Prime Video Cancels Jensen Ackles' Countdown, Daniel Dae Kim's Butterfly After One Season

Both freshman series, which debuted earlier in 2025, failed to secure a second season despite notable showings on streaming charts.

Prime Video has officially announced the cancellation of two of its freshman dramas, Countdown and Butterfly, after just one season each. The news, exclusively reported by Deadline Hollywood on October 10, 2025, marks a surprising decision for many fans and industry observers.

Despite both series appearing in Prime Video's U.S. Top 10 and the Nielsen Top 10 for Streaming Originals, Amazon MGM Studios opted not to move forward with additional seasons. The decision primarily came down to the shows' performance regarding total global viewership, according to Deadline's reporting.

Prime Video's Unexpected Move to End Two Promising Series

The cancellations of Countdown and Butterfly were not a foregone conclusion. Just a month after its season finale, Countdown, starring Jensen Ackles and Jessica Camacho, continued to hold a spot in Prime Video's U.S. Top 10. The show also reached the eighth spot on the Nielsen Top 10 for Streaming Originals, indicating significant viewership domestically.

Similarly, Daniel Dae Kim's Butterfly broke into the Nielsen Top 10, landing at number six. These metrics suggest a healthy initial engagement for both series, making their swift termination a point of discussion for streaming content strategy.

Showrunner Derek Haas, who created Countdown, expressed optimism for a second season just last month. He shared, "As soon as I know anything, you'll know! Maybe you'll know before me. I'm gonna stay optimistic. If it doesn't happen, I guess I'll have to write a novella so you'll have closure. But fingers crossed… let's get some more Countdown." Unfortunately, that optimism did not translate into a renewal.

[Image: Jensen Ackles as Mark Meachum in 'Countdown']

Jensen Ackles' Countdown Series Ended on a Major Cliffhanger

Countdown centered on LAPD detective Mark Meachum, played by Jensen Ackles, a rogue, risk-taking officer. When an officer with the Department of Homeland Security is brutally murdered, Meachum is recruited to a secret task force composed of agents from various law enforcement branches. Their investigation quickly uncovers a far more sinister plot, forcing them into a race against time to protect Los Angeles.

The series, which premiered on June 25, 2025, also featured Eric Dane as Nathan Blythe, Jessica Camacho as Amber Oliveras, Violett Beane as Evan Shepherd, Elliot Knight as Keyonte Bell, and Uli Latukefu as Lucas Finau. The first season made an intriguing narrative pivot halfway through, moving from one major case to another involving domestic terrorism against a California governor.

The show's cancellation is particularly frustrating for fans because its first season concluded on a significant cliffhanger. In the finale, the villain, Seth, was revealed to be an FBI agent, explaining how he consistently outmaneuvered the task force. The episode ended with Jessica Camacho's character, Oliveras, kidnapped and forced to run across a field while Seth aimed his sniper rifle at her.

SPOILER ADVISORY: The following section discusses the resolution of a Season 1 cliffhanger.

Following the cancellation news, creator Derek Haas took to social media to provide some closure, confirming that Oliveras "lived." Haas had previously stated his intention to create cliffhangers, saying, "I used to work on the Chicago shows, and one of my favorite things in the world is to cliffhanger a season-ender. People pull their punches because they think, 'Will we get renewed? If we don't get renewed, then it's not a complete story and audiences will feel betrayed.' I don't give a s--t, I'm doing it."

Jensen Ackles himself shared his disappointment in a video posted across his social media platforms. "Well, as some of you may have seen already, Countdown did not get picked up for another season. Amazon's gonna let it go, and it's a bummer. I had such an amazing time making that show. I had an absolute blast with the cast and the crew," Ackles stated. He thanked Haas, Amazon, and Vernon Sanders, the outgoing Head of Global TV at Amazon MGM Studios, for the opportunity.

Ackles's sentiment was echoed by his former Supernatural costar, Jared Padalecki, who commented, "Their loss brother. You were amazing in it. Which is no surprise to ANYBODY. I'll still be re-watching. And I can't wait to see what you do next." Other costars, including Jack Quaid from The Boys and Rob Benedict from Supernatural, also offered support.

Fan and Critic Reactions to the Countdown Cancellation

While Countdown performed well in terms of viewership, its critical reception was notably mixed. The series garnered a "rotten" score of 35% among critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Variety's chief TV critic Aramide Tinubu called the series "monotonous" and a "snooze fest," criticizing its lack of compelling characters and thin storyline.

