Ben Edlund is Leaving Supernatural; His Brilliance Goes To Revolution
This comes from our very own sweetondean, who is at the All Hell Breaks Loose convention this weekend in Australia. During his panel, Misha Collins, a confirmed regular for “Supernatural” season nine, dropped the bombshell. Ben Edlund, writer extraordinare and brilliant architect of “Supernatural” since season two, will not return in season nine. Instead, he’s going to “Revolution,” Eric Kripke’s new show for NBC.
“Revolution,” while having a very good first season ratings wise, has not really taken off creatively as NBC and Warner Brothers had hoped. Ratings have significially dipped in its second half and there’s plenty of concern out there with the creative direction. The move from Mondays at 10pm to Wednesdays at 8pm was not considered a vote of confidence from the network. The main weaknesses seem to be in the writing, which is why it was previously announced that Rockne S. O’Bannon (“Farscape,” “Cult”) and Trey Callaway (“CSI: NY”) would be joining the show in season two. O’Bannon especially was given producing responsibilities, being named number two to Kripke.
Ben Edlund was a known confidant to Eric Kripke during his tenure at “Supernatural” and Kripke has called him the best TV writer he knows. We wish Ben luck, because those of us who have suffered through all the horrible writing inconsistencies with “Revolution” this season know he’ll need it. At the same time, season two of a show has never looked so promising now.
Updated: Not only did Jim Michaels confirm that Edlund was leaving, he shared the news that Eric Charmelo and Nicole Synder would be returning to the show. If you recall, they were writers in season six, writing such barn burners as “You Can’t Handle The Truth,” “My Heart Will Go On,” and the most epic, “Mannequin 3: The Reckoning.” (Please tell me you’re seeing the sarcasm in that sentence). They left to create and run The CW show “Ringer,” which lasted one very low rated season.
Here’s a few relevant tweets:
@TheJim Michaels – I will confirm that Ben has left us very amicably & will be missed but we do have Eric Charmelo & Nicole Snyder back with us!!!
@winfambusiness (in reply) – @TheJimMichaels No offense, but that’s hardly an even swap! 🙂 Nah, at least you’re getting experienced writers back. Thanks for sharing.
I am trying to remain somewhat optimistic about next season, but this is sad news. After some uneven writing these past few years, we now lose another writer we could count on to deliver a great story and who knows our boys so well. His brilliance and quirkiness will be missed! 🙁
Is crushed, but I wish him the best. Revolution is struggling in the writing department, no doubt about that (not that SPN isn’t) and it definitely looks like NBC is trying their best to bring back the ratings after the midseason “course correct” but did we have to lose Edlund? He’s gonna be sorely missed. I heard Jenny Klein is promoted to the writing team, will there be any other additions?
Leah, I with you. This is awful news for SPN. I love BE. I am really going to miss him. I am worried too. 🙁
PS – I don’t even like Revolution. Sorry, EK! Grrrrrrr.
I thought it would be great and couldn’t make it through the first episode. Drat!
Revolution lost me after the first couple of episodes. Just not what I was expecting from Kripke.
If anyone can save a show for its followers, it’s Ben Edlund, and I wish him and Revolution the best of success.
Unfortunately, that makes me very, very worried for Supernatural Season 9, and I’m back to anxiously waiting for the first few interviews. I need to hear what direction they’ll be taking the show before I decide if this season will be worth risking my heart on again. Another bizarre twist on the order of the “Sam didn’t look” scenario, and I’ll be gone.
This sucks. I know it is just a job to them; but I just don’t get how you leave a show before it is over. Especially if it is one you actually LIKE!! It is like running a race; but stopping before you get to the finish line.
I guess I just don’t get TV stuff. I mean the network doesn’t care about a show because it is in it’s 9th season; but it seems to me that that would be the reason to care MORE about a show. Obviously it is a big hit for them. A great thing to have that much staying power. That they would push more for it, than less. The networks don’t give much to new shows until they prove themselves. Then, they give up on older shows. What the Hell do they want?
