‘Countdown’: Derek Haas Reveals Idea for Jesse Lee Soffer ‘Crossover’ With Jensen Ackles
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Now that the complete first season of Countdown is out, it’s time to look ahead to, hopefully, a second. (Prime Video has yet to renew the drama.) And when TV Insider spoke with creator Derek Haas about that wild finale, we had to bring up another one of his shows, FBI: International, and how much of a bummer it is that it was canceled after four seasons.
“I was, too,” the show’s co-creator (he left after the second season) admitted. “It was really fun making it.”
But he did get to revisit his previous show while working on his current one, he shared. “Now the cool thing that I got to do is when we did the Europe scenes for Countdown, we shot in Budapest, and I got to go hang out with all the International people,” he said. That happened to coincide with when Jesse Lee Soffer, who took over as team boss after Luke Kleintank left, was there. “I knew [him] really well from Chicago P.D., so we got to have a nice — I got to have a little bit of closure before that shut down, but I don’t know why. You never know these things. It’s like the powers that be make these decisions. I loved the show, too. I thought it was really fun and cool show.”
When we brought up Haas bringing Soffer over to Countdown, he immediately replied, “Believe me, that’s crossed my mind. I don’t know that we can get him, but that would be really fun. I guess he was an Army Ranger also, and it’s like maybe he and Meachum [Jensen Ackles] were in the same unit. It was like a Halstead Meachum reunion. That sounds awesome. Crossover!”
Whether it’s Soffer as someone or another character, each new personality of the task force makes for dynamic scenes. Haas agreed.
“I learned that doing the Chicago shows. Anytime you bring in somebody new, you get a whole new dynamic shift in the traits of the group. I always loved that on Chicago Fire,” he said. “I think about Stella Kidd [Miranda Rae Mayo] on that show. She came in Season 3, now she’s the star, front of the poster of that show. So it just feels like we’ve got worlds that we could still explore on this one. So fingers crossed.
Would you want to see Jesse Lee Soffer on Countdown? Let us know in the comments section below.
Countdown, Season 1, Streaming Now, Prime Video
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Comments are closed on this story.
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R
I would love to see him back on Chicago P.D. again. Pick up where he left off at and start over again.
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B
Yes! Jesse Lee Soffer is an incredible actor and deserves to be on TV again.
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B
Yes please! I follow Jesse and Jensen both so to have them together would be awesome!!
13 3
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O
Yes, I would love to see Jesse on Countdown
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O
I haven't seen countdown. But I would ❤️ to see Jessie in a TV show again I love him he is a good actor so make something happen please .
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O
Yes, do it!! Love Crossover and Jay/Wes!
12 3
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G
Yes I think that would be a Great idea . Loved international and I was just getting into him taking over when the cancelled the show which I thought was a big mistake. Loved that show and most wanted. I also loved Jesse from when he first started on Chicago Fire and Chicago PD. I love Countdown and think he would be a Great addition to the show.
9 1
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P
Yes JLS would be great!!!
11 4
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C
I would love to see Jesse Lee Soffer on Countdown! He’s an awesome actor and would fit in perfectly! If he doesn’t show up, in front of the camera, back on Chicago PD, Countdown is the next best option! (Would also mean Countdown is getting another season)
4 1
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G
Yes! I remember him on As The World Turns as Wil Munson. He is a amazing actor. Jensen Ackles and him would be excellent acting together.
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C
Another soap opera trained actor like Jensen. Jensen Ackles always says the soap was a great training ground as a young actor(he was 18 when he started), learned to hit your marks, find the camera, learn pages of dialogue every day, etc. Just learn how to be a professional actor. Shame there are so few soaps nowadays, it was almost like an apprenticeship for young actors.
3 1
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G
Yessssssss!!!!!
2 1
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O
I would love to see Jessie on another show. Not this show.
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R
I Love, Love, LOVE Jesse Soffer in anything he does….a dedicated fan!!
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C
That would be great, love to see him on countdown as SSA wes Mitchell. Doesn't matter whether he plays another character like law enforcement agent, MP or military special ops or unit person. If he portray a hero character
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B
We definitely need more Jesse Lee Sofer!!
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G
He's a great actor but may take away from the main character in my opinion. Looking forward to season 2 of Countdown.
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B
Put Jesse back on Chicago Fire. He was the best on that show.
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C
I wish would watch anything that he's in
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P
I don't know. Let's see this line up--Eric Dane, Jensen Ackles, and Jesse Lee Soffer--all on the same show? It's a No Brainer!! Looking extremely forward to Season 2!!!
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R
Yes team him with Meachum it would be great
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C
I would absolutely love to see you add Jesse to your show. HE IS A NATURAL!
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O
That would be awesome. Please do at least one person season. It is an amazing show 😍
1 1
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R
Absolutely I think he and his character would mesh well.
1 1
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P
Sure. I liked him on FBI
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R
More Soffer yes please, and add a tripple scoop of Ackles on top. Now that is something to sink your teeth in!
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G
Yes.
They’re both my favorite actors.
1 1
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G
Hell yes we would love to see Jesse appear on Countdown !!
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P
Yes bring him on. He was great on FBI.
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O
No, I wouldn't like that. Jesse deserves his own show where haters don't blame him for everything or compare him to other actors.
Jesse is ready to star in his own show from scratch and contribute a great character with a good story.
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G
That seems like a brilliant idea. I have been longing to see Jesse play a similar role since he quit Chicago PD, and I have to admit I liked Jay's character a bit more than Wes, but having him back on a show would be so fun to watch ☺️
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G
They are two of my favorite actors!! I would watch them in any show but Jesse coming to Countdown would be AMAZING!! He’s a very talented actor who brings a great dynamic to anything. He needs to be back on TV weekly!!!
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C
Absolutely love Countdown, praying for a season 2, would love to see both of them team up on this show!
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B
Yes I like the idea of them together! I like Jesse and watched him on PD and was sad when he left the show. He would be good for Countdown!!!! Love that new show!!! Please renew Prime!!!!
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M
Omg!
Two heart throbs in one heart stopping show?!
YES PLEASE!
Particularly if Soffer can revive the Halstead methodical by the book persona, to even out Ackles' methodical anything goes personna... I would stay glued to the TV set for sure!
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O
YES ABSOLUTLY, jesss is an amazing actor and I’d see him very good with jensen ackles
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C
I’m sorry, Stella Kidd!! The star of the show?
Not in this lifetime! That is one of the worst statements ever.
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