The actor discusses everything from the reboot’s inspiration to getting used to his shorter hair.
For Padalecki,Walkerpresented a chance to get more involved.
“It’s a couple of full-time jobs,” he tells EW.
Jared Padalecki on CW’s “Walker.".Rebecca Brenneman/The CW
“It’s a really quick-paced shooting style.
Otherwise I would’ve stayed onSupernatural.”
They found themselves going, “I can’t.
I know I’m bound by my, duty but this just doesn’t feel right.”
They were bound by duty but also had their own moral code.
You didn’t plan to act in this originally, correct?
I did want to get out of acting.
Then we realized Austin is the headquarters of the Texas Rangers.
What was your relationship to the originalWalker, Texas Ranger?
I wasn’t a superfan but I grew up with it, I saw most of the episodes.
It was part of growing up in Texas.
It was huge all over, but it was certainly huge here.
But this show is very different.
This is a show about a family man who goes to work as a Texas Ranger.
It’s almost like moreGilmore GirlsthanSupernatural.
How is Cordell Walker different from Sam Winchester?
He’s a bit more Han Solo than Luke Skywalker.
He’s not necessarily the super-pensive, super-research-oriented, read-the-instruction-booklet guy.
He’s more a shoot-from-the-hip guy.
He trusts his instincts.
He’s also very much a father and a widower.
It’s a lot of what Jared was going through.
So I’m trying to do the best I can, but my kids are used to my wife.
The parallel feels very real.
But Sam and Cordell are both haunted.
They both went through a terrible loss and they have a really difficult job.
Sam, in a strange way, probably dealt with it in a healthier way than Cordell.
Cordell probably drinks a little bit too much, and he’s more caustic than Sam would be.
Plus we can’t high-five during COVID.
Is that you on the horse?
No, that was not me.
That is me driving the car, and that is me riding the horse and roping.
I do ride horses.
But we shot that early on.
So my stuntman and our stunt coordinator did that part.
I think we’ll be all right.”
[Laughs]
Have you gotten used to the shorter hair yet?
I’m getting accustomed to it.
I’ve spent the last 20 years of my life in beanies.
And I never, other than on set forSupernatural, I never did my hair anyways.
So this is definitely a change.
I love that it’s a very obvious visual change from Sam Winchester.
I’m getting used to it.
Walkerpremieres Thursday, Jan. 21, at 8 p.m.
ET on the CW.
