For 15 years and 327 episodes, CW’s Supernatural established itself as the longest continuously running genre series of the century.  It’s the kind of series, like The X-Files, anyone can drop in on without getting lost in some ongoing story arc.  It’s no wonder that no movie mega-star gets as enormous a crowd at San Diego Comic-Con as when stars Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki enter the building.  With that kind of start, and a retro spin like the successful series Stranger Things, its coming prequel The Winchesters has the potential of doing well, and the full trailer for the series looks like it may have what it takes to stick around awhile, with a great vintage vibe and Scooby Doo look.

Going back to Lawrence, Kansas, in 1972, the series will follow Sam and Dean’s parents, revealing how they met and how they got into the supernatural investigation gig that their sons would one day champion.  Meg Donnelly (American Housewife) plays future mom Mary Campbell opposite future dad John Winchester, played by Drake Rodger (Not Alone). 

Of course Mary and John weren’t around much for their sons when they were young, so the new series won’t have the restrictions that burden other prequels.  Samantha Smith originally played Mary in the first season of Supernatural, with Jeffrey Dean Morgan as John.  It’s too late to call spoilers, but both died–and were brought back–in the series, providing more material for the prequel to telegraph.

Nida Khurshid plays another hunter, named Latika, with Bianca Kajilich as John’s mom, along with Jojo Fleits, Demetria McKinney, and Michael Tacconi.

Check it out for yourself.  Here’s the trailer for The Winchesters:

Darker than Riverdale, but not as dark as Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and looking a lot like Charmed–this will be familiar territory for CW viewers.  The Winchesters premieres Tuesday, October 11.  Stream next day free only on the CW Network.

C.J. Bunce / Editor / borg