However, audience scores for Countdown were much higher, sitting at 63% on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating a significant divide between critics and viewers. This discrepancy often highlights the challenge streamers face in balancing critical acclaim with broad audience appeal, especially when global viewership becomes the ultimate metric for renewal.

Fans online expressed their anger and upset over the cancellation, particularly given the unresolved cliffhanger. One fan account commented, "This isn't what we hoped for, but we are so grateful for the 13 episodes we got and hope Derek Haas ends up writing that novella he mentioned!" Another shared, "I'm so angry and upset. The show deserved a second season."

Daniel Dae Kim's Butterfly Also Grounded After Season One

Butterfly, the character-driven spy thriller starring Daniel Dae Kim, also met the same fate. Co-created by Ken Woodruff and Steph Cha, and based on Arash Amel's Boom! Studios graphic novel, the series premiered on Prime Video on August 13, 2025. It centered on David Jung (Kim), an enigmatic former U.S. intelligence operative living in South Korea, whose life is shattered when past decisions resurface. He finds himself pursued by Rebecca (Reina Hardesty), a deadly assassin and his estranged daughter, who works for the sinister spy organization he once co-founded.

The cast also included Kim Ji-hoon, Park Hae-soo, Kim Tae-hee, Charles Parnell, Sean Dulake, and Nayoon Kim, with guest appearances from Sung Dong-il and Lee Il-hwa. Filmed on location in South Korea, Butterfly was praised for its cinematic scope and emotional depth, exploring themes of identity, loyalty, and betrayal within complex family dynamics.

Unlike Countdown, Butterfly received solid reviews from critics, scoring 68% on Rotten Tomatoes. Collider's Jasneet Singh felt the six-episode first season offered a unique blend of espionage and emotional storytelling, praising Kim's layered performance and Hardesty's breakout role. The show's bilingual approach and authentic cultural landscape, with episodes named after South Korean cities, were also highlighted as strengths.

[Image: Daniel Dae Kim as David Jung in 'Butterfly']

The Broader Landscape of Prime Video's Recent Streaming Decisions

The cancellations of Countdown and Butterfly are part of a larger reevaluation of Prime Video's new scripted series launched between May and August 2025. Of the six new titles, three have been renewed and three have been canceled.

In the young adult category, We Were Liars and Overcompensating were renewed for second seasons, while Motorheads was canceled. Among the crime and thriller dramas, the Bosch spinoff Ballard received a renewal, but Countdown and Butterfly were ultimately cut. All these decisions were made under Amazon MGM Studios' outgoing Head of Global TV Vernon Sanders, with the final three decisions confirmed after Peter Friedlander was announced as his successor.

What's Next for the Stars of the Canceled Prime Video Shows?

Despite the cancellation of Countdown, Jensen Ackles remains in business with Amazon MGM Studios through his company, Chaos Machine, which has a first-look deal with the studio. Fans can look forward to seeing Ackles in Prime Video's upcoming The Boys spinoff series, Vought Rising.

Additionally, Ackles is set to guest star in the two-part premiere of the CBS drama Tracker, playing the brother of Justin Hartley's character, Colter Shaw. These will mark his third and fourth appearances on the show, providing fans with other opportunities to see the popular actor on screen.

Daniel Dae Kim also maintains a relationship with Amazon MGM Studios through his production company, 3AD, which developed Butterfly under its first-look deal. Both actors have established careers with multiple projects, ensuring their continued presence in the entertainment landscape.

The premature end of Countdown and Butterfly highlights the challenges of the competitive streaming environment, where even shows with strong initial viewership and beloved stars can struggle to secure long-term commitment based on complex global metrics. This trend can make it increasingly difficult for audiences to invest in new shows, as many fear cliffhangers that may never be resolved.

Release and Cancellation Timeline for Prime Video Originals

Series Title	Premiere Date	Cancellation/Renewal Date	Status
Countdown	June 25, 2025	October 10, 2025	Canceled
Butterfly	August 13, 2025	October 10, 2025	Canceled
We Were Liars	(Earlier in 2025)	(Before Oct 10, 2025)	Renewed
Overcompensating	(Earlier in 2025)	(Before Oct 10, 2025)	Renewed
Motorheads	(Earlier in 2025)	(Before Oct 10, 2025)	Canceled
Ballard	(Earlier in 2025)	(Before Oct 10, 2025)	Renewed