A Franchise on Fire: CBS Unveils “Sheriff Country” as Fire Country’s First Official Spinoff
The fictional town of Edgewater, California, is getting a lot more crowded. CBS has formally announced the Fall 2025 premiere of Sheriff Country, the first spinoff from its hit drama Fire Country. The new series stars Morena Baccarin as Sheriff Mickey Fox, a no-nonsense lawwoman with a complicated past and a volatile jurisdiction.
Slated to air Fridays at 8 PM ET, just before Fire Country’s 9 PM slot, Sheriff Country will form a dramatic two-hour programming block CBS is branding as the “Edgewater Nights.”
“We’re not just building a show. We’re building a universe,” CBS executive Amy Reisenbach said in a statement. “Fans will see these worlds intertwine in compelling ways.”
First Look: A Sheriff with Scars and Secrets
The character of Sheriff Mickey Fox was introduced in Fire Country Season 2 and appeared again in Season 3, offering viewers a taste of her hard-boiled yet principled demeanor. A former Edgewater native who fled town after a troubled youth, she returns to lead the sheriff’s department—only to discover that crime, corruption, and family dysfunction have deepened in her absence.
The series will explore her strained relationship with her ex-con father (played by W. Earl Brown), her addicted daughter, and an ex-husband who is also a local defense attorney (portrayed by Christopher Gorham).
Cast and Characters: A Strong Ensemble
In addition to Baccarin, Sheriff Country features a robust supporting cast:
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W. Earl Brown as Dale Fox, Mickey’s emotionally distant father
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Michele Weaver as Deputy Cassidy, a fiercely loyal but idealistic cop
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Matt Lauria as Deputy Boone, a wildcard officer with secrets of his own
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Christopher Gorham as Mickey’s ex-husband, now a courtroom rival
The ensemble promises intimate drama, ethical dilemmas, and small-town politics steeped in personal history and generational wounds.
Tone and Style: A Procedural with Emotional Depth
While Fire Country centers around physical courage and team dynamics, Sheriff Country will lean more into character-driven crime drama, reminiscent of Justified and Mare of Easttown. Each episode will contain a procedural mystery—murders, disappearances, domestic violence cases—but with strong serial elements tied to Mickey’s personal and family life.
“She’s a woman holding the town together with one hand and holding herself together with the other,” Baccarin told Entertainment Weekly.
Edgewater Shared Universe: Crossovers Ahead
Producers have confirmed that Sheriff Country and Fire Country will share plot threads, characters, and timelines, setting the stage for regular crossover events. While the two shows will have distinct styles, the narrative worlds are deeply intertwined.
There are already rumors that Max Thieriot’s Bode Donovan may appear in the pilot episode of Sheriff Country, and vice versa, with Mickey Fox assisting on arson investigations or major rescue operations.
Production Status and Premiere Timeline
The pilot has wrapped production, and CBS has ordered a full 13-episode first season. Filming for additional episodes is set to begin this summer, with Sheriff Country premiering in September or October 2025.
Scripts are currently being refined, with showrunners Tony Phelan and Joan Rater—also executive producers on Fire Country—guiding the storytelling. Early test screenings have received strong internal reviews, with praise for Baccarin’s powerful performance and the show’s gritty authenticity.
Conclusion: The Fire Country Universe Grows Stronger
With Fire Country already solidifying its place as one of CBS’s most-watched dramas, the launch of Sheriff Country marks a bold and strategic expansion of the franchise. Viewers can expect deeper stories, richer characters, and overlapping emotional arcs that elevate both shows.
As fall approaches, Edgewater County won’t just be a place where fires rage—it’ll be where justice burns just as hot.
