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Countdownstar Jessica Camacho breaks down the "complicated place" her character is headed towards.

Speaking to TVLine, Camacho opened up about where the series is headed following the shocking episode seven revelation that Jensen Ackles' Detective Mark Meachum is staring down an incurable tumor, potentially leaving him with only weeks or months to live. Camacho noted that "The fact that Meachum decides to confide in [my character, Agent Oliveras] means a lot to her."

"I don’t think that’s something that she takes lightly. Him letting her into his world in that way deepens her desire to show up for him as his partner, as a human… as someone who begins to really, deeply care for this person," Camacho added. She went on to state that the pair are headed towards "an interesting and complicated place" now that the truth of Meachum's diagnosis is out. Unfortunately for fans hoping for some insight into exactly where that might be,...

Big news has been revealed for Season 13 of Chicago P.D. following the recent exit of a major star. Last month, it was revealed that Toya Turner would not be returning as Kiana Cook in Season 13. Now, a replacement actress has been found.

Per Deadline, Arienne Mandi (The Night Agent) has just been cast as a series regular in Chicago P.D. Season 13, filling in the void left by Turner's departure. Mandi is playing the role of Naomi Kerr, described as a "former soldier and military contractor who is said to thrive in dangerous situations," as well as a "fearless outsider who keeps her cards close to the vest." However, it was also reported that this is tentative, as the character's name and other details could change.

Image via Netflix

Mandi is known in part for her role in The Night Agent, playing the role of Noor in the...

Since it premiered in 2022, Reacher has become one of Prime Video's biggest hits. The show will return with Season 4, which is currently in production, as well as a spinoff series, Neagley.

Until then, Prime Video is keeping fans entertained with a replacement series: Jensen Ackles' Countdown. The action crime series premiered on June 25, and it has been a complete hit ever since. Although there were several new releases since Countdown premiered, the show is exploding again on the Prime Video charts, holding on tightly against many popular titles, FlixPatrol reports.

Countdown is currently in third place in the Top 10 overall charts, as well as Top 10 TV shows, just behind The Summer I Turned Pretty, which recently returned with Season 3, and Ballard, the Bosch spinoff show.

Countdown has a long time to make an impression, as it features more episodes than a new series usually does. Season 1 has received an order of 13 episodes,...

The first season of Jensen Ackles’ new Prime Video series is almost halfway over, but the show has found continued streaming success since its premiere near the end of June. After earning comparisons to Chris Pratt’s Prime Video series, The Terminal List, Countdown has become a streaming hit globally for Prime Video, charting in the top 10 in more than 25 countries, including the United States and the U.K. Countdown debuted with a Rotten Tomatoes score from critics of 31%, but the show has begun to win over reviewers — its score has climbed to 38%. Audiences are much bigger fans of Countdown than critics, though, as the series currently sits at 72% on the audience-driven Popcornmeter. Countdown also stars Jessica Camacho (Bosch: Legacy), Eric Dane (Euphoria), and Violett Beane (Drop).

Countdown was written and created for television by Derek Haas, who is also the mind behind the One Chicago universe. Haas has written...

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The Gringo Hunters is a Spanish and English action crime thriller drama series. Based on an article by Kevin Sieff in The Washington Post, the Netflix series revolves around a group of Mexican police officers working for an elite unit to catch criminals who have fled from the United States to Mexico. The Gringo Hunters stars Manuel Masalva, Hector Kotsifakis, Andrew Leland Rogers, Sebastian Roché, Jessica Lindsey, Clayton Conroy, Dean Simone, and Dale Carley. So, if you loved the police procedural element, heart-pumping action, and entertaining characters in The Gringo Hunters, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

FBI Credit – CBS

FBI is a police procedural action crime drama series co-created by Dick Wolf and Craig Turk. The CBS series is set in New York City, and it follows FBI Special Agents Maggie Bell and...

This Wednesday on Prime Video’s Countdown, Oliveras (played by Jessica Camacho) calls out Meachum (Jensen Ackles) on his “junkie”-like behavior, what with all the squinting and taking 20 minutes to descend a stairwell.

That tees up a heart-to-heart between the task force partners, during which we and Mark learn a lot about Amber’s Chicago origins and how they’re not particularly conducive to going Uc with hardcore Mexican drug runners. Mark in turn confides (some of) his situation, all leading to the exclusive TVLine sneak peek above.

More from TVLineJensen Ackles Compares Countdown Action Scenes, Says Truck Surfing...

This week, a 17-year-old action thriller makes its return to Netflix, allowing fans to remember why this movie truly deserved a sequel that it never received. Wanted makes its return to Netflix once again, with the Timur Bekmambetov thriller dropping on July 16.

