Jensen Ackles had a blast working with Eric Dane on Prime Video’s Countdown — but are there plans for them to return in season 2?
“I’m absolutely pushing for it,” Ackles, 47, told Men’s Health in an interview published on Tuesday, July 22. “I had one of the best times I’ve ever had working on a set while we were on this show.”
Ackles praised Dane’s work on the show, adding, “Eric’s a total pro. He’s a TV icon. In our first meeting, I stuck out my hand and he gave me a hug instead. From that moment, I thought, ‘This has a chance to be good.’”
He continued: “I wanted to earn his respect. He was the big dog on the set, and I wasn’t trying to out-alpha-dog him. There was room for both of us.”
What to Know About Jensen Ackles and Eric Dane’s Crime Drama ‘Countdown’
Countdown, which premiered in June, follows an LAPD detective (played by Ackles) who is recruited onto a covert task force of undercover agents from various law enforcement agencies after a Department of Homeland Security officer is killed in plain sight. The group must track down the murderer — but there is a larger conspiracy at work that they need to uncover while racing to protect Los Angeles.
In addition to Ackles and Dane, 52, Countdown also stars Jessica Camacho, Violett Beane, Uli Latukefu and Elliot Knight. It is one of Dane’s new projects in the wake of his ALS diagnosis.
“I have been diagnosed with ALS,” Dane said in a statement in April. “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter. I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to set of Euphoria next week. I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time.”
Ackles showed support for Dane amid his health struggle.
“Obviously, he’s dealing with what he’s dealing with. I’m checking in on him quite frequently, letting him know that if there’s anything he needs from me, I’ll be there,” he continued on Tuesday. “He’s very appreciative, but he’s already surrounded himself with the right people, and that’s important when you’re going through something like that.”
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As for what comes next for Ackles’ character on the show? Viewers know that Meachum has been suffering from consistent headaches, which come as a result of a brain tumor.
“I loved it from a storytelling perspective. A lot of those types of characters,” the actor noted. “I love that Meachum actually has a reason for why he’s acting so cavalier at work. He doesn’t give a s*** because he’s dying. He’s taking risks that he wouldn’t necessarily take if he was of sound mind and body.”
Ackles continued: “That brought great context to why he is the way he is, as opposed to just being a leather jacket–wearing cool guy who won’t bend to authority. This guy’s got some shit going on. I like how that moves the story and relationships in a certain direction. People think, ‘Can we trust this guy?’ And it’s not because he’s just got a death wish. It’s because he’s already dying.”
New episodes of Countdown air Wednesdays on Prime Video.
