Derek Haas: The Birth of a New Brand

The Birth of a New Brand

Chicago to Countdown has taken Derek Haas along a path from network television to prestige streaming. His departure from Dick Wolf Entertainment was a bold step towards the first series in an exclusive overall deal with Prime Video. Countdown is the initial project under that banner and symbolizes the birth of a new brand. Something all his own.

From the moment Prime Video released much anticipated details regarding the premiere of Countdown, enthusiasm has steadily been ratcheting up. Fans are eager for any news they can latch onto while they (yes I’m going to say it) Countdown the days.

Even more exciting is the idea that this is the start of something much bigger.

The Haas Recipe for Success

What is likely to remain under the steady hand of Derek Haas is his time-honored recipe for success. With his creative artistry and guidance, such shows as those from One Chicago (Fire, PD, Med, and Justice) and FBI: International were delivered. That entertainment is synonymous with his reputation as a writer and showrunner.

Haas’ unique craftsmanship ensured that fans were provided entertainment that was rich in fast-paced action, authenticity and realism. Also quintessential to his storytelling is his ability to develop complex roles that challenged an audience’s conventional wisdom about what is “good” or “bad” at the heart of a character. He has often been quoted as saying that “they live in the grey. They are neither all dark nor all light.”

Haas is known for playing with form when it comes to character development. It’s very much in his wheelhouse to prioritize the arc of a character, but not at the expense of the story.

The Story Is in the Details

Another thing that sets Haas apart is his commitment to realism. Before writing Chicago Fire, he went on ride-alongs with actual firehouses in Chicago. He learned the difference between a fire truck and an engine, what it feels like to arrive at a burning building, and how firefighters navigate trauma on and off the job.

Judging by his law enforcement procedural Chicago PD, and his written novels, Derek Haas clearly has a deep fascination for all things law enforcement, crime, assassins, gangsters, and spies.

While attending to realism in that realm, it’s of no surprise that Jensen Ackles, who plays leading man Mark Meachum said, “I did do some brush-up on my firearms training; In fact, we went to a training facility in California where Keanu Reeves does his gun training for John Wick.”

To further punctuate the kind of realism that Haas is known for, Ackles shared “The police jargon, talking in acronyms, was not something I’m overly used to. We had consultants to help with that,” he says. “Most of my questions were about what the acronyms mean and familiarizing myself with the terminology–rather than how to bust down a door.”

This kind of immersive research gives his shows their grounded, lived-in quality. Whether it’s a shootout or a heart-to-heart, you believe it because Haas, his crew and his cast have done their homework. He once said that his most moving moments as a writer come from watching an actor bring his words to life.

Come for the Crime Story – Stay for Drama & Romance

Quoted from a recent article, Haas shares, “I like it when the heroes have a bounce in their step and love their jobs, versus the depressed, I’m-haunted-by-what-I’ve-seen type of characters.”

And if that morsel of news wasn’t catnip enough for potential Countdown fans, Haas added that audiences can come for a “crime story with huge stakes but stay for the drama and the romance and the humor and the twists and all the emotional turns…” Concluding that, “I think they will be surprised by how involved they become with not only our protagonists’ lives, but also the villain’s. When they get to episode 10 of 13, they’ll see something they haven’t seen in this genre before…”

Haas has teased what might turn out to be a significant twist coming in episode 10. At this point, there is no way to know who that villain might be. However, in a recent podcast interview by “On The List’s,” Brett Gursky we learn that Grant Harvey (The Accountant 2, Animal Kingdom) will be on Countdown for the remainder of season one and possibly continue into season two. Harvey has worked with Jensen Ackles in the past, both in Supernatural and Big Sky.

Countdown Ensemble – An Embarrassment of Riches

While Countdown does not premiere until June 25, 2025, the foundation of the show is compelling, and Haas has a powerhouse lineup of talent on tap to get the job done. It’s a mix of intense presence, emotional range, and serious fan followings — the kind of ensemble that promises big performances and even bigger audience engagement. With this much star power, Countdown isn’t just a debut — it’s an arrival.

We have Jensen Ackles (Supernatural, The Boys), Eric Dane (Euphoria, Grey’s Anatomy), Jessica Camacho (All Rise, The Flash), Violett Beane (God Friended Me, The Resident), Uli Latukefu (Young Rock), and Elliot Knight (Once Upon a Time, American Gothic).

With season one completed and awaiting release, the cast is already singing the praises of their fellow actors, sharing details regarding their respective on-set bonding. Haas has given praise to Eric Dane, saying, “Eric is a natural, dynamic, thoughtful team leader.” Ackles is also on record sharing his thoughts about Eric, “We formed a brotherly bond quickly and it was so great to have someone who’s a veteran in series television to connect with,” Ackles says. “He was like a North Star for the entire cast.”  Ackles and Haas both point to the chemistry between the characters as the biggest draw in this new series.