Bekmambetov directed Wanted,based on the graphic novel by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones. James McAvoy stars as Wesley Gibson, a normal man with a terrible life who learns his father was a master assassin. A mysterious woman named Fox (Angelina Jolie) recruits him to join his dad's former organization.

However, someone soon starts gunning for him, and Wesley has to take a crash course in training to survive and hopefully make it to the end of this movie alive. It was set up perfectly for a sequel, similar to Millar's Kingsman series. However, Wanted ended up as a one-and-done and is now headed to Netflix once again.

Countdown's time as the No. 1 show on Prime Video is over. There's a new streaming champ on the service, and her name is Ballard.

Per FlixPatrol, as of July 11, the Bosch spinoff series Ballard has jumped up one spot on Prime Video's Top 10 TV Shows in the United States list to become No. 1. This has resulted in the Jensen Ackles-led Countdown being knocked down to No. 2, ending its lengthy run as Prime Video's top show. Additionally, Ballard jumped up two spots on Prime Video's Top 10 Overall from the day before to become No. 1 on that list, sending both Countdown and the Prime Video original movie Heads of State respectively down to No. 2 and No. 3.Heads of State remains No. 1 on the Top 10 Movies in the U.S. list.

Countdown's reign on Prime Video's Top 10 lists began almost immediately after the crime drama was added to the streamer. After only a day on Prime Video,...

Jensen Ackles' new show, Countdown, which is being touted as a Reacher replacement, seems reminiscent of action movies from the '80s. The show's creator, Derek Haas, has now opened up about what inspired him to make the show, revealing the real season behind its '80s vibe.

Haas said that when he was talking to Amazon, he could not help but recall how much he loved the vibe of action movies like Die Hard, Romancing the Stone, and Lethal Weapon. Realizing how most shows in the crime genre had become too dark and cynical and less like the ones from the '80s, he wished to create something that brought back the classic energy.

The showrunner also shed light on how he learned about task forces through a Chicago intelligence cop. This paved the way for him to center Countdown around a task force that investigates a murder before uncovering a massive conspiracy.

[This story contains spoilers from the fourth episode of Countdown, “Bite ‘Em Down.”]

When Countdown returned after its three-episode premiere week, the task force made up of different law enforcement agencies suffered its first casualty with the shooting death of Department of Homeland Security Officer Damon Drew (Jonathan Togo).

As the group closed down on the sleeper cell terrorist and bomb maker Boris Volchek (Bogdan Yasinski) in the third episode of the new Prime Video series, LAPD Detective Mark Meachum (played by star Jensen Ackles) was led to the hideout where his uncle, Mikhail (Daniel Chernish), was harboring Volchek. Meachum called in reinforcements while snooping around the property and was caught by Volchek, who ordered Mikhail to take Meachum out to the back and shoot him. The rest of the unit arrived just in time, but a shootout occurred at the end of the hour and Damon was hit. Viewers found out in the beginning of the July 2 fourth episode that Damon died in the ambulance,...

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The Old Guard is a superhero action thriller film franchise based on a series of graphic novels of the same name by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernández. The film revolves around a group of immortal mercenaries secretly living among us as they are reunited because of a threat to their freedom as a sinister group tries to hunt them down. The Old Guard stars Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Harry Melling, Veronica Ngo, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Uma Thurman. So, if you loved the explosive action, thrilling drama, and entertaining characters in The Old Guard film franchise, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Wanted (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Universal Pictures

Wanted is an action thriller film directed by Timur Bekmambetov from a screenplay co-written by Michael Brandt, Derek Haas, and Chris Morgan.

Amazon may not have found the next Reacher just yet—but that hasn’t stopped Countdown from rocketing to the top of Prime Video’s streaming charts. Despite a dismal 36% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, Countdown, the new action-thriller series from One Chicagocreator Derek Haas, has claimed the #1 spot in Prime Video’s “Top 10 TV Shows” list as of July 3. It even cracked the #2 spot on the platform’s overall ranking, trailing only behind the buzzy teen drama We Were Liars. With a weekly release schedule that kicked off July 1, only three episodes have aired—but that’s all Countdown needed to announce itself as Prime Video’s latest contender in the action space.

And while critics haven’t exactly been kind, audiences seem to be responding differently. The show currently holds a more respectable 72% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, proving once again that streamers sometimes care more about watch time than Tomatometer numbers.

Jensen Ackles' new show continues to make a splash on streaming. Countdown premiered with a three-episode release on June 25 and has been a constant in the charts ever since.

On July 2, Countdown returned with its fourth episode, which was enough to bring subscribers back to the platform. In the days after the premiere, Countdown struggled to hold on to the top positions in the charts, but it returned in full force. Per FlixPatrol, Countdown has now dethroned Prime Video's most recent hit, the thriller adaptation We Were Liars.