Well, good for Revolution; but REALLY sucks for Supernatural
Jim Michaels has just announced on twitter that Nicole Snyder and Eric Charmelo are back writing for SPN….they wrote S6 ‘You Can’t Handle the Truth’, ‘Mannequin 3 – The Reckoning’ & ‘My Heart will Go On’.
Dear jesus somebody hold me….does he think this is good news??
Wasn’t too worried when I heard Ben Edlund was leaving, but trying to fill the gap with writers like this?!?!?!! This makes me worried 🙁
They were also working under Gamble and not Carver so hopefully it’ll be better this time around!
[quote]They were also working under Gamble and not Carver so hopefully it’ll be better this time around![/quote]
Good point! However they also wrote Ringer which I really tried to like because of Sarah Michelle Gellar but was just really poorly written.
Of those the only one that I really hated was Mannequin 3. The others were okay. So I’ll give them a shot.
That’s very sad news for SPN but good news for Revolution. He’s been with SPN forever so don’t blame him for wanting to try something new but he will be sorely missed! His episodes are my favorite and he has such a good feel for Sam, Dean and Cas!
Revolution lost me after it came back from the break. I’ve only seen one episode since it’s return, so this makes me sad. I will miss Ben Edlund and is awesome writing, and although I don’t think he can be replaced by anyone I will choose to stay optimistic after S8. I trust Carver and believe that whoever writes under him will be different than when they wrote under Gamble.
Take care,
Jane
Oh wow, this is a total bummer…. I am really concerned now for the last two seasons of the show writings wise. Who’s going to fill the vacuum BE leaves behind? Can anyone?
Noo! I am so sad. Excuse me while I crawl under a rock and cry.
this cant be happening..nah i’m still in denial mode..i’m sure there’s a ‘gotcha’ somewhere 😥
Can’t Mr Edlund see that Revolution is just not his thing?! Absolutely not in his style which is eccentric, surprising, beautifully bizarre. How can it be applied to Revolution with its linear story arc, its one-dimentional characters, its predictability? Obviously, they need new ideas, or any ideas at all. Then Mr Edlund is their man. If there is someone who can work wonders that’s him. For us, though, it’s a loss.
You make a great point Novi. Maybe we can convince Ben to stay with SPN where his wackiness is better served! 😉
[quote]@TheJim Michaels – I will confirm that Ben has left us very amicably & will be missed but we do have Eric Charmelo & Nicole Snyder back with us!!!
@winfambusiness (in reply) – @TheJimMichaels No offense, but that’s hardly an even swap! 🙂 Nah, at least you’re getting experienced writers back. Thanks for sharing.[/quote]
Hardly an even swap indeed. 😥
I read the Ben Edlund news with my morning coffee – not a good way to start the weekend. I’m happy for BE (writers love new challenges) but his absence will most definitely be felt.
I know the SPN writers are already back at work; I hope the first order of business was a homework assignment from Jeremy Carver: Rewatch Seasons 1-8 to refamiliarize yourselves with characterization and canon. 😉
This news doesn’t surprise me, as BE lost interest in SPN; and particularly in the Winchester characters, a couple or three seasons ago, but Edlund is a brilliant writer and I always liked his episodes.
Most definitely, I was hoping Carver would clean house on his writing stable and get some better writers on the show for S9. Personally, I consider Buckner/Ross-Lemming, kid-obsessed Adam Glass, newly elevated writer’s assistant Jenny Klein, Charlie worshipping Thompson, and Charmelo/Synder a very weak writing stable that doesn’t bode well for SPN.
I was already incredibly disappointed in the show, and this news bums me out. The writing may not get any worse, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to get any better either.
Ginger – that surprised me. How did you know Edlund lost interest in Supernatural? Did he say that in an interview that I missed?
