'Supernatural' season 12 spoilers: Mama Winchester returns; Jeffrey Dean Morgan's return as John still on the table

After seeing Mary Winchester (Samantha Smith) back in the lives of Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) in the initial episodes of "Supernatural" season 12, many longed for the Winchester patriarch to return too.

John Winchester was played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who is currently playing the role of the atrocious villain, Negan, in "The Walking Dead."

Asked about this possibility, "Supernatural" showrunner Andrew Dabb said that it is still possible for Morgan to reprise his role in the series, but not in season 12 or a season in the near future.

"I don't really worry about that because by the time he comes back, I'm sure [Supernatural] will have been on for 20 seasons at that point, and The Walking Dead will be long over," Dabb quipped during his TV Line interview.

"Jeffrey's an amazing actor ... He plays such a great bad guy. But at the same time ... if you give him really good material, he can go back to being someone we know and love and someone we can empathize with," he went on to say.

Dabb added that Morgan's skills as an actor are unquestionable and seeing him back as John Winchester in "Supernatural" at some point, "if it ever comes to pass," as the showrunner emphasized, will be exciting.

As for what is ahead for Sam and Dean when "Supernatural" season 12 returns, showrunner Robert Singer teased to Entertainment Weekly that the British Men of Letters will have a bigger role this season.

He said that the group will be "quite heavy" in the latter half of the season, adding that "They're certainly helpful in episode 9, and then we play them out in a really interesting way."

"Supernatural" season 12 will be back on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 8 p.m. ET, on The CW. Mary will also be back to save Dean and Sam from being captured by the Secret Service.