Fan-Favorite Jensen Ackles Series Supernatural Was Influenced By One Star Wars Plot That Helped Get the Show On the Road
One of the most skilled and respected actors in the business, Jensen Ackles is best known for playing Dean Winchester in the dark fantasy drama series Supernatural on the WB/CW. He is also the star of Amazon Prime Video’s The Boys, where he plays Ben, also known as Soldier Boy, and has received praise for his performance.
From 2005 until 2020, Jensen starred with Jared Padalecki in fifteen seasons and 327 episodes of Supernatural. A highly profitable and well-liked franchise served as the basis for the series, which is currently ranked among the most popular TV programs.
Jensen Ackles acknowledges Star Wars inspired Supernatural
Actor Jensen Ackles, famously known as Dean Winchester, appeared on Michael Rosenbaum’s Inside of You podcast in 2021 where the actor looked back on his journey on Supernatural and said,
“I love the character because the two characters, this is no secret, were written very much like a Luke Skywalker and a Han Solo. Indiana Jones, Han Solo, those were the characters, even though they’re both played by the same actor.”
The actor further in conversation clarified that Dean was the Han Solo or Indiana Jones of the pair, whereas Sam Winchester, played by Jared Padalecki, was more innocent, like Luke Skywalker. He added,
Ackles mentioned that those are the kind of characters he had dreamed of playing and Dean was very much that, after all, he was modeled after Han Solo.
Also read: Supernatural: Things That Make It Re-Watchable
Supernatural took a page from Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope
According to a quote on IMDb, the producers of the show had considered various methods and techniques to motivate Sam to take the road with his brother Dean, but it was eventually a page from the legendary Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope which was taken as inspiration and Jessica’s death is the motivation for the character to leave home.
Interestingly, it was also reported that the actor had initially auditioned for the part of Sam after the executive producer David Nutter approached him. After reading the script, Ackles felt that he could play Dean better and IMDb quotes that the producers told Ackles that his character was the Han Solo of the duo.
However, it has also been known that the actor wanted to play Dean because he’s funny compared to his brother. The actor had mentioned in an interview that when he read the script he just knew that it was a great script and he needed to be a part of it.
Also read: Mark Hamill Demanded Over $160,000 Per Second For His 30 Second Screen Time in Star Wars Movie
Eric Kripke gives a nod to Supernatural being inspired by Star Wars
After Star Wars actor Mark Hamill gave Supernatural a shout-out on Twitter, after an episode, Sam and Dean’s U.S. Wildlife Service badges were showcased with the names Agent Ford and Agent Hamill and he wrote in response to Padalecki’s tweet which read, “If you get a chance to be @HamillHimself, always be @HamillHimself.”
Hamill wrote,
“And if you get a chance to do a cameo on #Supernatural without leaving your house, always GRAB IT! Much obliged for that, Jared!”
Creator Eric Kripke also reacted to Mark Hamill reacting to their show as he tweeted that it’s cool, no biggie before adding that he is not freaking out with the fact that Mark Hamill mentioned their show. He further added,
“It’s not like Sam & Dean weren’t based on Luke & Han or anything. Or that #StarWars was in the core DNA of the show & my life. Keep it real chill. #Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah #SPNFamily”
Supernatural is available on HBO Max.
