TV Line: Misha WILL NOT Be A Series Regular in S7, Kripke and Edlund Have Changed Roles

Saturday, 21 May 2011 00:23 | Written by Alice Jester

Considering we've been lighting up Twitter, Facebook, and various blogs like this one speculating what Misha's role would be in Season 7 (not to mention fleshing out a lot of rumors), I was certain some media outlet would be there with the answers as soon as the finale aired. Sure enough, this is the latest word fresh from Vlada Gelman at TV Line. Misha WILL NOT be a season seven regular cast member.

After making a rock star entrance in Season 4, Castiel quickly became a fan favorite, but the Winchesters’ angel ally has gone from heavenly to sinister this season. In Friday night’s finale, he opened the door to purgatory –- inside himself! –- and became a soul-powered God. And nobody was going to get in his way. Not Raphael, not Crowley, not even the Winchesters, whom he gave the ultimate choice in the show’s final minutes: allegiance, or death. So why the decision to not bring back Collins as a series regular, just when Cas seems to be at his most… almighty?

“When it comes to Supernatural, our philosophy is that everyone moves in and out and weaves in and out of the story, obviously with the exception of Sam and Dean,” executive producer Sera Gamble tells TVLine. “We love Misha. We love and adore the character of Castiel. His character developed to this extent and went in this unexpected direction because we were so inspired by him.”

... Collins is expected to return for the Season 7 opener, but how much of a presence he will have on the show beyond that, if any, is a mystery Gamble can’t delve into “without giving away a lot about the premiere,” she says.

Also, as speculated on places like this site, Eric Kripke and Ben Edlund didn't make the Executive Producers credits in the CW Upfront Press Release for Season Seven. Here's that answer too:

Two other names familiar to Supernatural fans however will be back – creator Eric Kripke and executive producer Ben Edlund. Gamble assures us that despite being left off a CW press release touting next season, Kripke and Edlund are hard at work on the seventh cycle. “Their titles have changed,” she explains. “There are a lot of technical and contractual reasons that people’s titles change that don’t necessarily reflect their level of involvement or commitment to the show. … They’ve been in the [writers] room with me every day this week.”

There's plenty more said about all this, so go to TV Line's exclusive report for all the details.
For all the latest Supernatural info and article links, follow The Winchester Family Business on Twitter at @WinFamBusiness

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Comments

# alice 2011-05-21 00:57

Feel free to speculate too if this means that there will be significant budget cuts in S7. I say yes. Cutting a lead actor, thinning the production staff, it all looks like bottom line business to me. A shame too since this show actually makes money for Warner Brothers. Not The CW though.

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# Far Away Eyes 2011-05-21 01:14

I was stunned tonight by their use of Play With Fire, considering that's in the Stones Decca catalog and is property of ABKCO records. ABKCO is not exactly cheap. If memory serves me right, the only other Stones song to appear was Laugh, I Nearly Died from A Bigger Bang, which they would have had to purchase from Virgin. Of course the show and the album were coming out about the same time so a discount for promotion and the like? (I'm not ashamed to admit that my first love is the Rolling Stones. I probably know more about them than anyone ought to.)

I don't really know what their budget is in general, but it would seem they're just playing a shell game by changing people's titles to save money and expense.

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# Jasminka 2011-05-21 10:51

Alice, I agree with your hypothesis: I also think it's a budget issue. We don't really know, of course (yet?) what's going on behind the curtains.

I'm not afraid, yet, about Misha not being a series regular. He's such a popular actor with the fandom, I don't believe the 'suits' will want to lose those viewers in the long run.

So, I trust to see more of Misha in season 7. After all, Jim Beaver wasn't a regular, too, and was in many episodes.

I'm sure, we'll get more information about this within the following months, so, I'm not sweating yet.

But thanks for this elaborate notice! Love, Jas

I still need to recover from the finale and will sit down and start writing... that usually clears my mind.

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# CitizenKane2 2011-05-23 01:51

Quoting alice:

Feel free to speculate too if this means that there will be significant budget cuts in S7. I say yes. Cutting a lead actor, thinning the production staff, it all looks like bottom line business to me. A shame too since this show actually makes money for Warner Brothers. Not The CW though.

I think this is quite ominous.

It would be a great pity if Supernatural couldn't quite reach its full potential because of budget cuts (e.g. actors / actresses who can bring sparkle and magic to the show are let go because of salary concerns).

