When rumors surfaced that Supernatural actor Jared Padalecki was set to join the cast of The Boys for its fifth and final season, fans were understandably excited. With his former co-star Jensen Ackles already part of the show, the prospect of a reunion only added to the hype. In a recent interview, Padalecki finally revealed who he is going to play in the series, and creator Eric Kripke was completely fine with the reveal.
Padalecki’s role in the show will be meaty, says Kripke
During an April FACTS convention panel in Belgium, Padalecki revealed that he is going to play Mister Marathon, the predecessor to A-Train, as The Seven’s resident speedster. The Boys showrunner Kripke is completely fine with Padalecki’s decision to reveal his character for the show in front of a live audience, as it builds hype for the upcoming episode. The show has just released its fourth episode, with the fifth episode set to drop on April 29, 2026.
“My reaction is, it’s totally fine,” Kripke said to Entertainment Weekly, adding, “We’re close enough to the episode. It increases excitement for the episode. Enough people online were talking about it that I’m sure he saw it, and he was like, ‘Oh okay! It must be out.'”
Kripke noted that he didn’t want a small guest spot for the actor, but instead wanted him to play a meaty role that has an impact on the plot of the series. It was a long-term plan in the making, with Kripke wanting the Supernatural actor on the show for years, but scheduling conflicts got in the way. Padalecki was working on Walker, and when it ended, the window of opportunity opened up, which the showrunner took advantage of.
“I’ve wanted to get him on the show for years, but he was busy shooting Walker, and so our schedules never lined up,” the show’s creator said.
“I knew that Walker was ending, and so he would have a window that he could shoot. It was more like I walked into this season saying, ‘I want more than a cameo for Jared. I want a meaty, fun role that really turns the story,'” he further added.
The idea for his character came from the writers’ room, with Kripke specifically crediting Judalina Neira for its conception. He was immediately on board with it, as Mister Marathon seamlessly fits into the show’s mythology, with the character written in a way that makes it feel like it has always existed within the in-universe history.
He described Padalecki’s persona in the show as a “sleazy” and “c—using scumbag,” which is a far cry from his personality in real life. Are you excited to watch Jared Padalecki in the final season of The Boys? Let us know in the comments section below.