We Were Liars is based on the popular 2014 novel of the same name by E. Lockhart, and follows the Sinclairs, an old-money family, where a mysterious accident changes the eldest grandchild's life forever. The series premiered on Prime Video on June 18, and has been a major hit. However, its dominance is being tested by Countdown. The show is currently the number one TV show on Prime Video,...

Amazon seems to have a new Reacher replacement, which is already dominating the streaming charts just one week after its premiere. While the show has yet to match Reacher's critical and commercial success, it seems to have immense potential after its impressive early performance.

Soon after Reacher landed on Prime Video on February 4, 2022, it became a massive global hit, paving the way for several follow-up installments. With each new season, the show only grew from strength to strength and rose in the ranks to find a place among the streamer's most valuable IPs.

Reacher's performance even prompted Prime Video to expand its lore with a spin-off series focusing on Maria Sten's Neagley. Three years after its premiere on Amazon, Reacher reigns supreme as one of the most successful shows on the streaming platform. However, it looks like it might soon have a worthy rival.

Countdown Is Performing Well On...

Amazon’s Countdown is packed with talent, and we’re not just talking about undercover skills. This high-stakes crime drama, created by Chicago Fire mastermind Derek Haas, dropped on Prime Video on June 25, 2025, and stars none other than Jensen Ackles as the cowboy-cool LAPD detective Mark Meachum.

From a Homeland Security murder to a city-wide conspiracy, the series throws Meachum onto a covert task force loaded with big names and even bigger credentials. But off-screen, these stars come with serious resumes. Ackles, of course, is fresh off The Boys and still beloved for Supernatural.

Eric Dane (Grey’s Anatomy), McSteamy himself, commands the task force as Agent Nathan Blythe. Jessica Camacho (All Rise), Violett Beane (God Friended Me), and Elliot Knight (Titans) round out a stacked federal squad. Add Young Rock’s Uli Latukefu and CSI: Miami alum Jonathan Togo, and the cast reads like a genre fan’s wishlist.

1. Jensen...

Jensen Ackles-led Countdowncontinues to dominate the streaming charts.

Per FlixPatrol, the latest crime drama from creator Derek Haas has reached the number two spot on the top streaming chart for Amazon Prime Video for July 3. As of the time of writing, Countdown is only beat out by We Were Liars, while standing well above other hit releases such as The Chosen and The Accountant 2.

Countdown stars Jensen Ackles as Mark Meachum, a Los Angeles Police Department robbery and homicide detective who is called in to join a covert, undercover task force made up of agents from various law enforcement agencies. The series' ensemble cast is rounded out by Jessica Camacho as DEA Special Agent Amber Oliveras, Violett Beane as DEA Special Agent Evan Shepherd, Elliot Knight as FBI Special Agent Keyonte Bell, Eric Dane as FBI Special Agent Nathan Blythe, and Uli Latukefu as LAPD Detective Lucas Finau. Countdown...

Warning! Major spoilers for Countdown season 1, episode 4!

Countdown star Jonathan Togo reacts to his character Damon Drew's shocking death in episode 4. Countdown is Prime Video's new action-thriller series that centers on a covert task force that must stop a weapon of mass destruction from going off in Los Angeles after the murder of another agent. Jensen Ackles leads the Countdown cast as Mark Meachum, an LAPD officer who is pulled out of an undercover assignment to join the task force.

In an interview with TV Insider, Togo reveals that creator Derek Haas let him know from the outset that Drew would die in episode 4. The CSI: Miami actor praises the decision, as many procedurals do not show any major characters getting killed. He notes that Drew's demise helped raise the stakes for the series and that he died a noble death.

When Derek [Haas] approached me about the project,...

For decades, Dick Wolf has been the undisputed king of network television.

From Law & Order to One Chicago to FBI, his shows have defined procedural drama — and his name alone could greenlight a series.

But lately, there’s been a shift.

(Elizabeth Sisson/NBC)

In just the last few months, CBS pulled the plug on FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted after previously renewing the entire franchise early — a rare move that signaled confidence.

Meanwhile, Prime Video’s On Call, one of Wolf’s first streaming ventures, quietly came and went without much fanfare before also getting the axe.

Criminal Minds Season 18 Episode 9 Review: A Penultimate Pile-Up With Paper Footballs and Loose Endsby Carissa Pavlica Countdown Season 1 Episode 4 Tries to Use Death for Goodby Denis Kimathi Nine Perfect Strangers Season 2 Episode 8 Review: Masha’s Sweet Revengeby Laura Nowak

Three cancellations in rapid succession don’t scream business as usual for...

