The Boys Season 5 to include a Castiel and Dean Supernatural reference, explained in depth by the actors

The Boys has never been afraid of pushing boundaries. It plays with violence, satire, and nostalgia in ways that feel unpredictable but always intentional. For a show built on chaos and parody, subtlety is not usually the headline. And yet, something is coming in season 5 that feels oddly quiet, like a whisper pulled from the past.

There’s talk of a moment, short, maybe even unspoken, that brings Castiel and Dean back into the picture. Not as a crossover, not as an official event. Just a brief reflection, tucked inside a new story. And somehow, that might be enough. It’s the kind of thing that barely registers at first. But once it does, it stays. Keeps echoing in the background of everything else that’s happening. Which is saying a lot, considering how much The Boys usually throws at the screen.

A scene that isn’t obvious but still says everything

In a recent interview, Misha Collins mentioned that while filming with Jensen Ackles, something unexpected happened. The two slipped into a familiar rhythm. The energy shifted. Without meaning to, they ended up acting in a way that strongly echoed their old Supernatural dynamic.

There were no lines referencing Castiel or Dean. No names, no callbacks in the script. Still, the tone, the looks, and the pauses carried something else. Something that felt like it belonged to another time. Collins described it as filming in character, but not the characters from The Boys. It was instinctive. A kind of muscle memory.

In the words of Collins, during the TV Insider interview:

“You know, we did on 'The Boys' end up doing a take in character as Cass and Dean”

and

“And that, that's probably the one they're going to use.”

Familiar faces, different world

Jensen Ackles, Misha Collins, and Jared Padalecki recently reunited in a short video celebrating twenty years of Supernatural. The full interview is available on YouTube and shows three actors revisiting shared history. They joke, remember specific moments, and talk about what that story meant over time.

The same trio is now part of The Boys universe, and that alone changes the atmosphere. Even without shared scenes, the presence of these three names sparks recognition. There's also the Impala, the iconic car from Supernatural, making an appearance in the show. A visual hint layered into a world that doesn’t usually stop for sentiment.

That kind of detail could seem like a simple nod, but the context makes it more than that. It’s layered, deliberate, and oddly restrained, given the tone of the show. Which is probably why it works so well. The reference isn’t flashy. It doesn’t need to be.

A reference built from silence inside The Boys

This is not a direct homage. It’s not loud or promotional. It’s more like an internal nod to something that mattered. Still matters, in fact. The scene isn’t essential to The Boys as a story, but for viewers who followed Supernatural closely, the subtext is clear.

The show has always played with layers. It mixes irony with sincerity and mocks and honors pop culture at the same time. Including this type of gesture fits the tone perfectly. It’s sharp without being obvious. That’s part of why it works.

A brief reunion with lasting effect

Bringing back pieces of a previous connection can be risky, especially inside a universe as sharp-edged as The Boys. But it doesn’t feel forced. The actors know what they’re doing. They understand how much weight a small interaction can carry when it’s charged with history.

What’s more interesting is how The Boys allows these moments to exist without explanation. The audience fills in the blanks. Fans who remember Castiel and Dean, their rhythm, their tension, and their quiet understanding, will recognize the signals.

Moments like this don’t usually make it into promotional clips. They’re subtle. Quiet. But they mean something. And the meaning lingers.

Release timeline and early expectations

Season 5 is still in development with a release window set for 2026. It’s a long wait, but not unusual considering the size and structure of the series. Bringing together actors like Jared, Misha, and Jensen adds another layer of complexity to scheduling.

Early interviews suggest this may be one of the most ambitious seasons yet. Between expanding character arcs and introducing legacy actors from other fan-favorite shows, there’s room for both chaos and small emotional touches.

The writing team has consistently used pop culture callbacks in creative, sometimes twisted ways. But this time, there’s something gentler at work. Almost respectful. That’s new for The Boys, and it may hint at a season with more emotional weight than expected.

A quiet choice with strong meaning

The scene in question might last under a minute. It may not be part of the promotional material. But for the audience who knows what to look for, it’s enough. This isn’t about reviving old stories in full. It’s about showing that those stories still echo, even inside something as loud and wild as The Boys.

Not every reference needs volume. Some only need timing and the right people to bring them back into the light. Season 5 seems to understand that well.