Why Donnie Wahlberg Almost Passed on the Blue Bloods Spinoff – and What Changed His Mind

Donnie Wahlberg wasn’t initially sold on continuing Danny Reagan’s story – until he read the Boston Blue script.

At a special screening and Q&A for the spinoff on Tuesday, Oct. 14, Wahlberg discussed how the project came together and why he needed convincing. Alongside costar Sonequa Martin-Green in New York City, he explained that two ideas – Danny moving to Texas and a Boston-based law-enforcement family – merged to form Boston Blue. The show now follows Danny relocating to Boston and interacting with the Silver family, both at work and at home.

“I didn’t think it would happen anytime soon. I was just chugging along in Blue Bloods,” Wahlberg, 56, said. “I didn’t believe it when the show ended. Then I saw the script and realized we could weave Blue Bloods’ world into it and play Danny in a different way.”

A key new dynamic is Danny acknowledging his son, Sean (Mika Amonsen), as a police officer. “It’s Danny being a dad and worrying about his son, making sure he gets home safe every day and teaching him the job, the way his family taught him,” Wahlberg said.

Blue Bloods, starring Tom Selleck and Bridget Moynahan, ran for 14 seasons on CBS from 2010 to 2024. Its spinoff was announced in February and given a straight-to-series order.

The Boston Blue premiere follows Danny and his new partner, Detective Lena Silver (Martin-Green), investigating a deadly fire at a tech company, uncovering secrets that bring the Silver and Reagan families closer. Wahlberg teased on Instagram in March that he’s excited to “carry on the tradition, share surprises, answer unanswered questions, and welcome fans to the series.”