Jensen Ackles to Star in MGM+ Crime Drama ‘Rules of Prey,’ Based on John Sandford’s Bestseller

MGM+ has greenlit Rules of Prey, a new eight-episode crime drama starring Jensen Ackles and based on John Sandford’s bestselling Prey novels. The series will begin production in Toronto this month, with Ackles also serving as an executive producer.

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Key details:

Title: Rules of Prey
Network: MGM+
Star: Jensen Ackles
Episodes: Eight
Source material: John Sandford’s Prey book series
Creator/showrunner: Bruce Terris
Production: MGM Television and Take 5 Productions
Filming: Toronto, beginning September 2026
Premiere markets: U.S., U.K., Ireland, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Chile

The series adapts Sandford’s Prey franchise, which began with Rules of Prey and has grown into a collection of 35 New York Times bestsellers. Ackles will play Lucas Davenport, the unconventional investigator at the center of the story.

What is ‘Rules of Prey’ about?

Rules of Prey follows Lucas Davenport, a former Minneapolis Police Department detective who has withdrawn from law enforcement. His isolation is disrupted when a string of murders draws him back into an investigation with a deeply personal connection.

The killings are not random. An intelligent and methodical serial killer is targeting victims in Minneapolis while deliberately sending a message to Davenport. As the investigator works to understand the killer’s motives, the case develops into a psychological battle between two highly intelligent adversaries.

Davenport must unravel the killer’s personal vendetta and the moral code governing the murders while attempting to stop a predator who treats their escalating conflict as a game.

Ackles will portray Davenport as a sharp, unconventional lawman whose uncompromising approach to justice previously contributed to his departure from the Minneapolis police force.

Jensen Ackles leads the MGM+ adaptation

The project marks another major television role for Ackles, whose career includes his 15-season run as Dean Winchester on Supernatural and his portrayal of Soldier Boy in Amazon’s The Boys.

Ackles is also expanding his producing relationship with MGM Television. He is set to star in and produce Vought Rising, the upcoming The Boys prequel series for Prime Video, in which he will reprise his role as Soldier Boy. That series is scheduled to debut in 2027.

Ackles will also return as Russell Shaw for the fourth season of CBS’ Tracker, which is set to premiere in October 2026.

Bruce Terris serves as creator and showrunner

Emmy-nominated writer and producer Bruce Terris created Rules of Prey and will serve as showrunner and executive producer.

Terris is currently under an overall deal with MGM and most recently worked as an executive producer on HBO’s DTF St. Louis, starring Jason Bateman and David Harbour. The series received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series.

His previous credits include co-creating Perpetual Grace for Epix, as well as work on Amazon’s Patriot and the feature film St. Sebastian.

Michael Wright, global head of MGM+, said Ackles’ screen presence and Terris’ adaptation of Sandford’s novels made the project a natural fit for the network.

“Jensen Ackles’ classic leading man charisma, combined with Bruce Terris’ skillful adaptation of John Sandford’s enduringly popular Prey series is an excellent fit for MGM+,” Wright said.

According to Wright, the drama will explore the psychological suspense that has been central to Sandford’s novels while continuing MGM+’s strategy of adapting established storytelling for contemporary audiences.

‘Rules of Prey’ creative team

Terris serves as creator, showrunner and executive producer, with Charles Gogolak and Matt Leipzig of Modern Literary Arts also executive producing.

Howard Braunstein, Michael Jaffe, John Requa, Glenn Ficarra and John Weber are executive producers, while Sandford serves as a co-producer.

Daniel Sackheim is directing the pilot and second episode and will also executive produce the series.

Who is John Sandford?

John Sandford is the pen name of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist John Camp. He is best known for the Prey novels, which center on Lucas Davenport, as well as the Kidd and Virgil Flowers series.

Sandford has also written six additional books, including three young-adult novels co-written with his wife, Michele Cook.

When will ‘Rules of Prey’ premiere?

MGM+ has not yet announced an exact premiere date for Rules of Prey. Production is scheduled to begin in Toronto in September 2026.

The series is set to premiere on MGM+ across the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Chile.

With Ackles attached to lead the adaptation and Sandford’s long-running Prey franchise providing the source material, Rules of Prey is positioned as a new television interpretation of the Lucas Davenport character for MGM+ audiences.

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