Jensen Ackles Trades Monsters for Murder & Real World Problems in Gritty New Prime Video Series: “This is real world stuff”

Jensen Ackles is back on screen, but this time he’s stepping away from the ghosts, demons, and superheroes. In his latest role, he plays a regular guy in a very real world. Ackles stars in the upcoming Prime Video series Countdown, where he takes on the role of LAPD detective Mark Meachum.

Speaking with Aidan Kelley from Collider at the show’s premiere, Ackles explained why this character feels different from anything he’s done before.

“Well, he’s not having to chase ghosts or fight vampires or deal with demons,” he said. “He’s not having to deal with superhero powers. So, we’ve taken all the genre out of the stuff that I’m normally doing.”

Ackles, known for his roles in Supernatural and The Boys, said working on Countdown gave him a chance to dive into something more grounded. For the first time, he was able to really prepare by meeting with real-life professionals. “It gave me an opportunity actually to interview and to chat and talk with people in the profession,” he said. “I’ve met with some FBI agents, I’ve met with some Secret Service people, I’ve met with some special forces people… There’s not really a demon hunter out there who I could’ve talked to for Dean Winchester.”

The series follows Meachum, an LAPD detective who joins a secret task force after a Homeland Security officer is killed in public. What starts as a murder case quickly turns into something much bigger and more dangerous. The task force must race to stop a hidden threat that could put millions of people in danger.

Countdown was created by Derek Haas, who also acts as the showrunner and executive producer. The cast includes Jessica Camacho, Eric Dane, Violett Beane, Uli Latukefu, and Elliot Knight. Merrick McCartha appears in a recurring role. The show has 13 episodes, and filming took place in Los Angeles, wrapping up earlier this year.

The series will launch on Prime Video on June 25, 2025. The first three episodes will drop at once, with new episodes releasing every week until September 3, 2025. According to reports, the show is also expected to hit syndication sometime in 2026, about 18 months after its streaming run ends.

With a gritty crime story and a cast of experienced actors, Countdown is shaping up to be a different kind of role for Ackles, and one that lets him show a new side of his acting skills. The character may not have powers or face monsters, but that doesn’t mean the stakes are any lower.

Are you planning to watch Countdown? Let us know what you think in the comments.