Okay, um, what?

[feliciakw]

Hey, gang. So apparently at the recent con in Germany, Misha said that the Js have signed on for S7. To which I'm all "bzuh?"

Then I got to thinking, in my only-vaguely-aware-of-how-the-entertainment-industry-works way, that if the Js were going to negotiate new contracts, that might have started already. And that if that's the case, and there actually is a contract to sign, they might have signed, pending the performance of S6. Because as far as actually talking about renewing for S7, they haven't even started shooting S6 yet. I'm not even sure the writers have gone back to work writing S6 yet. So, yeah, way premature.

And Misha is hardly an "official" source on such things (minion army notwithstanding).

Anyway, I heard that and was kinda "Wha . . . Huh?" Anyone have any useful insight?

Bueller? Bueller?

Comments

[kimmer1227.livejournal.com]

I can see them negotiating early. I imagine a nice raise was involved. They may have gotten a little something something for S6 that involved signing on for S7. You never know. Maybe we'll hear something official.

[ficwriter1966.livejournal.com]

Maybe he meant S6? Who knows.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

If I understand the provenance of the rumor correctly, it's the tweet and re-tweet of something Misha apparently said in a coffee lounge meet-and-greet. There are so many factors that could make this sound like something that it's not quite. If something got lost in translation, and negotiate to sign was misunderstood as actually having signed. Or if Jensen and Jared were talking about possibly signing . . . or any other number of variation on the rumor.

So, yeah. Big ol' wait and see going on from where I'm sitting.

It just puzzled me when I read it.

[mtee.livejournal.com]

I can also see them negotiating ahead of time. I hate when actors are still in negotiations and the new season has been approved... then you worry that you'll get a new season without your favorite actor/character.

[ann-tara.livejournal.com]

Given that the information is coming from Misha, who tends to pull legs and give half-truths, if not outright bogus information just to screw with people, I'd take all this with a large grain of salt. ;)

Sure, I guess they could be starting contract negotiations now just in case, though it's highly unlikely they'd have signed anything yet during hiatus, especially with no renewal looming. Normally contract negotiations for the next year start no earlier than the time the actors go back to the set.

New contracts for the Js would entail big raises, which means the CW has to be sure the series is viable enough to support the higher salary budget.

But what makes me tend to dismiss this is the fact that in two different articles about the upcoming sixth season that came out after the season finale, Jared specifically was quote as all but drawing a line in the sand about not wanting to do anything after a sixth season. I'm not convinced he wants to be there for the sixth season, much less anything after that.

Jensen is more positive about the sixth season, but even he knows that he's passing up a lot of other opportunities being tied to this show. I really feel they both want to move on, but who knows. Anything is possible. But with the CW coming right out and announcing that Smallville is ending with this final tenth season, and them pairing up Supernatural with SV on Fridays again for 2010/11, I still tend to feel like they'll end them both at the same time - unless they're thinking SPN will take over for SV to pull in another newer series to begin airing on Friday nights in 2011/12.

I just doubt they've signed anything yet.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

See, everything you're saying makes sense. (And, hey, if you have links to the articles you mentioned, I'd be interested.)

And if they are starting negotiations, it's got to be a "just in case" scenario. Because there's no freakin' way they can tell right now whether there will be a S7 or not.

And I can think of some things the guys might put in a new contract (not just pay increases) that might allow more flexibility later on. But that's just speculation on my part.

I just . . . it all seems really vague and nebulous and apparently originated with a tweet that was a "Misha said" type of thing. So that right there? Tweet and re-tweet of something Misha said, possibly in a coffee lounge/meet-and-greet? By someone who quite possibly does not speak English as a first language (hence added room for misinterpretation)? I'm so not taking this at face value.

This is, I think, the first recorded "rumor" of the hiatus.

As a personal aside, one thing that kinda bothers me is when people start in on "Maybe Jensen will give up acting for directing!" Which has somehow become part of the conversation. To which I really want to say, "Have you never heard of Clint Eastwood? Or George Clooney?" Both started out as TV actors. Both went into directing. Both still act. Get a grip people! [/digression]

Jensen does seem to be excited for the new season. I hope it's because he'll have new opportunities within the context of the show (directing an episode, new emotional arcs and stories for Dean, new dynamics with new characters, etc.).

Thanks for the insight. :-)

[ann-tara.livejournal.com]

(And, hey, if you have links to the articles you mentioned, I'd be interested.)

I looked to see if I still had those google alerts in my deleted box, because I'd already cleaned it out. Honestly, it was a very generic S6 no spoiler kind of article that was making the rounds for a few days, very short, but in two different places Jared was quoted both times saying he wasn't doing anything past S6 unless the show was still "compelling" in one, and in another not doing S6 unless the ratings base increased (which is an odd statement as he knows the reality of the CW, so that was a really definitive comment since he knows full well the ratings are unlikely to skyrocket or anything, especially in a sixth season).

"Maybe Jensen will give up acting for directing!"

Which I agree is a stupid statement to make considering he'd only be directing one episode, his first one, and until he has quite a lot of directing under his belt, he's unlikely to be able to give up the acting to make enough money just in direction. Plus, he's still young and beautiful and enjoys acting too much right now. He's still got some years ahead of him before he gives it up for good.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

Ah. Okay. I've heard mumblings of the ratings comment, but I didn't know where it originated. That sounds like it could be a contractual clause, yes? Like an opt out clause?

Re: Jensen . . . he's still young and beautiful and enjoys acting too much right now.

My points exactly! And since he just gets better looking with age, and I anticipate that he will continue to grow as an actor, I really can't see him giving up acting completely, even later down the line.

I've said it several times in recent weeks: As long as he's still happy working, and I'm still happy watching, it's all good. :-)