Since it was announced earlier this year, the hype has only continued to grow for Jensen Ackles’ return to TV with Prime Video’s Countdown. It’s been just over one week since the first few episodes crashed onto the streamer, and the reviews are mixed, to say the least. While audiences seem to be enjoying the latest production to come from Derek Haas (the mind behind the One Chicago franchise), critics have given it a less-than-savory stamp of disapproval. It certainly doesn’t help that the competition over at Amazon’s streaming home is tough, with FlixPatrol revealing that Countdown has officially lost the number one spot on the platform’s Top 10 to its fellow newcomer, We Were Liars.

The two titles couldn’t be more different, but both are perfect in their own way for summer viewing. On the one hand, Countdown is a high-octane thrill ride, paying...

Supernaturalmight have ended five years ago, but the show's popularity is still growing today. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to keep Jensen Ackles' new action show at the top of the charts.

Ackles stars in Prime Video's new crime drama show Countdown, which premiered on June 25. However, despite the high anticipation and Ackles' popularity, Countdown was panned by critics and hasn't made a big impact after its first three episodes. Ahead of the release of Episode 4, on June 30, Countdown failed to hold on to the first spots in the Top 10 overall on Prime Video, and was dethroned by the new adaptation We Were Liarsand the biblical television series The Chosen, FlixPatrol indicates.

Immediately after its release, Countdown rose on the charts and debuted in second place on Prime Video's Top 10. The show received negative reviews from the critics and currently holds an unfortunate 31% score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it has over...

Prime Video’s latest thriller, Countdown, starring Jensen Ackles, has only just premiered, but fans are already digging deep. The series brings Ackles to play a new role as a detective in a high-octane crime drama. But it didn’t take long for viewers to spot something oddly familiar.

A single scene sparked speculation and sent longtime Supernatural fans into a frenzy. Was it really an intense moment or a clear nod to Ackles’ beloved character in Supernatural? It hits just the right nostalgic nerve. As it turns out, things aren’t as clear-cut as they seem. However, Ackles also has some updates for Supernatural fans.

Jensen Ackles Hides a Supernatural Eater Egg in Countdown? Jensen Ackles in Countdown | Credit: Prime Video

In Countdown, Jensen Ackles plays Detective Mark Meachum. He plays a cowboy-like cop with a brain tumor and a refusal to back down. As of now, the series has dropped only three episodes.

Whenever a new spy thriller, action drama, or procedural of some sort premieres, it doesn't take long for fans to start rooting for certain romantic pairings. Romance is rarely the second or even third most important aspect of these genres of shows, but viewers can't help but spot the sparks between characters and cheering them on. That's exactly what happened with Prime Video's Countdown.

The action-crime drama, which stars Jensen Ackles and comes from creator Derek Haas, made its debut on the Amazon streamer on June 25 and quickly became a new fan favorite, especially among Ackles' adoring fandom. As Countdown introduced its ensemble of characters, ships organically started to set sail, and we now have confirmation that by the season's end, at least one will thrive.

Countdown on Prime Video has two ships setting sail

In a new tease from TV Line, by the end of season 1 episode 10, which is...

Countdown is heating up fast, and Episode 4 might’ve just dropped its biggest hint yet: there’s a mole inside the task force. Created by Chicago Fire mastermind Derek Haas, this action-packed Amazon Prime thriller stars Jensen Ackles as Mark Meachum, an LAPD detective thrown into a secret multi-agency task force after a high-profile Dhs officer is murdered in broad daylight.

What starts as a manhunt turns into a pulse-pounding conspiracy with stakes sky-high. The series blends high-octane action with a 24-style ticking clock format, and Episode 4 is where the paranoia really kicks in. And trust, folks? That’s officially running out.

Tick-Tock: Countdown Episode 4 Tightens the Noose on a Traitor

Countdown Episode 4 drops more fuel on the growing suspicion that someone inside the task force is playing both sides. The episode builds the mole theory through subtle missteps: botched missions, rerouted team members, and evasive answers from within. Every lead dies too fast,...

If Dick Wolf has his way, the One Chicago universe might be getting even bigger.

While walking the red carpet at the Countdown premiere for Prime Video, Derek Haas — co-creator of Chicago Fire and longtime collaborator with Wolf — spoke with Collider's Aidan Kelley about the possibility of One Chicago expanding beyond its current trio of shows. His response? Who else but Dick Wolf?

“Well, if Dick Wolf were here, he’d say yes, I want to expand. So I will just nod to him. He’s one of the great producers of all time. He is relentless, and my feeling is he will have four more ideas and shows before you know it, because that’s the way he operates.”

That’s about as close to a “stay tuned” as it gets in the One Chicago world — and given how dominant the franchise remains, it wouldn’t be surprising if Haas is right.

