Behind the Scenes of Jared Padalecki’s Casting in Fire Country: Insights from Max Thieriot and Tia Napolitano
As Fire Country gears up for its Season 3 premiere, excitement is palpable, especially with the addition of Jared Padalecki to the cast. The star of Supernatural joins the drama created by Max Thieriot, and both Thieriot and showrunner Tia Napolitano recently shared the heartwarming story of how Padalecki’s casting came to be.
With the highly anticipated premiere approaching in the 2024 TV lineup, I spoke with Thieriot and Napolitano about what fans can expect in Season 3. Naturally, I had to inquire about the news surrounding Padalecki’s involvement, which had been announced over the summer. Thieriot revealed that their long-standing friendship played a significant role in making this collaboration happen:
“Jared and I have been friends for a long time. We’ve never had the chance to work together. Our families have spent a lot of time together, and we’ve even celebrated New Year’s together.”
The actor noted that both he and Padalecki had been tied up with long-running shows, which had prevented them from teaming up until now. However, when Padalecki’s series, Walker, was unexpectedly canceled in 2024, it opened up a new opportunity for the two friends:
“Unfortunately, his show came to an end, but the silver lining was we finally had a chance to figure out how to work together. The folks at CBS, including CBS Studios President David Stapf, are big fans of ours. So, it felt almost effortless to suggest, ‘Hey, Jared and I are good buddies. What do you all think?’”
The response was overwhelmingly positive. Thieriot described casting Padalecki as “a no-brainer.” Napolitano echoed this sentiment, expressing the team’s excitement at the prospect of bringing Padalecki aboard:
“He was a name that everyone was immediately thrilled about. And with Max and Jared being friends, it was great to hear Max say, ‘He’s a fantastic guy. I’m so excited about this.’ When we finally sat down with him, the chemistry was undeniable. We were ecstatic to have him join us. He’s not just a talented actor; he’s genuinely a nice guy, a professional sweetheart, and his chemistry with Max on-screen is electric. We were very lucky to have him. I’ve been a fan of his since Gilmore Girls, so this felt like a special opportunity in television.”
After a few discussions, the pieces fell into place, and Padalecki officially joined the cast. Notably, his character, Camden, was specifically written for him, which made it crucial for him to accept the role. Napolitano noted:
“This role was created for Jared. If he hadn’t come on board, it would have been a real disappointment for us.”
Knowing Padalecki’s beloved status in television only adds to the excitement. Thieriot described Camden as a captivating addition, one that will showcase a different facet of Cal Fire:
“Camden is a firefighter from Southern California, where ‘wranglers and boots’ are swapped for ‘flip flops and tank tops.’ He brings a fresh, fun energy to the show, and his interactions with the characters will have a significant impact. I can’t wait for everyone to see it. His storyline is really exciting, and we’ll see where it all leads.”
There’s no doubt that Jared Padalecki is a fantastic addition to Fire Country, and the heartwarming story of his casting has me smiling. His close friendship with Thieriot hints at a mutual excitement for this collaboration, and the potential directions for Camden’s character seem limitless.
As of now, the exact timing of Padalecki’s appearance in Season 3 remains under wraps, but stay tuned for updates as we learn more about his role. Meanwhile, catch the Season 3 premiere of Fire Country on Friday, October 18, at 9 p.m. ET on CBS, or stream it the following day with a Paramount+ subscription.
