'Take Dean to Hell or Los Angeles': Jensen Ackles’ New Series Feels Just Like 'Supernatural' — But Here’s Who Replaces the Angels
Even the actor himself admits he barely had to step out of his old roles.
In the new series Countdown, Jensen Ackles isn’t hunting demons or wearing Soldier Boy’s superhero cape — yet his character still feels painfully familiar. According to Ackles, LAPD detective Mark Michum is basically Dean Winchester without the supernatural extras.
"Take Dean and put him anywhere — hell, Los Angeles, wherever. The key is to play him like a real person," says Ackles.
And that’s exactly how he approached Michum. Yes, there are no monsters or angels here, but the criminals in Countdown are just as terrifying because they’re painfully real.
The show is set in Los Angeles itself, which acts as another character in the story. Filming took place amid devastating wildfires, with many crew members suffering from smoke and fire. Against this backdrop, detective Michum — a man with a tragic past — tries to make the world a bit better by taking down "monsters in human form".
Structurally, Countdown sticks closer to classic TV: 13 episodes with weekly releases, unlike most streaming shows. Amazon, Ackles says, seems to be testing a return to the "old-school" model. But the actor doesn’t mind — after 15 seasons of Supernatural, this pace is nothing new.
Countdown premieres June 25 on Prime Video. The first three episodes drop immediately, with the rest arriving every Wednesday. Ready to meet Dean in a new guise?