Derek Haas will always be known for his work creating the One Chicago franchise, but the writer has a new show out that’s gaining steam. Haas is the creator of Countdown, the thriller series following a secret task force sent to investigate a dangerous murder, only to discover a sinister plot that threatens the lives of millions. The show stars Jensen Ackles, best known for his work in Supernatural and The Boys, and also other stars such as Eric Dane, Jessica Camacho, Bogdan Yasinski, and more. Collider’s Aidan Kelley caught up with Haas for a chat at the world premiere of Countdown, and he asked about the biggest differences in working on shows for streaming services like Prime Video vs. networks like ABC and CBS:

"I don't know about darker, but it's definitely a bigger scope than what I had worked with before. Scope even within episodes and with storytelling.

Weeks after the surprising cancellation of FBI: International, one of the co-creators has revealed their feelings about CBS’s decision to end the series. Since the show ended on a cliffhanger, it was clear that no one was expecting the show not to make a comeback for a season 5.

Derek Haas told TVLine he was just as sad as the fans about the reason CBS decided not to continue the series, which followed FBI agents who went to various countries to solve crimes. He also praised the addition of Chicago P.D. actor Jesse Soffer as Wesley, who Haas called a “dynamic cast addition” to the series.

He said that he has plenty of respect for everyone at CBS involved in the show, as well as those with Dick Wolf Entertainment and said he “trust[ed] their instincs.” However, he had no reason why it was cancelled and did not think...

Supernatural star Jensen Ackles is back on the small screen with the launch of Countdown, his new action series on Prime Video. The first three episodes dropped on June 25, and from the start, fans were treated to a surprise when TV legend Milo Ventimiglia was featured for a surprise role in the premiere.

Per Entertainment Weekly, Ackles joined series creator Derek Haas to discuss the unexpected cameo from Ventimiglia, who's known for his roles in TV shows like Gilmore Girls, Heroes, and This Is Us. To keep Ventimiglia's appearance a surprise, the actor was intentionally kept out of all of the press releases, teasers, and other marketing materials. Ackles also noted how he personally suggested Ventimiglia for the role, while Haas shared how the cameo made his mother, a big This Is Us fan, rather upset.

"We purposefully left him out of all the ads and the promo. And then he was great,...

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Countdown is an action crime drama series created by Derek Haas. The Prime Video series is set in Los Angeles, and it revolves around a group of law enforcement agents from different agencies as they are brought together by FBI Special Agent Nathan Blythe to form a task force dedicated to investigating a deadly terror plot. Countdown stars Jensen Ackles, Jessica Camacho, Violett Beane, Elliot Knight, Uli Latukefu, and Eric Dane. So, if you loved the explosive action, thrilling drama, and compelling characters in Prime Video’s Countdown, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan (Prime Video) Credit – Prime Video

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan is an action spy thriller drama series co-created by Carlton Cuse and Graham Roland. Based on the Jack Ryan novels by author Tom Clancy, the...

With Countdown, Prime Video has given us another team (task force) of law enforcement officials to watch track down bad guys. The series, created by Derek Haas and starring Jensen Ackles and Eric Dane, follows a task force made up of detectives and agents, brought together to investigate a major threat to Los Angeles. It clearly sounds like it could last for multiple seasons. But will it be back? Before, we take a look at everything we know so far about a Countdown Season 2, from a cast to a premiere date and more. Is Countdown renewed for Season 2? No, isn’t, at least not yet. But that’s not surprising, since Season 1 just premiered on June 25. What’s the Countdown Season 1 release schedule? The series premiered with the first three episodes on June 25. The rest of the 13-episode season will be released weekly, until the finale on Wednesday, September 3. Who’s in the Countdown cast?...

In 2008, James McAvoy starred alongside Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie and Common in a movie that Cbr hailed as one of the best action films of the 21st century. The big-screen adaptation of Wantedwent on to earn $342 million at the box office, and fans have been waiting for a sequel ever since.

Wanted -- which was loosely based on a comic series by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones -- also hasn't been forgotten by one of the film’s writers. Speaking with ScreenRant’s Ash Crossan, Derek Haas (who co-wrote Wanted with Michael Brandt and Chris Morgan) gave an exciting update. Haas isn’t ruling out Wanted 2.

Haas said that he would be open to a Wanted sequel if everyone were willing to return. “I loved everything about making Wanted, and if Universal decides at some point they want to do the second one, Michael Brandt and I wrote a script...

Known for his portrayal of Dean Winchester in the fantasy series Supernatural as well as his foray into the world of superheroes, Jensen Ackles is a reliable actor with plenty of pedigree, worth leading the line of a big new project. That is exactly what Prime Video has done, making Ackles the leading man of their latest thriller series, Countdown.

However, after early reviews for Countdown proved less than impressive, with the show earning a poor 33% critics' score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing, some may have been worried whether the show would hit the heights higher-ups would've expected. Well, fear not, as Countdown has officially bounced straight into the official top 10 most-streamed titles on Prime Video in the US, as of June 26, 2025, as well as earning a much-improved Rotten Tomatoes audience score. Shooting straight in at #2, Countdown has just missed out on the top spot...

