Jared Padalecki Joins The Boys Season 5: Exactly When He Arrives and What It Means
With only four episodes left, The Boys Season 5 is revving up Jared Padalecki’s debut as Mister Marathon — and with Misha Collins joining the fray, a Supernatural reunion with Jensen Ackles’ Soldier Boy is poised to blast open the final season’s endgame.
We finally know when Jared Padalecki sprints into The Boys, and yes, the Supernatural reunion is real. Padalecki and Misha Collins are clocking in just as Season 5 hits its midpoint, and they are not here to be charming. Think the opposite of Sam and Castiel, then sprinkle in some Vought-brand ego.
The essentials
- When: Season 5, Episode 5 drops April 29 on Prime Video.
- Who: Jared Padalecki is playing Mister Marathon; Misha Collins is an as-yet-unnamed supe; Jensen Ackles is back as Soldier Boy.
- How much: Both Padalecki and Collins are listed as guest stars, so expect a one-episode hit-and-run.
- Vibe check: All three are, to put it politely, awful people. Kripke said it out loud (more on that below).
- Trailer teases: Soldier Boy is seen choking Collins' mystery supe while Mister Marathon gets tangled up in the chaos.
- Plot lane: Soldier Boy and Homelander are likely hunting Bombsight next, and Padalecki/Collins may know where that V1-era supe is hiding.
- Comics angle: In the source material, Mister Marathon is a speedster who gets replaced by A-Train after Homelander gets him killed on a mission. The show will almost certainly remix that, but count on the super-speed staying intact.
- Big picture: The Boys is burning through its final-season episodes with four left to go, and we still have zero clarity on when Gen V crossovers land or how (or if ) Homelander gets taken down.
So when do Padalecki and Collins actually show up?
Showrunner Eric Kripke confirmed to Entertainment Weekly that both actors make their entrance in Season 5, Episode 5. It is a neat way to mark the midpoint of the final season and drop a reunion with Jensen Ackles right when the story is tightening the screws.
"What I love about what they're doing is they're just such douchebags. It's great. I mean, Soldier Boy is no treat either, but they're just really not morally upstanding dudes. It's a blast to watch them play that. It was just so much fun."
What to expect from Mister Marathon
On the page, Mister Marathon is the guy A-Train replaces after Homelander gets him killed. On the show, that exact storyline probably will not repeat beat for beat, but the essence tracks: he runs fast, and he is very much at the mercy of bigger egos making worse decisions. Given where Season 5 is headed, do not be shocked if Homelander's brand of leadership puts Mister Marathon in harm's way.
Why this cameo matters (beyond nostalgia)
Yes, the reunion factor is fun, but the real hook is watching Padalecki and Collins lean into characters who are intentionally grating. The trailer already frames them and Soldier Boy as combustible, and if Bombsight is the next stop, Episode 5 could be where this final season starts lining up its endgame pieces.
Short version: if you have been waiting for Padalecki to finally crash The Boys party, set your watch for April 29. Expect speed, swagger, and zero moral compasses.