Despite running for 15 seasons, Supernatural repeatedly struggled to expand its universe into successful spin-offs. Creator and executive producer Andrew Dabb broke down why Supernatural: Bloodlines never made it past its pilot episode.
The Vision Behind Bloodlines
Supernatural was one of The CW’s biggest hits, following Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) on their endless monster-hunting road trips across America. During Season 9, The CW attempted to expand the franchise with a backdoor pilot titled “Supernatural: Bloodlines”.
Set in Chicago, the series aimed to focus on five rival monster families—including vampires, werewolves, and shapeshifters—secretly ruling the city’s underworld, seen through the eyes of a young human hunter caught in the middle.
Why It Failed: Bad Timing & Fear of Copying the Original
Executive producer Andrew Dabb explained to TV Guide that two major factors killed the spin-off before it could get off the ground:
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Unfortunate Timing and Competition:
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In hindsight, the concept was far too similar to The Originals, a popular The Vampire Diaries spin-off that premiered around the same time. The Originals also focused on rival factions of supernatural beings vying for control over a major city (New Orleans).
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Afraid to Steal the Main Show’s Magic:
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Because the main Supernatural series was still going strong and showed no signs of stopping, the creative team deliberately tried to avoid taking core elements from Sam and Dean’s show. They wanted something “very unlike Supernatural,” but by stripping away the blue-collar, back-road hunting formula, the pilot lost what made the flagship series special.
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The Broader Franchise Pattern
The backdoor pilot failed to generate enthusiasm among hardcore fans, leading The CW to pass on picking up the show for a full series.
Bloodlines wasn’t an isolated disappointment. The franchise tried—and failed—multiple times to expand beyond Sam and Dean:
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Wayward Sisters: A Season 13 backdoor pilot featuring fan-favorite characters like Sheriff Jody Mills also wasn’t picked up.
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The Winchesters: A prequel series focused on Sam and Dean’s parents was greenlit in 2022 but was canceled after a single season.
Ultimately, the failure of these spin-offs highlighted a core truth about Supernatural: the magic of the show was never just the lore—it was the unbreakable bond and screen presence of Sam and Dean Winchester.