Jensen Ackles to lead new crime thriller 'Rules of Prey' at MGM+

Ackles will play Lucas Davenport, a Minneapolis police detective at the centre of the series

Jensen Ackles is set to return to crime television with a leading role in Rules of Prey, a new thriller series that has been greenlit at MGM+.

The Supernatural and The Boys star will play Lucas Davenport, a brilliant and unconventional Minneapolis police detective at the centre of the series. Rules of Prey is based on John Sandford’s long-running Prey crime novel series.

The series will be based on the first novel, Rules of Prey, which follows Davenport as he investigates a string of murders committed by a serial killer known as “Maddog”. The killer follows a personal set of rules, including never knowing his victims, never leaving a motive and never repeating a pattern, turning the investigation into a psychological battle between the two men.

Bruce Terris is attached as showrunner, writer and executive producer. The series is being produced by Amazon MGM Studios alongside Zaftig Films, Howard Braunstein Films and Modern Literary Arts.

The Prey novels have followed Davenport through numerous investigations since Sandford published Rules of Prey in 1989. The television adaptation will bring the character to the screen as Ackles takes on another crime-focused role following his Prime Video series Countdown.

Production is currently taking place in Toronto, with filming scheduled to continue through December 2026.

Ackles is also known for playing Dean Winchester in Supernatural and Soldier Boy in The Boys. He recently appeared in Prime Video’s Countdown, which was cancelled after one season.

Rules of Prey does not yet have a premiere date announced.