very real possibility - but this would be difficult to do in a way that doesn't feel like a reboot with the same cast. Another option would be to go back to earlier times in the Winchesters' story, and show other adventures. It's clear that not every single hunt was included in the show, and the tie-in comics already include some other storylines that didn't make it to TV, which makes this a great way to continue the story without changing too much, or bringing Dean back (again).

What is clear, though, is that Sam and Dean would have to return - as Supernatural spin-offs have historically not done well. Given the popularity of the show, it's no surprise that multiple spin-offs have been developed, but none have found any real success.

Supernatural Spinoff	What Happened To The Show
Bloodlines (2014) - a spin-off focusing on the monsters of Chicago.	A backdoor pilot was created, but a full series was never picked up.
Wayward Sisters (2018) - a spin-off about Jody Mills, Donna Hanscum, and the girls they adopted hunting monsters.	A backdoor pilot was created, but a full series was never picked up.
Ghostfacers (2010) - a web-series of the in-universe Ghostfacers show.	Given a 10 episode first season, but never renewed or continued.
The Winchesters (2022) - a prequel series focused on John and Mary Winchester.	Cancelled after a 13 episode first season.

Becuase of this, it's unlikely that another prequel or spin-off is in the works for a sixteenth season - and if it was, it's unlikely that it would last. However, if Supernatural can find a way to continue, bringing Sam and Dean back without having to resurrect or retcon, the series has the popularity to continue for many seasons more.