Countdown creator Derek Haas and star Jensen Ackles break down how a surprise cameo from a TV star happened in episode 1 of the thriller series. Debuting its first three episodes on Prime Video on June 25, the series follows Mark Meachum (Ackles), an LAPD detective who is recruited to join a covert task force with the intention of catching a murderer. Things escalate as the team has to prevent a major disaster. The Countdown cast includes Jessica Camacho as Amber Oliveras, Eric Dane as Nathan Blythe, Violett Beane as Evan Shepherd, Uli Latukefu as Lucas Finau, and Elliot Knight as Keyonte Bell.

In an interview with EW, Haas and Ackles detail how Milo Ventimiglia joined Contdown for a cameo appearance. Ventimiglia was intentionally kept out of the marketing material to make it a surprise to viewers. Despite never meeting him before, Haas reached out to Ventimiglia, and assumed he would not take the small role.

In an unexpected but welcome bit of movie resurrection news, Derek Haas has delivered a glimmer of hope for fans still holding out for a sequel to Wanted, the 2008 action hit which he co-wrote alongside Chris Morgan and Michael Brandt. Speaking to ScreenRant's Ash Crossan during press rounds for his new Prime Video series Countdown (starring Supernaturalalum Jensen Ackles), Haas expressed a fondness for the original and optimism about the chances of revisiting the film once more.

Released in 2008, Wanted is a high-octane adaptation loosely based on the comic book miniseries by Mark Millar and J. G. Jones. The film starred James McAvoy as Wesley Gibson, a disillusioned guy at a dead-end office job who turns into an assassin after discovering his late father belonged to a centuries-old fraternity of killers. The film also featured Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman, and became a surprise box-office smash, grossing over $342 million globally.

It’s been almost 17 years since Wanted hit theaters in 2008. But a recent update from Countdown creator Derek Haas has stirred up fresh hope in the hearts of fans. That’s right, while promoting his latest Prime Video series, Haas casually dropped that he and his longtime collaborator, Michael Brandt, have already worked on the script of Wanted 2, and it looks quite good.

However, there’s one twist: while James McAvoy played Wesley Gibson in the original movie, for the sequel, fans think Jensen Ackles would also be a perfect fit for another dark role. Also, given the fact that both Haas and Ackles are already working on Countdown, they might be able to recreate the magic again in the beloved movie. Let’s dive deeper!

Countdown Creator Confirms a “Pretty Good” Wanted 2 Script Already Exists James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman in a still from Wanted | Credits: Universal Pictures...

The first three episodes of Jensen Ackles' new thriller series are now streaming on Prime Video, but critics and audiences can’t seem to get on the same page about the show. Early reviews for Countdown came in a few days before the premiere, and the show debuted with a 50% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, which has since dropped to a disappointing 36%. However, now enough audience reviews have come in to give the show a 63% on the aggregate site, a much more respectable score that fans are more accustomed to seeing from Ackles. This 36% from critics comes from only 11 reviews, so it is subject to change, but this trend does not have Countdown heading in a good direction as the show preps for a long season.

There are three episodes of Countdownstreaming on Prime Video at the time of writing, with 10 more remaining. Prime Video will only release one...

Jensen Ackles' new show Countdown is already a hit. Just a day after its June 25 premiere, the crime drama is close to being the No. 1 show on Prime Video.

Per FlixPatrol, Countdown has landed in the No. 2 spot on Prime Video's Top 10 Overall and Top 10 TV Shows lists in the United States, with the psychological thriller series We Were Liars keeping it from the top spot on both. When looking at Prime Video's Top 10 TV Shows worldwide, Countdown slips to No. 3, with The Better Sister sneaking past the Ackles-led crime drama. Countdown landing in the Top 3 after only one day on Prime Video is a huge win for the series, with its streaming success likely to only improve as more subscribers have the time to press play over the weekend.

Created by Derek Haas, who also serves as showrunner, Countdown stars Ackles as LAPD detective Mark Meachum, who is...

Looks like Prime Video’s Countdown isn’t slowing down anytime soon and has delivered its most intense episode yet. That’s right, the show featuring Jensen Ackles hit a turning point in Episode 3, bringing forth a perfect mix of action and growing mistrust inside the task force.

Here, Ackles plays Detective Mark Meachum, who dives deeper into an undercover mission that leads him directly to a discovery that’s definitely bigger than what anyone had expected. But he’s not the only one keeping secrets. Let’s take a look at how Episode 3 sets the tone for the chaos ahead.

Countdown Episode 3 Ending Explained: Meachum Finds Suspicious Blueprints Before Shootout

In Episode 3 of Countdown, we see Jensen Ackles‘ Mark Meachum going undercover once again. However, this time he pretends to be a prisoner to get close to a young man named Dmitry, someone who’s connected to a larger threat.

