The potential Blue Bloods spinoff gets a candid response from CBS Studios President David Stapf. Ahead of Blue Bloods season 14 returning for its final episodes in October on CBS, Brian Robbins, the co-CEO of Paramount Global (which owns CBS), recently shared that there would be another series in the works that would be set in the same overall world of the hit police procedural. Robbins didn’t share any specific casting or plot details, merely mentioning the Tom Selleck drama alongside other Paramount franchises that are confirmed to get spinoffs such as Dexter.
In an interview with Deadline, the Blue Bloods spinoff was confirmed by Stapf. CBS Studios is the production company behind the long-running procedural. And though Stapf did note that there are hopes to continue the popular show, he cautioned that the process is still in its early development stages. The CBS Studios leader added the focus was on getting the spinoff right and celebrating the end of the original series. Read the full quote below:
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. We’ve got to get it right so we’re taking our time and trying to figure it out, okay, what is the next iteration of Blue Bloods ? 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.
What Could The Blue Bloods Spinoff Be About?
CBS Is No Stranger To Successful Spinoffs
Even though Stapf makes it clear that the Blue Bloods spinoff is a long way from becoming a reality, there are potential paths a spinoff could take. Perhaps the most useful approach would be to look at what NCIS has done. Also airing on CBS, the NCIS franchise is arguably the most successful and enduring for the network next to CSI. Over the years, NCIS has continued its premise in different locations. But it is also making new moves, doing prequels focused on specific characters and continuations of fan-favorite couples.
The next Blue Bloods show could be a prequel (like the upcoming NCIS: Origins) or it could focus on a few specific characters, like NCIS: Tony & Ziva, which is slated for Paramount+. It also may reiterate the premise of the original series, with some familiar characters popping up in guest roles. More may be revealed once the Tom Selleck series wraps later this year, though this is not confirmed.
Reports have indicated that Blue Bloods is ending because of the cost of the long-running series. The cast and producers agreed to a pay cut to ensure that season 14 would happen at a time when networks and larger conglomerates are prioritizing budget reductions above even the shows that garner strong ratings. Given the economics of the show, a relatively cheaper spinoff may be the only way to continue this universe.