We've got a few more tidbits on Supernatural's new characters, in season 3, courtesy of of the IGN entertainment website, and have two words for you (warning: spoiler alert!): "sword training." IGN recently sat down with Katie Cassidy and Lauren Cohan, who this season will play Ruby, a hunter, and Bela, a mercenary, respectively.

Lauren Cohan revealed that the character of Bela is intended as "a female Humphrey Bogart," while Katie Cassidy described Ruby as "a little bit manipulative," someone who "always wants to be in control." As for fight scenes, Cassidy mentioned sword training as part of her preparation for the role. Cohan said that while Bela avoids killing for practical reasons, she can do it if she has to, and the actress herself has had prior weapons training, and so is "well equipped with swords and a lot of instruments; sharp instruments," she added.

The introduction of Ruby and Bella is something of a shake-up to the tried-and-true structure of Supernatural, whose main focus is on the physical and emotional trials of two brothers as they criss-cross the country killing monsters, demons, and other horrors that go bump in the night. Executive producer and creator Eric Kripke has repeatedly reassured fans that the show's core elements won't change.

When asked about the addition of two recurring females to a show that has been presented as primarily masculine, Cohan said Bela and Ruby "have [ ]a certain, maybe not masculinity, but self-sufficiency and independence, and I think that's an exciting kind of woman to bring into this."


"Supernatural" season 3 premieres October 4 at 9 pm ET/CT on the CW. Season 2 is currently available on DVD.