The first teaser for the final season of The Boys is here, and it brings the long-awaited reunion of Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles. The trailer, shown at CCXP in Brazil, reveals that the fifth season will begin on April 8, 2026. Fans of the show Supernatural immediately noticed a special song choice in the teaser, a direct callback to the series where Padalecki and Ackles starred together for 15 years. The new footage sets the stage for a grim final battle, showing Homelander’s America and the desperate plan Billy Butcher has to end it all.
The Final Season’s Story and Release Schedule
The story for Season 5 picks up with Homelander firmly in control. According to the official description, Hughie, Mother’s Milk, and Frenchie are held in a “Freedom Camp,” while Annie tries to build a resistance. Kimiko is missing. Billy Butcher returns with a virus designed to eliminate all Supes, pushing the conflict toward a final, world-changing climax.
The season will consist of eight episodes. It starts with a two-episode premiere on Tuesday, April 8, 2026, on Prime Video. New episodes will be released weekly, leading to the series finale on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. The show will be available in more than 240 countries worldwide.
A Supernatural Reunion Years in the Making
The headline moment from the teaser is the on-screen reunion of Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles. Ackles is returning as the cryogenically frozen Soldier Boy. Padalecki is joining the cast in a role that has not been revealed. The brief trailer shows Padalecki’s character walking into a room, followed by Soldier Boy and Homelander, hinting at a significant connection.
Showrunner Eric Kripke, who created both Supernatural and The Boys, has been building toward this moment. He had previously hinted that getting the two actors together would “destroy much of the world” in the best way possible. This is not the first Supernatural actor to appear in The Boys, but it is the most anticipated pairing.
How the Trailer Honors Supernatural
The homage to Supernatural is woven directly into the teaser’s soundtrack. Twelve seconds into the trailer, the song “Renegade” by Styx begins to play. This is a deliberate nod by Eric Kripke. The same song was famously used in the twelfth episode of Supernatural Season 2, titled “Nightshifter”. For fans, the music is an instant signal that Kripke is honoring his previous series.
This is just the latest in a long line of connections between the two shows. Kripke has filled The Boys with actors, characters, and subtle references from Supernatural for years, creating a rich tapestry of Easter eggs for dedicated fans.
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The History of Supernatural in The Boys
The connection between the two series runs deep because of Eric Kripke. Before The Boys, he created and ran Supernatural for its first five seasons. When he moved to the superhero satire, he brought along many collaborators and began peppering the show with references.
Jim Beaver, who played the beloved father figure Bobby Singer on Supernatural, appears in The Boys as Defense Secretary and later President Robert A. Singer—a character named after Supernatural‘s real-life producer. The show even mentions that its Robert Singer is from Sioux Falls, Bobby’s hometown in Supernatural.
Jensen Ackles joined the cast in Season 3 as Soldier Boy, becoming a major player. Other Supernatural actors have appeared, including Jeffrey Dean Morgan (John Winchester), Nathan Mitchell (an angel), and Christian Keyes (the archangel Michael).
Famous Supernatural Easter Eggs in Past Seasons
Fans have enjoyed spotting these hidden nods over the years. One of the most celebrated is the recreation of Supernatural‘s iconic “trunk shot.” In The Boys Season 3, a scene shows Butcher, Hughie, and Soldier Boy getting weapons from a car trunk, filmed in the exact same style as the Winchester brothers.
Dean Winchester’s black 1967 Chevrolet Impala, known as “Baby,” made a brief cameo. In a viral meme video within The Boys universe, the Impala is shown running over the villain Stormfront. In another scene, a scientist’s log notes an experiment date of January 24, which is Dean Winchester’s birthday in Supernatural lore.
The song “I Can’t Fight This Feeling Anymore” by REO Speedwagon, a staple of Dean’s driving playlists, also played in a The Boys scene featuring Soldier Boy.
What Fans Are Saying About the Reunion
The reunion has generated significant excitement, especially among long-time Supernatural fans. On social media, reactions to the teaser have focused heavily on seeing Padalecki and Ackles share the screen again in a new, dark context. The use of “Renegade” has been particularly praised as a perfect, nostalgic touch that honors the history of both shows and their creator.
The sentiment is that Eric Kripke is giving a special gift to fans who have followed his work from hunting demons to battling corrupt superheroes. As one fan pointed out, the crossover feels natural because many of the directors and crew from Supernatural also work on The Boys, creating a comfortable creative family.
The Full Cast Returning for the End
The final season brings back the entire main team for one last fight. Returning stars include:
- Karl Urban as Billy Butcher
- Jack Quaid as Hughie Campbell
- Antony Starr as Homelander
- Erin Moriarty as Annie January/Starlight
- Jessie T. Usher as A-Train
- Laz Alonso as Mother’s Milk
- Chace Crawford as The Deep
- Tomer Capone as Frenchie
- Karen Fukuhara as Kimiko
- Jensen Ackles as Soldier Boy
New faces joining for Season 5 include Daveed Diggs and Supernatural alum Misha Collins, whose role is also undisclosed.
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