Jensen Ackles to Star in MGM+ Serial Killer Thriller RULES OF PREY
Jensen Ackles is trading superheroes and government conspiracies for a battle of wits with a serial killer. Ackles is set to star in and executive produce MGM+’s new crime thriller series Rules of Prey, an eight-episode adaptation of the first novel in John Sandford’s long-running Prey book series.
The story centers on Lucas Davenport, a former Minneapolis Police Department detective who has retreated from law enforcement after his sharp mind, unconventional methods, and willingness to put justice ahead of the rules pushed him out of the department.
His time away doesn’t last. Davenport is pulled back into the job when an intelligent serial killer begins murdering people across Minneapolis, with the crimes carrying a message specifically intended for him.
Davenport soon realizes he isn’t simply hunting a murderer. He’s been invited into a psychological game with an adversary who has developed his own twisted moral code and views Davenport as the perfect opponent.
Ackles’ version of Davenport is described as a righteous avenging angel, a brilliant polymath whose methods don’t always fit neatly within the boundaries of the law.
Bruce Terris, who recently won an Emmy for executive producing DTF St. Louis, created the series and will serve as showrunner and executive producer. Terris also co-created Perpetual Grace, LTD for Epix, the network that eventually became MGM+.
Daniel Sackheim, whose directing credits include Game of Thrones, Jack Ryan, True Detective, Ozark, and Better Call Saul, will direct the first two episodes and executive produce.
“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 comes from MGM Television and Take 5 Productions. Production is set to begin this month in Toronto.
Sandford is the pen name of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist John Camp, who has built an extensive collection of crime fiction over the years.
In addition to the Prey novels, he created the Kidd and Virgil Flowers series and has written six other books, including three YA novels co-authored with his wife, Michele Cook.
For Ackles, Rules of Prey adds another Amazon MGM Studios project to an increasingly busy schedule. He’s also starring in and producing the upcoming Vought Rising, the The Boys prequel that brings him back as Soldier Boy.
Ackles previously starred in The Boys and headlined and executive produced the thriller Countdown. The Supernatural alum will also return as Russell Shaw in Season 4 of CBS’ Tracker.
Lucas Davenport is a great role for Ackles to jump into. He gets an obsessive serial-killer mystery, a cerebral cat-and-mouse battle, and a protagonist who has no problem bending the rules when his version of justice demands it.
Source: Deadline