Donnie Wahlberg Brings Danny Reagan Home in Boston Blue Spinoff
On a late September set in Toronto, Donnie Wahlberg sat down for a lively family dinner — but this time, it wasn’t the Reagans in New York. It was the Silvers in CBS’ new Blue Bloods spinoff, Boston Blue. The dinner was a Friday night Shabbat, complete with candle lighting, Hebrew blessings, challah bread, and a non-denominational prayer led by a Baptist minister.
After 14 seasons of Blue Bloods, Wahlberg says he was eager to continue Danny Reagan’s story.
“It was my chance to carry on Blue Bloods’ legacy, but I also understand the responsibility and the weight of expectations,” he explained.
Interestingly, Boston Blue wasn’t originally conceived as a spinoff. Creators Brandon Sonnier and Brandon Margolis had envisioned a Los Angeles cop moving to Boston. Once Wahlberg expressed interest in bringing Danny Reagan to a new city, the producers couldn’t resist integrating him into their story. Sonnier, a self-described Blue Bloods fan, wanted a diverse, multicultural family for the show — inspired by his own African-American and Jewish household — while maintaining the same values of justice, service, and morality as the Reagans.
Although Wahlberg is a Boston native, most of the show is filmed in Toronto. He promises, however, that fans will see plenty of Boston landmarks, including a Fenway Park scene in episode two, featuring a Mets-Red Sox game bonding trip with Danny and his son, Sean.
Boston Blue mirrors Blue Bloods in many ways, offering a family-friendly police drama with dinner-table conversations at its heart. Maggie Lawson, who plays Superintendent Sarah Silver, calls the Shabbat dinner “the heartbeat of our show — a place where family and friends argue, debate, and reconnect.” Gloria Reuben, as DA Mae Silver, adds:
“The Silvers are a family that believes in faith, tradition, loyalty, and service. Their diversity allows viewers to connect in many ways.”
Danny and his son Sean (now played by Mika Amonsen) have already become part of the Silvers’ Friday dinners. Sean, a rookie cop, followed his father to Boston after the NYPD imposed a hiring freeze. Amonsen studied the original actor’s portrayal to capture Sean’s humor, warmth, and intelligence, while Wahlberg praises him as “a phenomenal actor who the audience is going to love.”
The pilot introduces Danny to the Silvers while he investigates a murder with Detective Lena Silver (Sonequa Martin-Green). Although Danny has no official role in Boston, his instincts kick in, leading to a tense first encounter with Lena on a crime scene. Their partnership quickly proves dynamic, though Danny’s bull-in-a-china-shop approach ensures friction — on and off screen.
The pilot concludes with a touching Shabbat dinner, where Danny and Erin Reagan (Bridget Moynahan) are invited to the table. Wahlberg called his first meal with the Silvers “very emotional and very sweet,” appreciating the cast’s warmth and his new on-screen family. Though Danny initially hesitates at the unfamiliar customs, the experience helps him realize the Silvers have provided Sean a safe, supportive environment.
By the end of the episode, it’s clear: Danny isn’t just visiting Boston — he’s here for his son, and his partnership with Detective Silver may become permanent.
Boston Blue premieres Friday, October 17, 10/9c on CBS, with episodes streaming the following day on Paramount+.