Still, I guess it is an unfortunate fact of life that television shows (even our favorite ones) are businesses, and ugly realities of budget cuts are sometimes inevitable.

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# MiriamR 2011-05-23 22:20

Quoting alice:

Feel free to speculate too if this means that there will be significant budget cuts in S7. I say yes. Cutting a lead actor, thinning the production staff, it all looks like bottom line business to me. A shame too since this show actually makes money for Warner Brothers. Not The CW though.

Why are you saying they have "cut" Misha, Alice? Do you have additional information? Switching him back to recurring from regular isn't cutting him…

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# purplehairedwonder 2011-05-21 01:02

According to IMDB, Jim Beaver, not a series regular, and Misha, a regular, were both in 12 episodes this season. With that in mind, I can't say I find this news particularly worrying in terms of approaching Cas' character in season 7.

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# Brynhild 2011-05-21 07:05

I think it's a budget issue, but I wouldn't be too worried about Castiel's storyline. I think the writers and producers are not stupid: they can be brave and trying to explore new territories about some characters, but they know for certain when to stop before losing too many viewers. Somehow I don't think they want SO BAD to turn off Castiel's fans, knowing how many of them are out there, ready to ask for Gamble's or Kripke's heads, or just to stop watching the show if their precious, loved little angel won't come back (to sanity, at least). So I would say to stay cool, folks.

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# Melanie 2011-05-21 07:40

Well, Jim Beaver isn't a regular either and he seems to be on the show quite a bit. More than Misha this past season, when Misha WAS a regular. I'm going to guess it was a decision mostly driven by budget.

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# Daisymae 2011-05-21 08:47

I think Misha was cut for budget reasons also, something that happens when a show has been on for a while. However, Jim isn't a regular and he's on frequently so it may not actually affect how much Misha is on.

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# rmoats8621 2011-05-21 09:56

I think Misha will be back along with Jim Beaver. No worries. They're both important characters to the show and it may have even been a request by Misha. I'm thinking back to a response given by Jared recently about having kids and that Misha was having a hard time juggling a newborn, home responsibilities and Supernatural. As for Kripke and Ben, I have no concerns. This show is Eric's baby and he will always be looking out for it as will Ben in whatever capacity he's associated with the show. As many have stated, they play a shell game with titles, etc. trying to keep within the budget. The show is getting older and some fixed costs such as salaries increase while monies received per episode remain flat. It would be nice if more advertisers would take notice especially since there has been some really great press for the show recently. Maybe then the budget would be increased. Either way, Warner Bros. is sitting pretty and wins regardless and we win because our beloved show will be around for another season.

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# sn_chills 2011-05-21 15:08

It might not have anything to do with the shows budget. As a series regular, Misha would have been tied to SN and unable to accept other roles during the season. Jim as a special guest star is free to do and has done other tv shows. Maybe now that Misha is a new father he wants to be able to take jobs a little closer to home and not all the way up in Vancouver all the time. Even if he's no longer a series regular there's no reason to believe we wont see him as much if not more than we did this season.

Just my thoughts though, I dont have any facts to back this up.

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# Ellie 2011-05-21 15:39

I actually would like it if they scaled back Mishas apperances on the show. It is not that I dont like Cass or Misha . it is we need to move away from the angel sl . If the show truly wants to get back to the brothers against the world and all they have is each other then the Angels need to be either gone or scaled back. I wont deny I want to get back to the boys or that the episode two wks ago didnt make me feel uncomfortable .

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# Rose 2011-05-21 15:41

You know, I love Castiel and Bobby, but this show has always been about Sam and Dean for me so as long as they stay the center of the show's focus, I'll be happy.

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# Ginger 2011-05-21 16:17

I, too, will be happy if Misha's role is greatly reduced, because the angel storyline has just gone on too long.

I would guess that the budget will be bare-boned, because I think this will be the last season for SPN; that is, unless they can turn the show around from this disappointing season. Even if they do, though, I don't think viewership is going to increase or decrease much one direction or the other.

Putting a little joy into the brothers' lives doesn't cost a thing, and I would be happy to see that once in a while. Remember when Dean used to take pleasure from the smallest things in life and Sam would find joy in Dean's joy?

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# Doom 2011-05-21 18:10

I think it was Season 4 that launched SPN into the greatest show on TV. I think it's the season that captured the most fans. Of course this i just my opinion based on when most of my friends caught the bug. I'm seriously concerned about the show without Cas. He is such a great character and I am not happy that he's gone darkside. I'm sad to think budget is the reason to destroy such a captivating character. I love the Dean/Sam/Cas trilogy. Hope they can pull off season seven and don't fall into the slump of poor writing.

