Countdown’s Second Tier of Star Power

As we race toward Prime Video’s June 25th premiere, Countdown‘s second tier of star power is about to step into the spotlight.

Recent media coverage highlighting the combined talents of showrunner Derek Haas and headliners Jensen Ackles, Eric Dane and Jessica Camacho, has generated a palpable level of excitement around this new series. Countdown is rapidly giving rise to a sizable fanbase, which is a remarkable feat considering the series hasn’t aired yet. Those fans are interested in meeting Violett Beane, Uli Latukefu and Elliot Knight who bring grit, versatility and magnetic energy to the screen.

Let’s turn the spotlight on this wonderful trio of rising stars that round out Countdown‘s talented ensemble.

Violett Beane

Evan Shepherd

Violett Beane is set to inhabit the role of Evan Shepherd, a tech-savvy recent graduate of the FBI Academy who is eager to learn how to operate inside a task force.

It stands to reason that any tech-savvy analyst would be a vital, indispensable resource in supporting her fellow agents with anything from cybercrime to video surveillance.

It will be exciting to see what nuance Beane brings to the role and how her character develops personally and within the team dynamic.

Violett Beane is an American actress, born on May 18, 1996, in St. Petersburg, Florida. She moved to Austin Texas at the age of ten, and considers it her hometown. She has a strong creative streak beyond her acting abilities and is an accomplished musician. Beyond her mainstream acting roles, she has also taken on some gritty indie roles such as Bethany in Flay and Lindsay in Slash. She has a demonstrated willingness to explore bold unconventional characters.

Her more popular projects include Jesse Quick in The Flash, Cara Bloom in God Friended Me and Imogene Scott in Death and Other Details. Her choices reflect both range and resonance, as she excels at playing characters that have spanned the genre spectrum while delivering intelligence, vulnerability and resilience.

Beane is a standout casting choice given her ability to deliver character driven performances with emotional arcs, quiet intensity and gritty action.

Uli Latukefu

Lucas Finau

Uli Latukefu is set to bring Lucas Finau to life. Finau is a veteran of the LAPD’s Gangs and Narcotics division.

As a veteran with experience like this, it’s easy to speculate that Finau will be a worthy asset to the task force having faced dangerous criminals, undercover assignments, informants and criminal networks.

Latukefu will easily bring physical intensity and a commanding presence to this role. Witnessing his character develop, on and off the team, will be thrilling to watch.

Uli Latukefu is an Australian actor, born on August 2, 1983. He graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and was involved in musical theatre before making the jump to television. His classical training gives him depth, discipline and command in delivering his onscreen performances with an undeniable screen presence.

A few of his most notable projects include Byamba in Marco Polo, young Dwayne Johnson in Young Rock, and Callum in The Last Anniversary. Latukefu has built a reputation for balancing power with vulnerability, often choosing characters who are men of action and sensitivity. He brings dignity and empathy to every role.

Latukefu delivers authenticity and emotional nuance, making him a winning casting choice for the character of Lucus Finau.

Elliot Knight

Keyonte Bell

Elliot Knight is on tap to play the role of Keyonte Bell, a third-generation FBI agent, well-versed in counterterrorism.

As a third generation veteran with this background and experience, it’s easy to theorize that Bell would be well versed in domestic and foreign threat assessment and intelligence gathering.

Knight is right at home layering a quiet strength and emotional complexity that will undoubtedly elevate this character.

Elliot Knight, now based in Los Angeles, is originally from Birmingham, UK. He attended The Manchester School of Theatre and began his career as Sinbad in the UK adventure series of the same name. He has embodied the character Kyle ‘Gaz’ Garrick in four iterations of the video game Call of Duty (Modern Warfare, Mobile, Modern Warfare II and Modern Warfare III). To name a few, Knight has worked on television projects such as Don Hall in Titans, a corrupt Police Officer in Animal Kingdom, and played the role of Colin in Season 4 of The Boys.

Knight has played a wide range of distinctive roles and can be equally convincing as a romantic lead or an enigmatic antihero. He packs an on-screen presence that exudes confidence, charisma, charm and emotional intelligence, making him an excellent casting choice for Countdown.

In Closing

Violett Beane, Uli Latukefu and Elliot Knight represent a trio of actors that will effortlessly add depth and color to the already talented Countdown cast. Their contribution will add chemistry, nuance and energy to a show that already has fans brimming with excitement.

Be sure to tune in to Prime Video on June 25th for the premiere, a date that feels too far away for for all of us.

Links and Source Material

For anyone who wishes to follow the links for my source material they are as follows, listed in no particular order.

• Article: Exclusive – The Hollywood Reporter – Amazon’s Countdown Adds Trio of Regulars
• Article: FoundMyJam – Countdown Could Be Prime Video’s Next Big Hit
• Interview: Schon – Violett Beane
• Article: SLAM – Actor Uli Latukefu moves from ‘Young Rock’ to ‘The Rock’
• Article: The New Zealand Herald – The Legend of Baron To’a stars Uli Latukefu and John Tui
• Review: Uli Latakefu – Movies and TV Shows List – Rotten Tomatoes
• Article: CG Mag Backlot Magazine – From Pirate to Wizard: An interview with Elliot Knight
• Article: Icon Vs Icon – Catching Fire: Elliot Knight on Career, Artistic Evolution and ‘Once Upon a Time’
• Article: Cryptic Rock: Interview – Elliot Knight