Boston Blue

Boston Blue is the working title of a planned spinoff of the television series Blue Bloods, to be broadcast on CBS beginning in the fall of the 2025 - 2026 TV season, centered on fictional detective Danny Reagan, played by Donnie Wahlberg, who is also one of the executive producers. The theme of the series takes Reagan from his familiar New York City environs to Boston, Massachusetts, where he takes a position with the Boston Police Department and is partnered with the eldest daughter of a noted police family in that city.
The show was not planned as a Blue Bloods spinoff, but had originally been pitched by writers Brandon Sonnier and Brandon Margolis as a drama titled after the Boston neighborhood Jamaica Plain focused on a transfer from the LAPD to Boston. Deadline reported that finding a way to continue the Blue Bloods franchise after its 14th season had been a "priority" for CBS and parent company Paramount Global, who approached the writers after their initial script submission and Wahlberg, who is originally from Boston, about having the transfer be his character Danny Reagan from the NYPD, after earlier considering spin-off concepts involving Danny Reagan in Texas or one focused on Tom Selleck. In February 2025, CBS officially picked up the show straight-to-series for the 2025 - 2026 broadcast season after the series was "heating up" for pick-up in early December 2024 as talks with Wahlberg were underway, according to Deadline. CBS began promoting the series as "Boston Blue" to air in the fall during its coverage of March Madness in March 2025. In posting the CBS promo on Instagram in March 2025, Wahlberg wrote, "So excited to carry on the tradition, to share so many surprises, to answer some unanswered questions and to welcome all of you — to #BostonBlue!" and hinted in comment replies that other former co-stars would make appearances on the series.
On June 4, 2024, Paramount Global co-CEO Brian Robbins said at a shareholder presentation that there were plans for a "franchise extension" of Blue Bloods. In a February 2024 appearance on the Kelly Clarkson Show, Wahlberg had stated that "maybe there's some way it will still end up surviving and carrying on in a different way." Also in February 2024, showrunner Kevin Wade had suggested in an interview that "I think there is some idea on the part of the current CBS to maybe [explore] a 'Blue Bloods 2.0.''' He had said in 2022 that "Donnie could certainly drive his own show." Wade said in October 2024 that nobody had approached him about a spin-off. In March 2024, Wahlberg said in a radio interview with Andy Cohen along with his New Kids on the Block band members that there were "rumblings" that the show could continue after its "alleged" final season, during which band member Jordan Knight appeared to joke about a "Donnie spin-off."
In comments livestreamed and recorded after production completed on Season 14 in June 2024, Wahlberg recalled the disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic and stated that "God willing, we'll get some more time together to do something magical again ... I pray that that can happen in one way or another, I won't give up trying." He wrote on Instagram in the days after filming that the show was one "that I know so many of us, and so many of you, wish could continue." In July 2024, Wahlberg hinted to fans of his band New Kids on the Block that he might be involved in some sort of follow-up to the series after its "apparent" final season. In an October 2024 interview before the airing of the second half of season 14, Wahlberg confirmed he would be interested in spin-off ideas. He also said the week of the fall Season 14 premiere on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen that "there could be some spin-off or off-shoot", a possibility he hinted at again in social media posts ahead of the end of Season 14 in December 2024. He told US Weekly in a video interview that he "certainly thought there were a lot more stories that we could tell with [the character]" and hasn't "closed the door on the character or on somehow if there is something for Danny, somehow incorporating some of the Reagans into that too and some of the other characters from Blue Bloods." For Entertainment Weekly, he outlined an "alternative ending" for his character that could involve another current cast member and some appearances from other family members, and suggested it could be a "tease for a spin-off." In the week leading up to the Season 14 finale, Wahlberg said a spin-off has "been discussed" and that he would be "open to carrying on the character" under the right circumstances. "I love the show, and I love the character and I'd be open to a spinoff, but it would take a lot of thought, a lot of mindfulness and have a way to have Reagans visit sometimes.”
Asked about participation in a possible spin-off, Tom Selleck said he was "open to suggestions because I love Frank Reagan," but added that he did not see the character retiring and going off to a small town. Marisa Ramirez had said in summer 2024 that she "would love to continue giving life to Maria [Baez] for another 15 years" and that she would be open to a spin-off involving her character. "I would never turn down something like that. It would be a blessing, which I would accept with open arms." Asked about a spin-off in October 2024 during an Empire State Building lighting ceremony in honor of the show, she said "It should happen. We can make it happen now." Bridget Moynahan, Steve Schirripa and Vanessa Ray have also said they would be open to appearing in a spin-off. Wahlberg said in December 2024 he and other cast members still have the feeling of "hoping someone from 'Blue Bloods' is chasing me down the street saying, 'Wait, we're going to do one more season'" and added that ""until we know that there's absolutely no way this show can be resurrected somehow, I think we're all walking forward... but taking a peek back."
The TV Ratings Guide wrote in November 2024 that it was "surprising" that CBS hadn't yet officially announced development of some sort of Blue Bloods continuation given the show's continued ratings success, and noted the possibility of some sort of a follow-up similar to Criminal Minds: Evolution, which had previously been suggested by a writer for Precinct TV. Jack Ori of Screen Rant argued that CBS had made a "mistake" in not officially announcing a spin-off before the series had concluded. Following the finale, critics suggested several spin-off ideas that could follow the series, including ones involving Danny Reagan and his detective partner Maria Baez, played by Marisa Ramirez.
Following the official announcement of the spin-off, outlets speculated about the new show's possible filming location and also about the possible involvement of Maria Baez, especially given the storyline involving the two characters in the Season 14 finale, and other characters.