Thank This Star Wars Character For Convincing Jensen Ackles to Take Dean Winchester Role

If there's one thing that unites everyone, whether they work in the entertainment industry or are just consumers of what the industry creates, it's a love for fictional storytelling. The universes created by talented writers, whether they're written or adapted for the screen, can often motivate, inspire, or teach us some lessons that would otherwise go unnoticed.

This motivation and inspiration is usually behind the creation of other, newer stories, which in turn can inspire something else. Like everything else in life, art lives in circles and is enriched by going back and studying the original form.

It wouldn't be surprising to learn that the beloved Supernatural universe was heavily influenced by Star Wars. After all, series creator Eric Kripke has never tried to hide it. Not only was it influenced in the writing aspect, but in a way, the show came together in terms of casting choices.

If it wasn't for the brave and determined, yet very funny Han Solo, we might not have gotten Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester. And without him, Supernatural wouldn't be the same.

As it turns out, the actor originally read for Sam Winchester. He was the first to join the production and was ready to step into the role until Jared Padalecki stepped in and the producers saw a much better prospect in switching them around. Sam Winchester was Luke Skywalker to Dean's Han Solo, and Padalecki just fit the archetype much better.

According to IMDb, this is how Jensen Ackles was convinced to take on the role of Dean. When the similarities between the two characters became crystal clear, the actor made the switch in no time. Years later, he paid tribute to both of Harrison Ford 's iconic adventurers on the Inside Of You podcast:

“I love the character [of Dean]. Because the two characters, this is no secret, were written very much like a Luke Skywalker and a Han Solo. Indiana Jones, Han Solo, those were the characters, even though they’re both played by the same actor, those were the kind of characters I just dreamed of playing,” the actor shared.

This is a great fortune for both Jensen Ackles as an actor, and for us as Supernatural viewers and fans, to have 15 seasons of the Winchester brothers' adventures digitally preserved forever.

If you are feeling nostalgic and ready to take a trip down memory lane, re-watch your favorite moments from the show, or just start from the beginning, you can stream it on Netflix.

Sources: IMDb, Inside Of You