As for Ackles, Haas clocked in with, “Jensen has that innate natural joy and love for what he does that not only translates perfectly to the character he plays, but elevates everyone around him, myself included,” Haas says. “He is genuinely, enormously funny and I would ruin takes by laughing out loud from the monitors 30 feet away.”

Countdown – A New Era

Ackles describes the series as one with a big, cinematic scope. “The camerawork is mostly handheld which gives the show a lot of energy,” he says, “It’s high energy, high stakes, and there’s a lot of momentum that pushes each episode.”

“There’s plenty of action and adventure but there’s also humor and a lot of heart in the show, especially in the way the characters relate to each other,” Ackles says. “Which feels like it aligns with a lot of the things I’ve done before…” eluding to the familial bonds in his previous work and the “die for each other or for the greater good” which is a theme that will also find a home in Countdown… “These are outcast officers that don’t necessarily find comfort with their unit, they’re renegade mavericks in their departments, and they see themselves within each other. I think the fans will react to that.”

The series will debut exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide on Wednesday, June 25, with a three-episode premiere. New episodes will follow weekly, leading up to the season finale on Wednesday, September 3. 

Most fans anticipating the premiere of Countdown this summer know the show’s description, but it’s worth highlighting again. This show kicks off when an officer with the Department of Homeland Security is murdered in broad daylight, LAPD detective Mark Meachum, portrayed by Ackles, is recruited to a secret task force, alongside undercover agents from all branches of law enforcement, to investigate. But the hunt for the killer soon uncovers a plot far more sinister than anyone could have imagined, kicking off a race against time to save a city of millions.

In Closing

So, in any speculation or exploration of how Derek Haas will continue to develop Countdown as a high-stakes, character-driven series, I think it is safe to say that it is the start of something big. Derek Haas will shape the birth of a new brand. Fast-paced entertainment, where grounded action meets emotional truth.

Bring it!

Side Bar…

I’d like to give a shout out to Shanaz (@z_shanaz on X) for posting about the the Grant Harvey interview. I was able to lean into that and provide the video excerpt in the article. And while I’m at it, I’d also like to give a special shout out to Otterby (@GMOtterby on X) who took it upon herself to cast a wider net in Discord and other platforms to give the Jensen Ackles: The Action Star We’ve Been Waiting For, a wider viewing audience. That article has received 1,676 reads in a single week!

Thank you everyone on X, BlueSky, Threads, and Instagram who took the time to read the articles, re-post them, share them and comment. When you comment directly on the article your thoughts and feelings are seen by all who read it 😉

And Finally, when I looked a little deeper into Grant Harvey’s interview, it was such a pleasure to find Brett Gursky’s podcast on YouTube. I have always been a big fan of “Inside the Actor’s Studio” with James Lipton. It’s nice to see that Brett is intent on continuing the tradition of giving fans an intimate glimpse into actors’ lives and artistry. Subscribe to “ON THE LIST” if this appeals to you too.

Derek Haas’ Published Novels

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.

• Prime / Amazon MGM Studios Website / Press Release
• Article: FoundMyJam Website – Derek Haas, Countdown & Jensen Ackles
• Article: Men’s Health – Jensen Ackles Gets Us Fired Up for His New Prime Video Series Countdown
• YouTube Video-ScreenSlam: Derek Haas Talks Casting, Spin Off, Characters, and Situations
• YouTube Video-MyTakeOnTV: One Chicago Day 2016: Derek Haas and Michael Brandt talk Chicago
• YouTube Video-MyTakeOnTV: One Chicago Day 2019: Derek Haas gives us the Scoop
• Article: HeyUGuys [HUG] Exclusive Interview with Derek Haas
• Article: TVBRITTANYF.COM Interview-Derek Haas on Launching the FBI Spinoff -FBI: International
• Article: Writer’s Bone-Why Screenwriter and Novelist Derek Haas Loves Making Readers Cheer for a Hit Man
• Derek Haas Website
• Article: ADrinkWith.com – A Drink with Derek Haas
• YouTube Channel: Meet Us At Molly’s – Many Exclusive Interviews with One Chicago Cast and Crew
• Article-Wolf Entertainment Spotlight-Derek Haas
• Link to the SPNSF Convention Video. I took an excerpt from it, where an audience member asks, “What is your favorite thing about each other, personally and professionally?” The excerpt only includes Misha’s answer about Jensen, professionally.
• All of Jensen Ackles’ scene clips are Courtesy WB & CW.