Whatever Happened to the Supernatural Spinoff Bloodlines
In 2014, the CW announced a brand new spinoff of their popular TV series Supernatural, titled Bloodlines. The show was set in the same universe as the parent series, but in the city of Chicago instead of the small town of Lawrence, Kansas. Fans were excited to see more of the supernatural world beyond the brothers Sam and Dean Winchester’s travels. However, despite a promising premise, Bloodlines never made it to air.
Origins and Concept
The idea for Bloodlines emerged during the production of Season 9 of Supernatural. Showrunner Jeremy Carver and writer Andrew Dabb developed the concept, drawing inspiration from the show’s long history of exploring lesser-known supernatural creatures and folklore. The series would focus on a group of monstrous individuals living in secret within human society, with tensions between different factions and powerful organizations threatening to expose them to the world.
The pilot episode, written by Dabb and directed by Richard Speight Jr. (who would later return to Supernatural as an executive producer), introduced audiences to the world of the spinoff. The episode centered around a group of monsters, including a kitsune (a Japanese shape-shifting fox spirit) and a werewolf, living in Chicago. Each had their own motivations and struggles, from seeking independence from their monstrous families to protecting their own kind from hunters and humans.
Why It Didn’t Take Off
Despite the intrigue of the concept and strong buzz surrounding the pilot episode, Bloodlines ultimately got cancelled before it could make it to air. Various factors contributed to its downfall. One major issue was the sheer amount of pressure on the show to maintain the high standards set by Supernatural. Fans have a deep affection for the original series, and some critics felt that Bloodlines couldn’t live up to their expectations.
Another reason for the cancellation was the significant changes made to the original concept during development. As the show underwent creative changes, some fans may have lost interest or struggled to connect with the revised storyline. Additionally, Bloodlines faced stiff competition on the CW’s schedule, with other popular shows like Arrow, The Flash, and The Vampire Diaries dominating the network’s evening programming.
Legacy of Bloodlines
Although Bloodlines never made it to air, its legacy has still had an impact on the Supernatural universe. In 2015, an edited version of the pilot episode was released as a bonus feature on Supernatural’s Season 11 Blu-ray set. The footage offered fans a glimpse into the world of the spinoff, and fans still speculate about what might have been if the series had been given a chance.
The characters and mythos introduced in Bloodlines have also influenced subsequent storylines in Supernatural, including the appearances of new supernatural creatures and the deepening exploration of the American mythology. In a recent episode of Supernatural (Season 15, Episode 13), the boys even visited Chicago, and a brief nod to Bloodlines was included, fueling fan speculation about what could have been.
In conclusion, Bloodlines remains an intriguing footnote in Supernatural’s history, and while it may not have succeeded as a standalone series, its influence can be seen in the parent show’s later seasons. Though fans may never know the full extent of what would have been, the bloodlines of the supernatural will continue to captivate and enthrall audiences everywhere.