Jensen Ackles stars as detective Lucas Davenport in MGM+'s thriller Rules of Prey. Read story details, release timeline, and production news!
Fan-favorite actor Jensen Ackles is making a high-profile return to procedural crime drama after officially landing the lead role in Rules of Prey, an eight-episode thriller series greenlit at MGM+. Produced by Amazon MGM Studios alongside Zaftig Films, Howard Braunstein Films, and Modern Literary Arts, the series adapts Pulitzer Prize-winning author John Sandford's iconic 1989 bestseller. Ackles stars as brilliant former Minneapolis police detective Lucas Davenport as he gets pulled out of retirement to catch a calculating serial killer. Production is currently underway in Toronto and will film through December 2026 under showrunner Bruce Terris.
What Is the Plot of MGM's Rules of Prey?
Adapted directly from John Sandford's premier 1989 crime novel, Rules of Prey introduces audiences to Lucas Davenport, an unconventional investigator and brilliant polymath.
- Drawn Out of Seclusion: Formerly a detective with the Minneapolis Police Department, Davenport's unwillingness to let legal red tape stop justice previously forced him out of the force. He is drawn back into action when a series of bizarre murders appear targeted directly at him.
- The Maddog Serial Killer: Davenport faces off against a ruthless murderer known as "Maddog". The killer operates by a strict personal manifesto: never know the victims, never leave a clear motive, and never repeat a crime pattern.
- A High-Stakes Psychological Game: The investigation quickly turns into an intense game of cat-and-mouse as Davenport attempts to decipher the killer's twisted moral code before more citizens fall victim.
Who Is Behind the Creative Team for Rules of Prey?
The television adaptation brings together seasoned Hollywood talent both in front of and behind the camera to bring John Sandford's 35-book franchise to life.
- Showrunner Bruce Terris: Emmy Award winning writer Bruce Terris serves as creator, head writer, and showrunner.
- Director Daniel Sackheim: Acclaimed director Daniel Sackheim (Game of Thrones, True Detective) is set to direct the pilot and second episode while serving as executive producer.
- Executive Producers: The producing lineup includes Charles Gogolak, Matt Leipzig, Howard Braunstein, Michael Jaffe, John Requa, Glenn Ficarra, and John Weber, with original author John Sandford serving as co-producer.
What Other Projects Is Jensen Ackles Working On?
Following his iconic 15-season run as Dean Winchester on Supernatural, Ackles has built an expansive list of high-profile television roles across major platforms.
- The Boys Universe: Ackles will reprise his standout role as the crude, shield-wielding superhero Soldier Boy in Vought Rising, Prime Video's upcoming 1950s prequel series co-starring Aya Cash.
- CBS Hit Series Tracker: Ackles returns as guest star Russell Shaw alongside Justin Hartley in Season 4 of CBS's popular action-drama Tracker.
- Prime Video's Countdown: Ackles recently headlined Amazon's action-thriller series Countdown, which concluded its run on Prime Video.
Catch Jensen Ackles' work on Prime Video in The Boys or stream previous MGM+ crime thrillers directly on the MGM+ Streaming Platform.