‘Supernatural’ Taps New Co-Showrunner
EXCLUSIVE: There is a change afoot at the helm of the CW’s veteran drama series Supernatural. Sera Gamble, who has been with the show since the beginning, serving as co-showrunner alongside Robert Singer for the past two seasons, will be stepping down. Word is that she opted not to renew her contract to focus on development. Jeremy Carver, executive producer/co-showrunner of Syfy’s Being Human, is joining Supernatural as an executive producer and will co-run the series with Singer next season. The CW has not made any formal renewal decisions yet but Supernatural is one of the network’s stronger ratings performers and is fully expected to return in the fall. This marks Carver’s return to Supernatural where he served as a co-producer during the 2009-10 season before leaving to co-run with his wife Anna Fricke Syfy’s Being Human, which the two wrote together based on the British show. UTA-repped Carver will keep his executive producer credit on Being Human, which will now be run solo by Fricke, making them a rare couple of writer-producers showrunning two series at the same time. Supernatural creator Eric Kripke, who stepped down as the day-to-day showrunner after the show’s sixth season in 2010 when Gamble and Singer took over, remains an executive consultant.
I am so tired of this mythical status people give Kripke, as if all his decisions were perfect. The cracks started showing in season five before he left the series so to say that his lack of involvement is what’s ruined the show is ridiculous. With some better writing it’ll be fine and I think Carver will do a lot to steer the ship back in the right direction.
I agree with this alot of problems started under Eric but it has been easier to throw rocks at Sera .
I could not be more thrilled to have Jeremy Carver back where he belongs on Supernatural! This is fantastic news! He is the most amazingly creative writer and has given us some of the very best episodes of any TV series ever with Supernatural’s Mystery Spot, Point of No Return, AVSC, and Changing Channels. He sets the bar impossibly high and delivers! While I’ve always enjoyed all the seasons of Supernatural, this makes me even more excited for Season Eight.
I wish Sera all the best in her new pursuits, she has been an integral part of Supernatural’s success since her and Raelle first teamed up in S1 with character defining moments in DITW and Faith. Eric created Supernatural and is a huge part of its success, but it has always been a collaborative effort with the actors, directors and other writers taking his idea and expanding it into this complex examination of brothers and men.
This makes me happy, very happy, and now I’m looking forward to a run of at least ten years. There is still so much to explore with our Winchesters. Bring it!
B.J.
I’m loving season 7. It’s challenging and the story is thoroughly involving. It might not be what everyone wants, but I see that as brave storytelling.
Sera is my second favourite writer behind Ben Edlund. You only have to look at her episodes to see the beauty of her words. She conveys wonderful characterisations and as a big fan of Dean Winchester, I appreciate how she has realised him throughout her episodes.
I’m excited that Carver is back on board, he’s was also a favourite writer of mine…in fact it went, Edlund, Gamble, Carver.
I would love, however, for Sera to stay onboard and write. I will miss her voice so much if she moves on altogether.
I wish her nothing but the best in whatever she does and thank her for so many beautiful episodes, beautiful brother moments, beautiful Dean moments, tears and laughter.
I will miss you Sera.
I agree. I liked Sera Gamble. I really like all of the them. This show is so different from any other I’m not sure how people say one season is worst then the other. They are all great. I will miss Sera and wish her the best. She’s been on SPN since day one. And everyone liked seasons 1-5 so how can they not like her. Good luck Sera Gamble.
Sera Gamble is, in my opinion, a far better writer than showrunner, and I’m happy that she has decided to step down. Two decisions were made this year that have damaged the show’s emotional core (The deaths of Cass and Bobby), but the last two seasons also have brought the most ludicrous plotlines: Eve (not sufficiently developed to be compelling) and the Leviathan (who’ve gone from potentially interesting to downright silly/campy). I hope the program can now return to some semblance of drama.
I have to agree with several posters – the last couple seasons story arcs (like this season’s Leviathons) are less then stellar. I’d love to see the show go to stand alone episodes – I always find the show way more entertaining when I don’t know what the horror element/monster is going to be that week.
This is absolutely wonderful news. I loved Carver’s episodes, and was very sad to see him leave after Season 5. Good for him, he made a success of his new show. Season 6 was not good and I stopped watching the show in Season 7. With this news I am excited again about this show, I hope for a reboot of ideas and fresh new writers, I hope Dean’s character goes back to what it used to be in the first five seasons, and let’s have less plot-holes, more genuine humor, scarier MOTWs, and many of the old beloved characters senselessly dispatched from the show to be back again.
Supernatural has super high production values and is kick ass with the special effects…!! The production team is quite awesome and I’m so excited it’s going to continue!!
NOT A FAN OF SERA GAMBLE. I’m glad she’s gone. I don’t care if she is a good writer, the woman was a horrible showrunner. She’s the main reason why I hardly watch season 7. I’m not sure if Carver will do a great job, but anything is better than the crap story arcs we’ve gotten for season 6 and 7.
Supernatural may have had its bumpy moments since season 5, but has still gained new fans. The SPN fandom family alone can keep that show on the air with the ratings regardless of how awful the plot gets. Were watching for Jared and Jensen anyway!
I am so excited about Jeremy carver returning.
As many have stated, Sera Gamble writes great episodes, but her decisions as a show writer have been messy at best.
I have much hope for Carver, I hope he can fix our show.