The Supernatural prequel The Winchesters has been officially cancelled on The CW. The series was a prequel following the early lives of the parents of Supernatural lead characters Sam and Dean Winchester (Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, the latter of whom is the producer and narrator of the new series). The series has been on the bubble since its season 1 finale aired on March 2023, as The CW - now under new ownership - has been cancelling nearly every series on their current slate, so far only renewing All American and Walker out of their entire lineup.
Now, Deadline reports that The Winchesters has officially been cancelled on the CW. In addition to ending the series after one season, this decision also effectively ends the Supernatural universe in its current incarnation. However, the show is reportedly being shopped to find a new outlet. At the time of writing, the only CW series that remain on the bubble are Superman & Lois, All American: Homecoming, and Gotham Knights (which stars Supernatural cast member Misha Collins).
Does the Supernatural Universe Have a Future?
The Winchesters originally premiered two years after the Supernatural finale ended the long-running series after 15 seasons. While the popular series inspired a multimedia franchise that includes comics and tie-in novels, The Winchesters was the first live-action Supernatural spinoff to make it to air, despite several being developed over the years. Its subsequent short life span may spell bad news for the future of the franchise.
However, The Winchesters wasn't necessarily cancelled because of its ratings. It was the third-highest-rated scripted program on The CW as of December 2022, so its cancellation is seemingly because of the network's transition away from its previous programming. Should The CW wish to sever ties with the Supernatural universe completely, the creators could shop this show or similar spinoffs at other streaming services or networks.
While The Winchesters is seemingly being shopped, there are no further comments from the producers, stars, and creators regarding its cancellation. A similar CW series, the Jared Padalecki-produced Walker prequel Walker: Independence, is currently looking for a new home, so the same process could be revved up for this prequel series. However, the chances of another spinoff making it off the ground any time soon seem slim if that doesn't happen, considering the main cast's commitment to other series, including Ackles' role on The Boys and Padalecki's continued run on the Walker mothership show.
Source: Deadline