EXCLUSIVE: Jensen Ackles continues to be an Amazon MGM Studios MVP by pulling double duty. The Vought Rising star is set to headline and executive produce original drama series Rules of Prey, which has been greenlighted by MGM+. It is based on the first novel in John Sandford’s Prey book series.
Created by Bruce Terris (DTF St. Louis), who serves as showrunner and executive producer, Rules of Prey follows Lucas Davenport (Ackles), formerly a detective in the Minneapolis Police Department, drawn out of seclusion back into law enforcement to investigate a series of confounding murders designed to send a message specifically to him. When an ingenious serial killer begins murdering Minneapolis citizens, Davenport, a brilliant polymath and unconventional investigator, takes the case, sparking an intense psychological duel with an equally intelligent adversary. As Davenport deciphers the killer’s twisted moral code and personal vendetta, he must match wits with a predator operating by his own rules of justice, risking everything to stop a killer who sees their conflict as the ultimate game.
Ackles’ Lucas Davenport is described as a righteous avenging angel whose sharp mind, unconventional approach, and unwillingness to let the law get in the way of justice forced him out of the Minneapolis Police Department.
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From MGM Television and Take 5 Productions, the eight-episode season of Rules of Prey is executive produced by Ackles, Terris, Charles Gogolak and Matt Leipzig for Modern Literary Arts, Howard Braunstein, Michael Jaffe, John Requa, Glenn Ficarra and John Weber.
Daniel Sackheim (Game of Thrones) will direct the first two episodes and will serve as executive producer. Sandford is a co-producer. Filming begins this month in Toronto.
“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+,” said Michael Wright, global head of MGM+. “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.”
The series will premiere on MGM+ in the U.S., UK, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Chile.
Rules of Prey further expands Ackles’ relationship with MGM+ and MGM Television parent Amazon MGM Studios. He stars in and produces the upcoming The Boys prequel Vought Rising, in which he reprises his role as Soldier Boy from the mothership series. It is set to premiere in 2027. Ackles previously also juggled two Amazon series, The Boys and thriller Countdown, which he headlined and executive produced. Next, the Supernatural alum also will return as Russell Shaw in the fourth season of CBS’ Tracker. Ackles is repped by Gersh and attorney PJ Shapiro.
Terris is coming off an Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series Emmy win for DTF St. Louis, which he executive produced. He previously co-created the well received series Perpetual Grace, LTD for MGM+ predecessor Epix, which was championed by Wright. Terris, who is currently under an overall deal at MGM Television, is repped by CAA, Modern Literary Arts, and Lichter, Grossman, Nichols.
Sackheim’s series directing credits also include Prime Video’s Jack Ryan as well as True Detective, Ozark, Better Call Saul, The Audacity and Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed. He is repped by Independent Artist Group, Industry Entertainment and Jared Levine.
Sandford is the pseudonym for the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist John Camp. He is the author of the Prey series, the Kidd novels, the Virgil Flowers novels, and six other books, including three YA novels co-authored with his wife Michele Cook. He is repped by CAA.
