Blue Bloods Cast Member Reveals What Made the Spinoff an Easy ‘Yes’ After the Cancellation

Donnie Wahlberg says the idea to join the new Blue Bloods spinoff, Boston Blue, hit him out of nowhere.

Speaking at a special screening and Q&A for the series premiere in New York City on Oct. 14, the 56-year-old actor explained how two early concepts “bumped into” each other-one about Danny Reagan moving to Texas, and another centered on a new Boston-based law-enforcement family.

“Instead of moving to Texas, they said, ‘Why don’t we talk about him joining this thing and moving to Boston?’” Wahlberg recalled. At the time, he didn’t think it would happen, since he was “just chugging along” on Blue Bloods.

Wahlberg admitted he was initially unsure about reprising Danny in a spinoff. But that changed after reading the script and seeing how the Blue Bloods world could naturally blend into a fresh story. The biggest turning point: learning that Danny’s on-screen son Sean (Mika Amonsen) would also become a police officer.

“That suddenly changed everything,” he said. “It’s Danny with a new partner, meeting a new family-and being a dad worried about his son getting home safe every day.”

Blue Bloods ended in 2024 after 14 seasons, following the Reagan family’s deep roots in New York City public service. The show starred Wahlberg, Tom Selleck, Will Estes, and Bridget Moynahan.

Announced in February 2025, Boston Blue follows Danny as he joins the Boston Police Department and partners with Lena Silver, played by Sonequa Martin-Green. The series premieres Friday, Oct. 17.

Wahlberg previously said he took on the challenge because he wanted the legacy of Blue Bloods to continue. “If he’s a Reagan, it will never be just Danny,” he teased. “There’ll always be a Reagan a phone call away-and Danny wouldn’t abandon those traditions.”