Supernatural Stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles Drop Ominous Season 12 Scoop: 'Sam Gets '

It was the shot heard ’round the world… or at least around the TV sets of nervous Supernatural fans.

During the closing moments of the Season 11 finale, Sam stared down the barrel of a gun belonging to Lady Toni, a member of the Men of Letters’ London chapter. When the hunter refused to acquiesce to her demands, she fired off a round that may or may not have hit Sam off-screen.

“She shot him,” star Jared Padalecki confirmed to TVLine Wednesday night at the Saturn Awards, where he and castmate Jensen Ackles were presenting an award to Supernatural creator Eric Kripke. “I don’t know where, but I know she shot him.”

“What else is new – Sam gets injured,” Padalecki added with a laugh. “At least I’m not getting tortured – yet.”

But that wasn’t the season-ender’s only cliffhanger. At the episode’s conclusion, Amara thanked Dean by giving him what he’s always wanted — Mary, the mother he lost as a child. (BTW, if you thought/hoped Papa John Winchester was going to reappear during those final minutes, Ackles briefly shared your sentiment, “But I knew they couldn’t get Jeffrey Dean Morgan back.”)

“I’m anxious to see how that [surprise return] pans out,” said Ackles, adding that he and Padalecki are meeting with new showrunners Robert Singer and Andrew Dabb later this week. “[My reaction] was kind of like, ‘What’s going to happen now? How is this going to work out?'”

Padalecki was excited by the twist, as well. “I love [Mary’s portrayer] Samantha Smith. So I was like, ‘We get Sam back! That’s awesome!'” he enthused. “My reaction as a fan of the show was, ‘What a cool show to be a part of where we can do that and get away with it.’ [That] and I was just really stoked.”

Supernatural Season 12 premieres Thursday, Oct. 13 at 9/8c on The CW.