By Hollywood (or really, any) standards, actor Jensen Ackles has been a busy man. From voicing Batman in several Justice League animated films to appearing as Justin Hartley’s brother in CBS’s Tracker and portraying the deadly Soldier Boy in The Boys, Ackles has stayed booked and busy.
But despite his resume, the former Supernatural star hadn’t found a leading role that made him want to hit pause—until now.
What Is Countdown About?
Set in Los Angeles, the new action-packed Prime Video series Countdown, created by One Chicago alum Derek Haas, follows Detective Mark Meachum (played by Ackles), an LAPD officer who joins a secret multi-agency task force.
The elite group is assembled by FBI Agent Nathan Blythe (played by Eric Dane, who recently revealed his ALS diagnosis), and includes agents from the LAPD, FBI, DEA, and Secret Service. Their mission? Investigate the murder of a Homeland Security officer—a case that quickly spirals into a larger plot involving a sleeper cell that could endanger millions.
“There was action and salty characters—there was the ‘will they or won’t they,’ are they going to make it? Are they going to save everyone and catch the bad guys?” Ackles told The Hollywood Reporter. “It was a bit of a throwback and I gravitated to it.”
The Role Came at the Right Time
Ackles recalls how Amazon was searching for the right project for him around the same time they were speaking to Haas:
“Somebody much smarter than me figured that the two of us should get together,” he said. “Derek had an idea, I came out and had lunch with him… I jumped.”
Then the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes happened, offering extra time for development:
“Derek and I spoke ad nauseam… just getting to know each other’s likes and dislikes and love for film.”
Things got tricky once production resumed, as The Boys season five also kicked into gear:
“There was a little bit of an overlap… I actually wrapped up The Boys last week, and so it all worked out. I’m thrilled because I love both shows.”
The Ensemble Cast
In addition to Ackles and Dane, the show features:
Jessica Camacho as DEA Agent Amber Oliveras
Violett Beane as tech agent Evan Shepherd
Elliot Knight as FBI terrorist specialist Keyonte Bell
Uli Latukefu as LAPD officer Luke Finau
Jonathan Togo as Federal Intelligence Officer Damon Drew
A Character on Borrowed Time
The “countdown” of the show’s title has multiple meanings. While the main team races against a looming national threat, Ackles’ character is also battling a terminal illness.
“He has a brain tumor—an inoperable brain tumor,” Ackles revealed. “He is involved now with this task force that is dialed into effectively saving the city of Los Angeles. But… he is dealing with his own mortality.”
This personal challenge impacts Meachum’s judgment and adds urgency:
“Is he operating under duress or with a clear mind?… You see that fight and struggle at the beginning of the series, and it continues to escalate.”
Ackles cited influences like John McClane (Die Hard) and Martin Riggs (Lethal Weapon), describing Meachum as a salty, worn-down but heroic figure in the spirit of ’80s and ’90s action heroes.
Relationships and Chemistry
Ackles teases that Meachum and Agent Oliveras (Camacho) will share strong chemistry and face high-stakes challenges that could influence the task force’s mission.
But what about Meachum’s condition? Does this rule out a season two?
Ackles didn’t answer directly but hinted there’s still a lot in store:
“There are a couple of countdowns going on. There’s the countdown to the imminent danger posed by the bad guys; but there’s also the countdown for some of these characters. Meachum is on borrowed time… and he is going to make decisions that he might not make if he had a clean bill of health.”
