Ackles & Padalecki Cost WB $1M in Supernatural Overtime, Jokes Star
Misha Collins says that the goofing around on the set of Supernatural cost WB a lot of money. Collins portrayed the angel Castiel on the long-running drama series, joining in season 4 and remaining part of the core cast until the end. Despite coming on board Supernatural a few years into its run, Collins and his performance as the stoic being immediately caught on with fans, many of whom appreciated the character’s dynamic with Dean (Jensen Ackles) and Sam Winchester (Jared Padalecki). But while the trio battled a number of adversaries with life-altering consequences, the vibe off-camera was quite different.
The actor's fun off-screen dynamic can be gleaned from the Supernatural blooper reels and other behind-the-scenes interactions. While some series have only a few minutes’ worth of a gag reel, the bloopers between Supernatural’s central trio often stretched on into the double digits. In some, the actors liked to dress up as different characters. In other instances, they simply enjoyed tripping each other up. Collins recalled those moments in a new interview, reflecting on all the fun he had with Ackles and Padalecki in the process.
Speaking on the Inside of You podcast, Collins talked to host Michael Rosenbaum about how often Ackles and Padalecki would throw him off his game as he tried to memorize his lines. Collins confessed that it could be “maddening,” even extending to elaborate pranks. The actor laughs about the instances nonetheless, telling Rosenbaum that the easygoing atmosphere cost production studio Warner Bros. a lot of money in overtime. Collins’ quote is included below.
“It was maddening at times, but it was also, I think, demonstrative of the fact that we had a lot of fun on set. Like, I think it is probably north of a million dollars in overtime that Warner Brothers had to pay for because of us walking around on set over the years, without hyperbole.”
While that kind of disruption might not be welcome on every television and film production, the dynamic worked for Supernatural. So much of the show is sold on the basis of the close connection between Sam, Dean, and Cas, and wouldn’t work quite as well without the camaraderie that the series’ main stars built together. Ackles, Padalecki and Collins' off-screen relationship ultimately translated to their characters. Even as they faced demons and ghouls of all sorts, even battling against God, the heroes of Supernatural tended to remember to laugh — and that came from a very real place.
On the flip side, Collins has also candidly discussed his broader relationship with Ackles and Padalecki, and how that intersects with the broader Supernatural fandom. It’s not always pleasant, but it seems that, overwhelmingly, the laughter on those extended blooper reels will be the feeling that many fans remember. It’s what helped the show remain on the air for as long as it did, defining The CW as a network and inspiring many loyal viewers.
Source: Inside of You