Jared Padalecki’s The Boys Role Confirmed — Meet the Replacement for Season 5’s Fallen Hero
Jared Padalecki is officially joining The Boys in season 5, with his role now confirmed for the series’ final run — setting up the Supernatural reunion fans have craved since Jensen Ackles stormed in as Soldier Boy.
Jared Padalecki finally said the quiet part out loud: he is playing Mister Marathon in The Boys season 5. If you have been waiting for a Supernatural reunion ever since Jensen Ackles walked in as Soldier Boy, congratulations — you are getting Padalecki too, plus Misha Collins for good measure, all in the show’s final run.
How it got confirmed
Padalecki’s role has been a not-so-secret secret for a while, but he officially locked it in at the FACTS Convention in Belgium. During a fan Q&A — a clip of which made its way to TikTok — he confirmed he is the speedster fans have been guessing about: Mister Marathon.
So, who is Mister Marathon on the show?
He has been a background name-drop up to now — referenced by both A-Train and Lamplighter in earlier seasons — as a former member of the Seven and the guy who held the speedster slot before A-Train. With A-Train dead in the season 5 premiere, the lane is wide open for his predecessor to finally show up.
What the series is doing with him
Showrunner Eric Kripke has already said Padalecki turns up in episode 5, the same hour Misha Collins debuts in his own mystery role. Kripke also offered this tasteful character description:
"douchebags"
Which, yes, feels right for this universe and tracks with the few unflattering hints we have heard about Mister Marathon.
In the comics, Mister Marathon appears briefly and then dies almost immediately. The show seems to be drifting away from that exact fate already, but temper expectations. Given the late arrival and how minor the character is on the page, this smells more like a sharpened cameo or short arc than a major season pivot.
Where he could fit
Details are being kept close. You can imagine a few routes: Soldier Boy or Billy Butcher could try to weaponize a former Seven speedster against Homelander, or Homelander could recruit him to bulk up his own super-squad. Allegiances are completely TBD.
The reunion factor
This is also a very winky moment for Supernatural fans: Jensen Ackles as Soldier Boy, Jared Padalecki as Mister Marathon, and Misha Collins sliding in too — all under Eric Kripke, who created Supernatural. However long they are on screen, episode 5 is built to be a moment.
Quick hits
- Padalecki is confirmed as Mister Marathon, the speedster, in The Boys season 5 — the show’s final season.
- He confirmed it during a Q&A at the FACTS Convention in Belgium; a clip circulated on TikTok.
- Mister Marathon is a former member of the Seven previously referenced by A-Train and Lamplighter.
- A-Train dies in the season 5 premiere, clearing space for his predecessor’s introduction.
- Eric Kripke says Padalecki appears in episode 5, alongside Misha Collins’ still-unknown character.
- Kripke’s description of both characters: "douchebags."
- The show appears to diverge from the comics, where Mister Marathon dies after a blink-and-you-miss-it stint.
- Length of Padalecki’s role is unconfirmed; brief appearances are rumored but not locked.