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# Nepomuk 2011-05-22 14:08

I am more concerned about the show now WITH the angel. My worries are only gone when Castiel is finally flown (or blown) away.

I need focus on the brothers relationship (and they are family) and the angel distracts the writers to write properly for both brothers.

Just my humble opinion!

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# LordAniline 2011-05-21 19:38

That is awesome news. Seriously, Cas had overstayed in Supernatural, it was obvious the writers didn't know what to do with Cas in season 5. Cas behavior in season 6 up to the finale was of no surprise, it's canon to his season 4 character in that he never took responsibility for his own misdeeds, so arrogantly making himself a god monster is the only logical step in his evolution.

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# LordAniline 2011-05-21 19:43

@Doom. Season 4 is when Supernatural lost the most fans, over 1 million fans. Yes season 4 had the highest rating, in the beginning but soon lost a steady stream of regular viewers - that was the trend. Alot of viewers I know stopped watching SPN because of how the Sam character was being threated and they did not like the angel storylines. Cas attracted some new fans, but that pales compared to the 1 million viewers that bailed.

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# alice 2011-05-22 00:01

Sorry if I sound a bit antagonistic, but you couldn't be more inaccurate with this statement. I have the actual ratings posted on this site to prove it! Ratings went up in season four, especially when DVR was factored in. As a matter of fact, Lazarus Rising ended up being the highest rated episode for the show ever on The CW.

I still can't believe some still bring up that bitterness that is season four. I loved Sam in season four and the angel storylines and so did most other fans. It's only certain small factions of fans that were unhappy.

Anyway, here's the link to the ratings for all Supernatural seasons as proof:

http://www.thewinchesterfamilybusiness.com/news-and-announcements/18-ratings.html

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# LordAniline 2011-05-22 10:34

Actually I am accurate. As I said, I was talking about trends, not the average ratings i.e. a family has 1.3 kids, now many .3 kids do you actually see in real life. You are correct that Lazarus Rising had alot of people watching after the shocking finale of season 2. And then what? Viewers started dropping likes flies until over 1 million regulars went missing by the season 4 finale.

Numbers don't lie, and I should know because I was one of the 1 million viewers that bailed in season 4 and again in season 5, angry that Cas never owned up to his misdeeds and Sam was scapegoated. Once I heard season 6 was renewed then I Netflix most episodes I missed and got caught up just in time for season 6, which I liked so much better mostly because the brothers were working as an unit and Cas was showing his true color.

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# alice 2011-05-22 10:43

You do realize that the trend downward in viewers happens with every single TV show on the air? That's happened throughout the history of TV. More people watch in the fall than in the spring. Not one show maintains the same viewers at the end of the season than the beginning of the season. Week for week, season four held up compared to other seasons, even soundly beating season three. When DVR was factored in, it beat anything previously except for season one.

In season one, Supernatural started with 5.5 million viewers. By the time the finale aired, it was 3.5 million. So, you want to start arguments that the show started to fade in season one?

You are twisting ratings to spread cynicism and bitterness about something that is long past and hinting that you are speaking for entire audiences. I'm okay with you having objections to season four, but don't try to twist solid facts.

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# LordAniline 2011-05-22 11:22

Hummmm, I noticed you didn't make an effort to "correct" Doom's "I think it's the season that captured the most fans," when it clearly did not as over 1 million viewers bailed. Doom was the one who brought up season 4, which I agree should be a dead issue by now. So why did Doom mention season 4? Because Cas was introduced in that season? Then to say it captured the most fans Doom was trying to give credit to Cas, ignoring the facts when I then helpfully supplied.

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# Melanie 2011-05-22 10:38

It has made me crazy this season when folks point to the ratings (on Friday top three for the Network) for support of the idea that fans have stopped watching in droves. They haven't. The general trend of CW shows (indeed broadcast in general) this season is down. SPN has held its audience REMARKABLY well in the move to Fridays. If anything, SPN bucks the trend.

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# Nepomuk 2011-05-22 14:10

I think it was the reason that Dean went to hell. NOBODY knew back then anything about Castiel!

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# alice 2011-05-22 00:11

Okay everyone, here's my two cents. Misha will be back in season seven but we have no idea in what capacity or how many episodes. We won't find out either until the season has begun. It's all going to depend how they plot out the season, which is just beginning right now. By not being a series regular, the writers have the option to use him for two episodes and send him on his way. They might not either.