Derek Haas, the mind behind Chicago P.D., is trading squad cars for high-stakes conspiracies with his latest crime thriller, Countdown. Starring Jensen Ackles as hard-edged LAPD detective Mark Meachum, the series drops audiences into a slick, adrenaline-fueled manhunt that quickly spirals into something darker. But Haas says this isn’t just another gritty cop show.

Inspired by classic Hollywood detective flicks, Countdown is built to bring back the fun, twists, swagger, and that pulpy charm of yesteryear. And with Amazon Prime backing the ride, this throwback vibe might just spark the genre’s next big revival.

Derek Haas brings back buddy-cop flair with Countdown, starring Jensen Ackles Jensen Ackles as Mark Meachum and Eric Dane as Nathan Blythe in a still from Countdown | Credits: Prime Video

When Derek Haas described Countdown as a throwback to Lethal Weapon and Die Hard, we knew we were in for something loud, fast,...

James McAvoy wasn’t Universal Studios’ first choice when they started looking for a leading man opposite Angelina Jolie in Wanted. He screen-tested for the role in 2006 and was initially rejected since he didn’t fit the conventional definition of a movie star in the industry. However, the studio soon gave in and realized that a “muscle-y” star wouldn’t work in this particular role.

McAvoy eventually landed the role of Wesley Allan Gibson, a 24-year-old who transitions from a 9-5 cubicle job to a career assassin. Timur Bekmambetov helmed the film, which went on to earn critical and commercial success. A sequel was announced shortly after the first film, but it remained in development hell for years. A recent update gives some hope for the sequel.

James McAvoy received a harsh label when Universal decided to cast him in Wanted James McAvoy as Wesley Gibson with Chris Pratt’s...

[Warning: The below contains Major spoilers for Countdown Season 1 Episode 2 “Dead Lots of Times.”] Prime Video’s new drama premiered on June 25 with the first three episodes, and considering how many times Jensen Ackles‘ Supernatural character, Dean Winchester, died, the title of the second certainly stands out — since it’s said by his Countdown character, Detective Mark Meachum. But no, that was not a Supernatural reference, creator Derek Haas says. “I would love to claim it as a Supernatural reference,” he tells TV Insider with a laugh. “But that’s the title of the episode. To me, it just speaks to that, a lot of people have told him, ‘You’re dead,’ that he’s been in all of these moments before, and guess what? He’s a survivor. So that’s what he’s [...

[This story contains spoilers from the three-episode premiere of Countdown.]

By Hollywood (or, really any) standards, actor Jensen Ackles has been a busy man. He’s voiced Batman in several animated Justice League films and recently co-starred on some of the hottest TV series, including as Justin Hartley’s brother, Russell Shaw, on network’s No. 1 series Tracker and as the deadly Soldier Boy on Amazon Prime’s streaming sensation The Boys.

Yet the in-demand actor, who broke out on The CW’s fantasy drama Supernatural (2005–2020), still hadn’t found that leading role that would make him want to press pause on everything else. That is, not until Countdown came along.

Set in Los Angeles, the new action-filled Prime Video series from “One Chicago” franchise co-creator and former showrunner Derek Haas follows Ackles’ character, LAPD Detective Mark Meachum, and five other law enforcement professionals who are hand-picked from the LAPD, FBI, DEA and Secret Service and brought together by FBI...

Eric Dane is being praised by his “Countdown” co-stars for how he’s handling his Als diagnosis and using his platform to help others. Dane went public with his illness in April.

“I’m proud as hell at how he’s handling it with such grace [and] dignity,” Jensen Ackles told me at the Amazon MGM show’s Los Angeles premiere. “I had no doubt that he was going to handle it this way. I couldn’t be more proud of him. He knows I love him and support him with anything he needs.”

The premiere marked Dane’s first red carpet appearance since disclosing his diagnosis. “I feel good,” Dane told me after posing for photos on the red carpet with his filmmaker girlfriend Janell Shirtcliff. “It’s nice to be here with everybody and see the hours and hours of work that we put into this come alive on screen.

Note: This story contains spoilers from “Countdown” Episodes 1-3.

In the Prime Video action thriller series “Countdown,” Jensen Ackles’ undercover cop is pulled out of prison for a top-secret investigation that could spell doom for all of Los Angeles. A case that starts off with the murder of a Homeland Security Agent escalates into the threat of a nuclear strike, and the team has no idea who they can trust within law enforcement.

Ackles described the series from creator Derek Haas as “a really fast roller coaster ride from tip to stern.” And after his previous series “Supernatural” and “The Boys,” he told TheWrap he enjoyed playing in the real world for once. “There’s no superheroes or demons. You couldn’t make a deal with the devil to come back from death. You couldn’t take off and you couldn’t laser-eye somebody,” he quipped.

