Supernatural fans got their first look at the new Archangel Michael who will be appearing in season 13 this fall, thanks to a sneak peek image released today. The show returns next month, and may well be bringing multiple dead characters back with it, after the season 12 finale opened a rift to an alternate universe. The multiverse was created when Lucifer's son, Jack, was born in the season finale -- killing his mother in the process, and leaving the audience unsure about how this new character (the only Nephilim born of an Archangel) is going to change things.

Jack is, unsurprisingly, going to be a season regular this fall, and the producers have also teased a 'smaller' storyline for the upcoming season. Smaller doesn't seem to mean a single universe, however, as Mary Winchester (Sam Smith) is trapped in an alternate world with Lucifer (Mark Pellegrino), and that story is one that is going to be continued when the show returns. Now, fans have been treated to their first look at Mary and Lucifer in the apocalypse dimension -- meeting a familiar face.

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The image, released exclusively by EW, comes from the second episode of the season ('The Rising Son') and shows Mary and Lucifer in the greyish light of the apocalypse dimension, with a dead body and the ruins of a building behind them. They are facing off against the latest incarnation of the Archangel Michael, now being played by Christian Keyes. According to showrunner Andrew Dabb, this world's version of Michael is very different to the one that the Winchesters met on their Earth.

Mary Winchester, Lucifer and Archangel Michael in Supernatural season 13

"The Michael of apocalypse world is the victor. He’s a very different character than the one we met even in season 5. He’s Genghis Khan. He’s been through the wars. He’s conquered the world."

Michael is the oldest of the Archangels, and the one who originally kicked Lucifer out of Heaven. In past seasons of the show, he has been played by Matt Cohen and Jake Abel (while possessing John Winchester and Adam Milligan). On the primary Earth, Michael revealed that anyone of the Winchester bloodline could be his vessel, and eventually took over the body of Adam before becoming trapped in the cage with Lucifer. Since Lucifer escaped, he has revealed that Michael is still in the cage, and has been driven insane by his time there.

His return is bound to be interesting for the Winchesters -- not least because it begs the question of who his vessel is in the other world. If it is another Winchester, this is a totally new member of the family, and if it is not, Michael will presumably be very interested in Mary. In addition, his meeting with Lucifer is bound to involve some fireworks, and we can assume that he will be looking to come over to the 'main' world, and meet Sam and Dean once again. As Dean was described as his 'true vessel', this may lead to Michael attempting to get Dean to submit to him again -- and this new, more war-like Archangel may be less likely to take no for an answer.

Next: Supernatural Producer Offers Details on Castiel’s Season 13 Fate

Supernatural season 13 premieres October 12 on The CW.

Source: EW