A series regular tends to make more money than a recurring like Jim Beaver. This is a demotion for Misha. Jim Beaver was asked a while ago to be a series regular but couldn't move to Vancouver because of his daughter. So he stayed recurring. It's worked out for him, so it could for Misha as well. He was a recurring in season four.

So what does this all mean? Who knows? This season is apparent, they don't know what to do with Castiel anymore. Plus, it seems like budget is an issue again. I'm more worried about the changing roles in the production and writing team right now.

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# sn_chills 2011-05-22 08:31

It just seems to me that if they are having a budget issue that might work to our advantage. The show has always had a shoestring to work with but somehow they pull it out of their $%# every time. Necessity is the mother of invention, it just means they have to be a little bit more creative with what they do. I have faith that they will still be able to come up with all the wonders they need to make this show the show we all love.

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# Mille 2011-05-22 17:51

I apologize for posting in his way, but it's like I'm see Supernatural now
Supernatural is for me a car in a track double directed by a Foreigner drunk who does not have driver's license. Sad!!

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# lola 2011-05-23 14:56

Considering Misha was pretty much a recurring character last season, that wouldn't be all that bad. It was Sera's comment in the TVLine article that implied Cas might not be around past the season premiere that is more worrisome to me. As Mo Ryan so aptly put it in her recap, the show is becoming so bleak and hopeless; killing off a member of TFW would just add to that desperate atmosphere. Seriously, it's becoming painful to watch a show that's supposed to be fun.

The focus has always been and will be the brothers. Adding in Bobby and Cas and maybe some new characters doesn't threaten that. But it does add a much needed vitality for the characters to work with. Not to mention that Cas has many fans and the showrunners I'd hope the showrunners are aware of the practical implications of killing off such a popular character. I just don't see how it would benefit the show as much as hurt it in the long run.

I'm also concerned about Kripke and Edlund no longer serving as EPs. This isn't reassuring news going into a new season, imo, especially after last season's lumpy bumpy ride.

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# MiriamR 2011-05-23 22:25

Quoting lola:

…Not to mention that Cas has many fans and the showrunners I'd hope the showrunners are aware of the practical implications of killing off such a popular character. I just don't see how it would benefit the show as much as hurt it in the long run.

I definitely won't watch without Castiel. He has been in 3 seasons of the show, and deserves better than being written out in the first episode as a lot of rumors suggest will happen. His fans deserve beter too. :(

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# LordAniline 2011-05-29 09:11

Cas and the disintegration of the Winchester brotherhood caused many regular fans to leave during season 4 & 5. Cas attracted some new fans (very loud fans), but it pales in comparison to the 1.5 million regular viewers that bailed during those times. The angel storyline had run of steam long time ago and the showrunners know it, but they were forced to give Misha a 2 year contact and had to use him somehow. Even Cas fans I personally know wanted Cas out of SPN, tired of seeing him the butt of jokes, a hypocrite, and a clueless buffoon. That is until he declared himself God and it's "oooh, dark Cas, how interesting, finally!"

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# Donna 2011-05-23 22:21

They probably had to give J2 more money to come back for S7, which may have caused them to modify the budget.

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# CazWinchester 2011-05-24 15:26

Just because he won't be a regular, doesn't mean he won't be in the show. Jim Beaver has been in the show since season 1's finale and he's still a guest star.

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# Far Away Eyes 2011-05-24 15:32

I think people are forgetting, more than budgetary issues at hand that Misha is a new father and possibly would like to spend more time with his child than be working as much as he has on the show in the past.

But that's just my thought on why he might be scaled back here.

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# Kat 2011-05-26 00:30

I think Misha will be a recurring character in S7 rather than a series regular. He was in a regular in S6 and was in fewer episodes than Jim Beaver! Plus as a recurring character, Misha will be free to take on other roles outside of SPN like Jim Beaver did with CBS's "Harper's Island."

And I don't believe Castiel is the Big Bad next season. Nope, not gonna happen. That's my stance and I'm sticking to it!

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# Michelle Mckee 2011-05-29 15:43

I LOVE CAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IF HE'S NOT ON THE SHOW ANYMORE...THAN I'M NOT WATCHING....

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# alice 2011-05-29 23:54

No one is saying he's not on the show anymore! Lord knows that was not the intent of this article. I'm just passing on information from TV Line. I personally would love for Misha to be back and in the same capacity as Jim Beaver. We'll see I guess.

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