I dont see Revolution having a long life anyway. Can SPN
fans donate money so we can just get a writer ourselfs. I would gladly pitch in. 8)
Hey, I got a great idea. How about we get Cathryn Humphries, Julie Siege and (please don’t throw anything at your computer screens) Sera Gamble back on the writing team. They wrote some of the best episodes, IMO anyway. I know they are working on other shows, but who cares? We need better than Charmelo/Snyder to write for the Winchesters.
I’m with you Sylvie. They wrote some wonderful episodes!
Sylvie,
I’m so glad you wrote your post!
I, too, was thinking that Sera was a great writer for the show. Maybe she was not a great show runner, but she wrote some really strong episodes.
Could we get her back?!
Thanks again for writing.
Hi Sylvie I am also glad to see you suggest some female writers. While it is great to see someone putting forward the idea of having Sera Gamble back to write I think it is so sad that you should be afraid that people would be angry at you for suggesting it.
This is not the best place for my response but the issue of Sera Gamble’s unlamented departure has bothered me for a while (pretty much since the report of a new showrunner came about). So I have posted what I think on a let’s discuss thread where it is less intrusive than here. Link –> [url]https://www.thewinchesterfamilybusiness.com/lets-discuss/17750-lets-discuss-supernatural-and-meeting-fan-expectations.html[/url]
Just wanted to get it off my chest 😀
Hi Sylvie, I join the others in agreement with you. These were some of the best! Unfortunately that is probably why they get cherry picked and lured away. I don’t think Sera will be back. I wouldn’t come back under the circumstances. It would be incredible if any of those talented ladies did return however!! 🙂
Awe. I has a sad. I’m going to miss Ben’s episodes.
Trying not to be bitter about Kripke. He just seems to keep stripping Supernatural of all its gems in order to use them on Revolution. He has done that with directors too. I tried to like Revolution, watched long after I had stopped liking it in hopes it would get better, but they lost me when they killed off Danny. Stopped watching after that. Done with that show.
Guess I am happy for Ben Edlund, since I am a fan, but I have trouble seeing his brilliance fitting in the cookie cutter space of that show.
So much for my not being bitter, huh? OK – here is my best shot at that:
The season 8 finale was amazing, I am really hopeful for season 9, and here is hoping this writing team does a great job. I would like to see Carver write more episodes in season 9 than he did in 8. Looking at the 8 finale, that may help too. They have a fabulous cast and crew, the season ended with a lot of opportunity to go in great directions, and I have a lot of hope for the writing team in season 9. Let’s support the Supernatural team!
NOOOOOOOO! That’s my reaction to both Ben Edlund leaving AND Eric Charmelo & Nicole Snyder coming back, I can’t stand anything they’ve written. As for BE going to Revolution, I hope he can help the show out. I like it, but I don’t love it as much as I was hoping I would. Man, bummer news for a Monday morning. 🙁
Next day and I’m adding an edit to what I said. I’ve been thinking about this since yesterday and I’m really bummed out about it, way more than I first thought I would be. I feel like Eric Kripke is cannibalising his firstborn, am I being too harsh? Two really good directors are already gone (Phil Sgriccia and Charles Beeson) and now Ben Edlund, here’s hoping he won’t pilfer Guy Bee! And I’m sorry, but [i]Revolution[/i] ain’t that good. But I guess now that he has one of the best writers on tv it might get better. I hope so for his sake.
Whoa. Those Charmelo and Synder episodes are some of my least favorite. I think it’s better bring in new talent, how about some of the Doctor Who writers, they always bring originality to scifi/supernatural subjects.
Wow. I actually loved all 3 of those episodes. I feel so alone.
Not completely. Mannequin 3 isn’t my favorite, but it’s certainly not on my worst list. I liked YCHTT and MYWGO. Maybe not in my top 10, but I really enjoyed them. Heck I LOVED Fate in MYWGO and Veritas in YCHTT. I’m not unhappy with them coming back.
I feel psychic. When Ringer failed, I advised blocking the door to deny those two entrance back into the SPN writers’ room. In losing Edlund and getting that duo, we’ve traded a Lamborghini for a tricycle. Edlund is the best, but I can’t think what his strength will bring to Revolution. None of the characters has a sense of humor. And if they are expecting the actors to handle the more difficult task of comedy, I think they will be disappointed.
