The CW Orders Pilots for ‘Supernatural’ Prequel ‘The Winchesters,’ ‘Walker: Independence’ & More
Might Supernatural (finally) get a spinoff? The CW has taken a step in that direction.
The network has ordered pilots for The Winchesters, Walker: Independence, and Gotham Knights. It has also ordered six additional scripts for Zorro, with a decision to be made beyond that at a later date.
The Winchesters first was reported to be in development in June 2021. “Before Sam and Dean, there was John and Mary. Told from the perspective of narrator Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles), The Winchesters is the epic, untold love story of how John met Mary and how they put it all on the line to not only save their love, but the entire world,” reads the logline of the Supernatural prequel. Jensen Ackles and his wife, Danneel Ackles, are attached to executive produce via Chaos Machine and their overall deal with WBTV, with writer Robbie Thompson.
The other Winchester brother, Jared Padalecki (Sam), is also attached to one of the other pilots, Walker: Independence, an origin story to his current CW series. Set in the late 1800s, it “follows Abby Walker, an affluent Bostonian whose husband is murdered before her eyes while on their journey out West. On her quest for revenge, Abby crosses paths with Hoyt Rawlins, a lovable rogue in search of purpose,” reads the logline. “Abby and Hoyt’s journey takes them to Independence, Texas, where they encounter diverse, eclectic residents running from their own troubled pasts and chasing their dreams. Our newfound family will struggle with the changing world around them, while becoming agents of change themselves in a town where nothing is what it seems.” Padalecki is set to executive produce with Seamus Fahey, Anna Fricke, Dan Lin, Lindsey Liberatore, and Laura Terry. The teleplay is by Fahey, with the story co-written by Fahey and Fricke.
Gotham Knights, based on characters created for DC by Bob Kane with Bill Finger, is set in Gotham City but isn’t a spinoff of Batwoman. “In the wake of Bruce Wayne’s murder, his rebellious adopted son forges an unlikely alliance with the children of Batman’s enemies when they are all framed for killing the Caped Crusader. And as the city’s most wanted criminals, this renegade band of misfits must fight to clear their names. But in a Gotham with no Dark Knight to protect it, the city descends into the most dangerous it’s ever been. However, hope comes from the most unexpected of places as this team of mismatched fugitives will become its next generation of saviors known as the Gotham Knights,” reads the logline. Executive producers Chad Fiveash and James Stoteraux and co-executive producer Natalie Abrams will write, while Danny Cannon will direct and executive produce the pilot. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and David Madden are also executive producers.
In the CW’s potential take on Zorro, “a young Latinx woman seeking vengeance for her father’s murder joins a secret society and adopts the outlaw persona of Zorro.” Sean Tretta and Robert Rodriguez are attached to write and executive produce, and Rebecca Rodriguez will write, direct, and executive produce. Other EPs include Ben Silverman, Rodney Ferrell, Howard T. Owens, Geoff Clark, Eric Bromberg, John Gertz, and Jay Weisleder.
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