‘Vought Rising’ Star Jensen Ackles Officially Confirmed to Lead MGM+’s ‘Rules of Prey’ Crime Thriller Series
Jensen Ackles has spent the past several years proving he can anchor just about any corner of genre television, moving seamlessly between the supernatural chaos of ‘The Boys’ universe and grounded crime drama territory. That versatility has made him one of the more sought-after leading men currently working across streaming platforms.
His crime-drama ambitions took a hit last year when Prime Video canceled ‘Countdown’ after a single season, leaving fans wondering what project would bring him back into that genre next. Speculation had already started building in recent days after fans spotted Ackles filming something mysterious in Toronto, though the exact details remained unconfirmed.
That mystery has now officially been solved. Deadline reports that Jensen Ackles is set to headline and executive produce ‘Rules of Prey,’ an original drama series greenlit by MGM+ based on the first novel in John Sandford’s long-running ‘Prey’ book series. The eight-episode season is already deep into pre-production, with filming set to begin this month in Toronto.
The series casts Ackles as Lucas Davenport, a former Minneapolis Police Department detective drawn out of seclusion and back into law enforcement to investigate a string of confounding murders designed specifically to send him a message. As an ingenious serial killer begins targeting Minneapolis citizens, Davenport, described as a brilliant polymath and unconventional investigator, finds himself locked in an intense psychological duel with an equally intelligent adversary.
‘Rules of Prey’ comes from showrunner Bruce Terris, known for his work on ‘DTF St. Louis’ and ‘Patriot,’ who also serves as an executive producer on the project alongside Ackles. Daniel Sackheim, whose credits include ‘Game of Thrones,’ will direct the first two episodes and serve as an executive producer as well.
The series hails from MGM Television and Take 5 Productions, with additional executive producers including Charles Gogolak and Matt Leipzig of Modern Literary Arts, Howard Braunstein, Michael Jaffe, John Requa, Glenn Ficarra, and John Weber. Sandford himself is attached as a co-producer, giving the adaptation direct involvement from the author whose novels inspired the project.
Michael Wright, global head of MGM+, spoke directly to why Ackles felt like the right fit for bringing Davenport to life on screen. “Jensen Ackles’ classic leading man charisma, combined with Bruce Terris’ skillful adaptation of John Sandford’s enduringly popular Prey series is an excellent fit for MGM+,” Wright said in comments given to Deadline.
“The series delves into the psychological depth and suspense that made Sandford’s novels unmissable reading and continues MGM+’s commitment to bringing classic Hollywood storytelling to modern audiences,” Wright continued. That statement underscores just how central Sandford’s source material is to the network’s broader strategy heading into this new adaptation.
Sandford’s ‘Prey’ novels have built a massive readership since the first book’s original publication, with the series now spanning 35 bestselling installments centered on Davenport’s evolving career in law enforcement. That kind of established fan base gives ‘Rules of Prey’ a level of built-in recognition that Ackles’ previous crime drama, ‘Countdown,’ never had going into its debut.
The series is set to premiere on MGM+ across multiple international markets, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile, alongside its U.S. release. Given that filming has only just begun, an exact premiere date has yet to be announced.
This marks yet another expansion of Ackles’ ongoing relationship with MGM Television parent Amazon, further cementing his status as one of the studio’s go-to leading men across multiple genres. Between ‘Rules of Prey,’ his upcoming role in ‘Vought Rising,’ and his continued presence in ‘The Boys’ universe, Ackles’ plate remains firmly full heading into the next few years.
For fans eager to see him return to grounded crime drama territory after ‘Countdown’s’ early cancellation, ‘Rules of Prey’ offers a genuine second chance built on far stronger source material.
Are you excited to see Jensen Ackles lead Rules of Prey?
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments.