I don’t know, there’s some humor in Revolution it’s just less that they’re trying to go for an obvious joke. Besides, Edlund wrote On The Head of Pin, The End and The Man Who Would be King which, while there was some humor, were some pretty serious episodes so I’m sure he’ll be fine there. Wish he wasn’t leaving SPN because he gets the boys and Cas so well but Robbie Thompson’s episodes have been pretty funny as well as emotional (Goodbye, Stanger) so he’ll hopefully fill that void for the most part.
Well, this is horrible news. 🙁
However, I will go on record to say that I liked “You Can’t Handle the Truth” and “My Heart Will Go On” – have re-watched both episodes (especially the latter) multiple times.
All I can hope is that Supernatural makes it through one more year cause then their is a chance for Ben’s return. Cause quite frankly the premise of Revolution is so bad it deserves to crash and burn
Since I read this, I’ve been trying to think of something to write that captures how much Edlund’s writing has meant to me and how devastating I find this announcement, without being completely, soulsuckingly maudlin- I failed.
I have repeatedly stated how much I adore his writing and how fangirl him almost as much as the J’s and he has almost never let me down. (I would say never, but I didn’t even like his take on Amelia, although it was better than anyone else’s-I hate to blame the actress but I don’t think she was a good choice). Several of Carver’s are my all time favorites, but I don’t think he has that same crazy, obsessive sensibility towards things that Edlund and Kripke had. And that is one of the things I always loved about the show. I don’t think Gamble had it either but I think she tried-her mind just didn’t seem to run in the same tangents of thoughts that Edlund and Kripke’s did. Nor does Carver’s I think. And from reading comments from over the years I’d say Carver and Gamble are in the majority.
But it is what makes the loss of Edlund heartbreaking for me. I just saw him as someone who strangely enough kept the show grounded by always keeping the story linked to the boys but because of his sheer brilliance was able to push the boundaries further and further without derailing the show.
I look at the list of the shows he’s done and can’t imagine anyone else being able to make a perverted, manic depressive teddy bear actual work. Or do a send up to X-Files so perfectly and then top it by making it about fairies or have them go into a alternate universe were they are J and J. None of that should have worked, but not only did it work he should have won an Emmy if there was any justice in the world. Even the episodes where he didn’t necessarily break new ground the execution was amazing. I adore The End and tMWWBK and AAH is brilliant, if heartbreaking, as was OtHoaP which was also game changing for the characters. That episode revealed so much that had been hinted at all season 4 and it made me squeal with excitement over the story even as I fretted over what was happening to Sam and cried for what Dean had to go through. (For me, this type episode was what was missing this year. When I watched OtHoaP, all the pain and misunderstanding up to that point felt worth it. It all made sense. I understood, even if I didn’t approve of where Sam was coming from and why Dean felt he was weak and unworthy, even if I didn’t agree. I’m don’t really feel that way about the characters this year.)
He could always push the storylines forward while just having these incredible small moments that said so much about the characters in just a line or two. Hello Cruel World, The End, The Great Escapist and so many others all have these character and relationship defining scenes that make me live in awe of his writing.
So for me this loss feels just as bad as losing Kripke, perhaps even worse because when Kripke left we still had Edlund.
BUT I do wish him well, (okay admittedly a small part of me wants Revolution to get cancelled mid-season so he comes back to us-but I know that is the mean-spirited-bitch part) and I am very grateful he stayed on the show as long as he did. Many writers would have left for bigger opportunities the first chance they got (and I sure he could have rustled up a few-he worked with Whedon who seems to be very loyal and has a lot of capitol right now) , but he not only stuck around, he continued to give us some of the best episodes of series.
So thank you, Ben Edlund, for giving me some of my favorite happy places on bad days and now that your gone I’m afraid I’m going to need them even more often.