Supernatural, The CW’s longest-running scripted original, is coming to an end with its 15th and final season. The announcement was made Friday by the show’s stars Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles and Misha Collins via social media. The last season will have a total of 20 episodes.
Executive producers Robert Singer and Andrew Dabb gave a joint statement concerning the end of the show: “Firstly, we would like to thank all the people who have been involved with the show both in front of and behind the camera. For us it has been an experience of a lifetime. The support we have had from both Warner Bros Television and The CW has been incredible. We’d like to give special thanks to Jensen, Jared and Misha for making this journey so special. It is now most important to us to give these characters that we love the sendoff they deserve.”
Supernatural is currently the longest-running series within the science fiction genre in the entire history of American broadcast television. It was originally conceived by Eric Kripke and produced by Warner Bros. TV, and continued through the changes from WB Network to what is now The CW, making it the only surviving show from The WB Network era. Once the final episode has aired, Supernatural will have a grand total of 327 episodes.
Concerning the ending of the show, president Mark Pedowitz made clear during the TCA in January that he would continue with the series as long as the actors were up for it. “As long as the ratings hold up and the guys want to do it, we’re in,” Pedowitz stated. “It’s really that simple. They have created something of these two brothers we’ve had these discussions that actually transcends anything…. [I]f I could find a way that it stays the whole time on and it still holds up and the studio can still figure out how to do it, we’re all in.”
However, much to the dismay of fans, it seems Ackles and Padalecki have finally decided to throw in the towel. “We just told the crew that though we’re very very excited about moving into our 15th season, it will be our last. Fifteen years of a show that has certainly changed my life, I know it’s changed these two guys’ life. And we just wanted you to hear from us that though we’re excited about next year, it will be the finale. The big, grand finale of an institution,” Ackles announced. “I will say this, a little word from Eric Kripke, the creator about this world and these characters, that in a show about family, it is amazing and it is the pride of his life that it became a family. So thank you guys for that.”