The fall 2025 CBS lineup will welcome some new additions, including the highly-anticipated series Boston Blue. The Donnie Wahlberg-led drama got a straight to series order from the network in February 2025. Is Boston Blue a spinoff of Blue Bloods?

Is ‘Boston Blue’ a Spinoff of ‘Blue Bloods’?

Boston Blue is not a spinoff of Blue Bloods but rather “a universe expansion of the long-running top drama Blue Bloods” according to a press release.

According to Deadline, Boston Blue “was not conceived” as a Blue Bloods spinoff. The outlet shared how the series, from writers Brandon Sonnier and Brandon Margolis, came to be.

“It originated with Sonnier and Margolis, along with JBTV, pitching CBS Studios and CBS a drama, then called Jamaica Plain, that follows a family of police officers in Boston whose eldest daughter is partnered with a new transfer from LAPD,” the outlet reported. “The network ordered a script based off that pitch, sources said.”

“The script was well received at both the network and the studio whose executives saw the Boston family police drama project as an opportunity to make it part of the Blue Bloods universe by bringing in a character from the New York family cop drama,” the outlet continued.

They ultimately decided that Donnie’s character, Danny Reagan, would be the perfect addition to the show, giving them the idea to change the L.A. transplant to someone from NYC. Once Donnie signed on, the idea of the Blue Bloods expansion was locked in.

In Boston Blue, Danny “takes a position with Boston PD. Once in Boston, he is paired with detective Lena Peters, the eldest daughter of a prominent law enforcement family.”

Donnie Wahlberg Shared His Excitement for ‘Boston Blue’

The new show was teased in a short clip posted on Donnie’s Instagram account in March 2025.

“So excited to carry on the tradition, to share so many surprises, to answer some unanswered questions and to welcome all of you — to #BostonBlue! The next chapter in the #BlueBloods legacy begins. I can’t wait. See you CBS fall!” he captioned his post.

Blue Bloods ended in December 2024, with Danny learning that the Reagan family would be expanding as his brother, Jamie Reagan, revealed he was expecting his first child with wife Eddie Janko-Reagan.

Danny’s story felt a little unfinished in the show’s series finale, as there was clearly a spark between him and Detective Maria Baez but it never ignited on screen. The most viewers got to see their relationship progressing was when he asked her to grab pizza with him in the show’s final episode.

Donnie hinted that Danny’s story line with Baez was unfinished while answering a fan comment left underneath his Instagram post.

“Hope we see Baez on this new journey,” one person commented on the post, to which Donnie responded with a winky face emoji.

The New Kids on the Block singer also responded to several other fan comments about whether or not other members of the Reagan family would appear in Boston Blue.

“I wish it was the entire family that’s what made blue blood work not just 1 character,” one person commented.

“Tune in,” Donnie responded with a winky face emoji.