The Blue Bloods spinoff Boston Blue has officially found its director and executive producer for the premiere episode, according to Deadline. The production has tapped Anthony Hemingway (The Wire, Power, True Lies) to step into the director’s chair for at least the premiere episode, as well as serve as EP. The Boston Blue spinoff of Blue Bloods was set back in February when the procedural-heavy CBS gave it a straight-to-series order. As long suspected, Boston Blue was confirmed to be a spinoff following Donny Wahlberg’s detective Danny Reagan, who will find himself taking a job with the Boston PD.
The spinoff officially establishes the Blue Bloods universe, with potential plans for further tie-in shows, meaning that Boston Blue, which will take over Blue Bloods’ Friday night timeslot, has to perform and prove that there are legs to the universe, even if the whole Reagan family is no longer together. Picking Anthony Hemingway to pilot the premiere episode and set the tone is a sign of confidence from CBS in the director and producer, as well as a sign of what to potentially expect from the new series.
What This Means For The Blue Bloods Spinoff Boston Blue
Law Enforcement From A Black Family’s Perspective Will Be An Interesting Twist
Hemingway has a lengthy and impressive career – as an Emmy, Golden Globe, and NAACP Image award winner, he clearly has the chops when it comes to directing impressive TV. Beyond that, his background is heavy in gritty action and procedurals. Along with the aforementioned The Wire, Power, and True Lies, he’s also worked on Power Book II: Ghost and Underground, so his bona fides in the space are well established.
Beyond just his action and procedural background, however, is something more interesting. Hemingway has also garnered accolades for his championing of Black-led projects and uniquely Black stories, as showcased by his work on Genius: Aretha and Red Tails, his feature debut. He’ll also be directing Hip Hop Cop, an adaptation of Ron Stallworth’s memoir The Gangs of Zion, for 20th Century and Hulu. Next up for him is Sugar Daddy, a documentary about the horrific impact of the overconsumption of and addiction to sugar in the Black community.
This bodes well for Boston Blue’s tone and execution. While Blue Bloods was beloved for a reason, it didn’t exactly boast a diversity of casting, especially not in its main cast with the focus on the Reagan family. Boston Blue looks to rectify that straight away, with Danny Reagan gaining a new partner in Sonequa Martin-Green’s detective Lena Peters, the eldest daughter of a law enforcement family much like the Reagans. With Hemingway’s deft touch, Boston Blue can explore the themes unique to being a Black law enforcement family, and all the nuanced challenges and storylines that will provide.
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Our Take On The Boston Blue News
Hemingwy Has The Experience To Set The Tone
Hemingway is a great pickup for the Blue Bloods spinoff. Boston Blue is already being marketed as a big part of CBS’ fall lineup, meaning whoever directs the pilot episode must be a veteran who can turn around a great introduction to audiences old and new on a fast timetable. Considering a very early teaser has already been released by CBS, the show is already well into production and any director moving forward has to be able to jump in and swim. Hemingway’s involvement directing the premiere will go a long way toward setting the tone for the rest of the series, and it will be quite interesting to see what he does.