There’s good news and bad news for Blue Bloods fans. Though the long-running CBS cop drama will end this fall after 14 seasons on the air, the network is looking at keeping the show’s universe alive through potential spinoffs. But those new shows aren’t likely to arrive anytime in the near future, CBS Studios President David Stapf recently said.
CBS is considering a ‘Blue Bloods’ franchise extension
The first hints of a Blue Bloods spinoff came during a meeting for Paramount shareholders on June 4.
“We are building tomorrow’s billion-dollar brands right now,” Paramount Global co-CEO Brian Robbins said. “In TV, new franchise extensions are coming for Dexter, Billions, and Blue Bloods, and CBS’ hit Fire Country shows huge promise.”
The news that Blue Bloods might live on in some fashion came after several of the show’s stars, including Tom Selleck, expressed confusion over the network’s decision to cancel the show.
“I will continue to think that CBS will come to their senses,” Selleck told CBS Sunday Morning when asked if the show was really ending.
“We’re the third-highest scripted show in all of broadcast,” he added. “We’re winning the night. All the cast wants to come back. And I can tell you this: we aren’t sliding off down a cliff. We’re doing good shows, and still holding our place. So, I don’t know. You tell me!”
Though the cast and fans have pleaded with CBS to save Blue Bloods, CBS has stressed that the original show will not be uncanceled.
No ‘Blue Bloods’ spinoffs are currently in development
While CBS is considering the future of the Blue Bloods brand, there are no concrete plans for a new show at this point.
“We don’t have anything that’s going to be in development soon but it’s a brand, a title, and a show that is beloved,” Stapf recently told Deadline.
“We’ve got to get it right so we’re taking our time and trying to figure it out, OK, what is the next iteration of Blue Bloods?” he added. “We have a whole season to go where we intend to celebrate it all season long as to how good that show is, so there’s still time for us to figure that out.”
One possible Blue Bloods spinoff has reportedly already been shelved. According to Deadline, there was discussion about a series focused on Donnie Wahlberg’s Danny Reagan character, but that has not materialized.
The second half of Blue Bloods Season 14 premieres Friday, Oct. 18 at 10 p.m. ET on CBS.