Both series also performed strongly in the Nielsen Top 10 for streaming originals: Countdown reached spot #8 and Butterfly (2025) came in at number 6. Ultimately, however, the total worldwide viewership was decisive for the decision, with Countdown not offering enough potential for renewal despite better figures.
The decision is part of a broader evaluation of six new series that Prime Video launched between May and August. Of the three YA series, We Were Liars and Overcompensating were renewed, while Motorheads was canceled.
Among the three crime/thriller series, the Bosch spin-off Ballard was renewed, but both Countdown and Butterfly (2025) were canceled. All decisions were made under the leadership of the departing Head of Global TV Vernon Sanders, and finalized after Peter Friedlander was announced as his successor.
Countdown, created by Derek Haas (Chicago Fire), followed LAPD detective Mark Meachum (Ackles), who joins a secret task force after the murder of a Homeland Security agent. The investigation leads to a sinister plot that threatens an entire city.
The cast included Eric Dane, Jessica Camacho, Violett Beane, Elliot Knight, and Uli Latukefu.
However, Ackles remains connected to Amazon MGM Studios through his production company Chaos Machine, which has a first-look deal with the studio. He will also star in Vought Rising, the upcoming spin-off of The Boys.
Butterfly (2025), based on the graphic novel from Boom! Studios, revolves around David Jung (Kim), a former American spy living in South Korea. His past catches up with him when he is hunted by Rebecca (Reina Hardesty), a deadly agent from the mysterious organization Caddis.
The series explored themes of family, loyalty, and betrayal in the world of international espionage. The cast also included Kim Ji-hoon, Park Hae-soo, Kim Tae-hee, Charles Parnell, Sean Dulake, and Nayoon Kim, with guest roles for Sung Dong-Il and Lee Il-Hwa.
The series was entirely filmed in South Korea and developed through Daniel Dae Kim’s production company 3AD, which also has a first-look deal with Amazon MGM Studios.
