EXCLUSIVE: Prime Video has made the decision to renew its two outstanding freshman series that premiered in late spring and summer, choosing not to continue with the second season of Countdownwith Jensen Ackles, and Butterflyheadlined by Daniel Dae Kim. Both dramas are produced by Amazon MGM Studios.
Cancellations were not a foregone conclusion, particularly for Countdownwhich, more than a month after the season 1 finale, continues to linger in Prime Video’s US Top 10, currently in 10th place. Both Countdown And Butterfly broke into the Nielsen Top 10 for streaming originals: Countdownwhich had a weekly release, reaching number 8, Butterflywho had an excessive fall, #6. For Countdownthe better performing of the two, the decision came down to total global viewership, from what I’ve heard.
Over the past month and a half, Prime Video has decided the fate of the six new scripted series launching from May to August, starting with the three YA titles. Among them, We were liars And Overcompensation were renewed, while Power heads was canceled.
The streamer then proceeded with the three freshman crime/thriller dramas, renewing the Bosch spin-off Ballard and cancellation Countdown And Butterfly. All decisions were made under the leadership of Amazon MGM Studios’ outgoing head of Global TV, Vernon Sanders; the final three were finalized after Peter Friedlander was announced as his successor.
Amazon MGM Studios remains in business with Ackles thanks to the first deal Chaos Machine, his company with his wife Danneel Ackles, made with the studio. He is also headlining the upcoming Prime Video show. The boys derivative series Vought Rising.
Countdown, from creator, executive producer and showrunner Derek Haas, who has an overall deal with Amazon MGM Studios, also stars Eric Dane and Jessica Camacho.
In it, when a Department of Homeland Security officer is murdered in broad daylight, LAPD detective Mark Meachum (Ackles) is recruited into a secret task force, alongside undercover agents from all branches of law enforcement, to investigate. But the hunt for the killer soon reveals a plot far more sinister than anyone could have imagined, kicking off a race against time to save a city of millions.
The cast also includes Violett Beane, Elliot Knight and Uli Latukefu.
Co-created by Ken Woodruff based on Boom! Graphic novel series from the studios, Butterfly a character-driven spy thriller that explores complex family dynamics in the treacherous world of global espionage. It centers on David Jung (Kim), an enigmatic and highly unpredictable former American intelligence agent living in South Korea, whose life is shattered when the consequences of an impossible decision from his past come back to haunt him, and he finds himself pursued by Rebecca (Reina Hardesty), a murderous young sociopathic agent charged with killing him, and Caddis, the sinister spy organization she works for.
Kim’s production company, 3AD, developed the series, which was filmed in South Korea, as part of its first-look deal with Amazon MGM Studios. THE Butterfly The cast also includes Kim Ji-hoon, Park Hae-soo, Kim Tae-hee, Charles Parnell, Sean Dulake and Nayoon Kim, with Sung Dong-il and Lee Il-hwa appearing in guest roles.
Woodruff served as showrunner and executive producer alongside novelist Steph Cha with Kim and John Cheng for 3AD; Stephen Christy and Ross Richie for Boom! Workshops; and Amel for The Amel Company. Additionally, Adam Yoelin served as co-EP for Boom! The studios. Kitao Sakurai directed the first two episodes.