In the first three episodes,...

[Warning: The below contains Major spoilers for Countdown Season 1 Episodes 1 “Teeth in the Bone,” 2 “Dead Lots of Times,” and 3 “Happy Birthday Final.”] Prime Video’s new series, Countdown, starring Jensen Ackles and Eric Dane, gets off to a shocking start with one of the task force’s own shot at the end of the third episode. The unit led by Blythe (Dane) — Meachum (Ackles), Oliveras (Jessica Camacho), Finau (Uli Latukefu), Bell (Elliot Knight), and Shepherd (Violett Beane) — comes together following the murder of a Homeland Security agent, Darden (played by Milo Ventimiglia in a surprise cameo!). And over the first three episodes, we learn that one of the task force has a terminal diagnosis and another might be hiding a major secret, plus there’s that aforementioned shocking ending to Episode 3. Below, creator Derek Haas and stars Jensen Ackles, Eric Dane, Jessica Camacho, Uli Latukefu, Elliot Knight, and Violett Beane ...

The new show Countdown features a huge surprise in its opening moments.

In the opening few moments of the Prime Video thriller’s series premiere, there’s an unexpected appearance from a big star.

Here’s a plot summary for the TV show: “When an officer with the Department of Homeland Security is murdered in broad daylight, LAPD detective Mark Meachum, portrayed by Jensen Ackles, is recruited to a secret task force, alongside undercover agents from all branches of law enforcement, to investigate. But the hunt for the killer soon uncovers a plot far more sinister than anyone could have imagined, kicking off a race against time to save a city of millions.”

Eric Dane, Jessica Camacho, Violett Beane, Elliot Knight, and Uli Latukefu all star in the show, which opens with a special guest.

Keep reading to find out more…

And the agent, Robert Darden, is played by…Milo Ventimiglia!

The following contains spoilers from the Countdown series premiere, now streaming on Prime Video.

The Countdown is now on, with Wednesday’s three-episode premiere of Prime Video’s new thriller from #OneChicago vet Derek Haas.

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But as viewers learned from the very first episode, multiple “countdowns” are at play.

Yes, Task Force...

[Warning: The below contains Major spoilers for Countdown Season 1 Episode 1 “Teeth in the Bone.”] Countdown opens up with quite the surprise: Milo Ventimiglia! The This Is Us star plays Darden, with the Department of Homeland Security, in the opening scene — and is swiftly killed. “Let me tell you the great thing about Milo. If you’ve gotten to spend any time with him, within five minutes, you want to be his best friend. And I was hoping that this character that you’re not going to get to spend a lot of time with, you’ve got to like, because it’s going to drive the rest of the case,” Countdown creator Derek Haas tells TV Insider. “So I just got really lucky and fortuitous that Milo was available and was down for it. And what was cool is that he got to play an action star, too,” he continues. “So it’s both things. You got to have a ...

The following contains spoilers from the opening minutes of the Countdown series premiere, now streaming on Prime Video.

For weeks, TVLine’s Countdown preview coverage has been telling you that the Prime Video thriller is set in motion when an officer with the Department of Homeland Security is murdered in broad daylight.

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By a Crock Pot.

Countdown series creator Derek Haas shares a new update about a potential season 2. Countdown premiered its first three episodes on Prime Video on June 25. The debut season follows Supernatural star Jensen Ackles as Mark Meachum, an LAPD detective who joins a covert task force comprising agents from various agencies. Originally brought together to hunt down a murderer, the team then has to prevent a major catastrophe. The Countdown cast includes Jessica Camacho as Amber Oliveras, Eric Dane as Nathan Blythe, Violett Beane as Evan Shepherd, Uli Latukefu as Lucas Finau, and Elliot Knight as Keyonte Bell.

In an interview with ScreenRant's Ash Crossan, Haas discusses the future of Countdown. He reveals that he has been thinking about a second installment, but is cautious about moving ahead too quickly, as sometimes "the real world rears its head." While the update has a positive tone, Haas is trying not to get ahead of himself.

In the time of legacy sequels, a gap of 17 years between a movie and its follow-up does not seem as implausible as it once did. For that reason, there is still a chance of seeing an almost-forgotten action thriller starring James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, and Angelina Jolie - as an assassin you wouldn’t mind being hunted down by - get an unexpected sequel. Especially if writer Derek Haas has anything to do with it.

Back in 2008, Wanted delivered a reasonable set of reviews and a strong $342 million box office result from its $75 million budget. That would usually mean that a sequel would very quickly be heading into production. It seemed that was the plan at the time as a script was written and then…nothing. Now almost two decades later, writer Haas has shared his thoughts on whether there is a chance of a new movie ever being made,...