A new spinoff of 9-1-1 is in development, even as 9-1-1: Lone Star approaches its end. Franchise co-creator Ryan Murphy recently detailed why the franchise’s first spinoff, 9-1-1: Lone Star season 5, will be the last despite being a ratings hit. Murphy noted that, following the merger between Fox and Disney, the financials of Lone Star were no longer viable. This lines up with previous reporting about how Fox was no longer willing to pay 20th Television, which is owned by Disney, a relatively large license fee in order to air the series.
9-1-1 is poised to grow, nonetheless, with another spinoff. Murphy, who created the franchise with Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear, told Variety that he and Minear are working to create a new spinoff that could debut as early as the next fall season. While touching on the reasons behind the 9-1-1: Lone Star cancellation, Murphy also shares that the spinoff will take place in a new city. Read the full quote below:
Tim Minear and I are working on a new spinoff that we’re actually writing, and that we hope to get on the air next fall. Sadly, we all love ‘Lone Star,’ but the financials just didn’t work. It’s a Disney company that was on a Fox network, and it just was never going to work. And we had a long run of it. So now we’re going to launch a new show in a new city that I can’t name, but it’s fun. And ‘9-1-1’ moved to ABC and suddenly became, I think, the biggest show on Thursday night. They obviously have an appetite for that, so we’re going to give them another one that I really love.
What A 9-1-1 Spinoff Could Mean For The Franchise
Familiar Characters May Not Go Too Far
With the ending of 9-1-1: Lone Star looming and the fact that 9-1-1 is a long-running show with an established cast, it’s possible that both shows will not continue for much longer. 9-1-1 season 9 is not confirmed, although it is likely since the series would likely want the space to deliver a proper ending. But if it’s the case that the main series will bow out, a spinoff could mean that popular characters could reprise their roles in guest appearances.
If the spinoff is successful, it could mean there’s an incentive to create more spinoffs and more character-based offshoots. It is a little premature to speculate too wildly; however, key details like casting and location are still unknown at this early stage.
Our Take On A 9-1-1 Spinoff
The Franchise Has A Unique Fandom
For a procedural, 9-1-1 has successfully built up a devoted fandom that is arguably more tuned in and active in discussing their love for the franchise when compared to other procedurals. That is a testament to the relationships that the audience has built with the characters and, in many cases, the fondness that the cast has accumulated. That won’t be easy to replicate. But given Murphy’s involvement, and the fact that he currently has six shows airing on different platforms, with more on the way, he might have cracked the secret to what makes a show catch on.
Source: Variety