Returning Blue Bloods Character’s First-Look Is Revealed In Donnie Wahlberg’s Spinoff

A new look at Boston Blue reveals Donnie Wahlberg’s return as Danny Reagan. Concluding a run that continued for almost 15 years, Blue Bloods ended last year. But even as the Tom Selleck-led police drama came to a close, there were early reports that the story would continue with a spinoff focused on Wahlberg’s crucial character.

Boston Blue will premiere on CBS on Friday, October 17, at 10 PM ET, focusing on Reagan as he moves to Boston and begins to work with the Police department. In the process, he’s partnered with the eldest daughter of a law enforcement family. With the premiere just months away, we now have our first glimpse at what the premise will look like.

The official Instagram account for Blue Bloods recently posted a video of Wahlberg offering a tour of the spinoff and getting into character as Danny Reagan. The first video, included below, sees the actor and singer previewing what to expect from Boston Blue and introducing his new on-screen partner, Sonequa Martin-Green. She plays Lena Silver.

In the second video, Wahlberg shares a funny video of his first day at work on the Boston Blue set. The brief clip has the actor waking up and then quickly shifting into his Danny Regan transformation, complete with a suit and tie and slightly different hairstyle.

What This Means For Boston Blue

Everything Is Set

Boston Blue has already set its cast ahead of its premiere. Along with Martin-Green, who is known for her role as Michael Burnham in Star Trek: Discovery, the spinoff cast of characters will also feature Maggie Lawson as Sarah Silver, Marcus Scribner as Jonah Silver, Gloria Reuben as Mae Silver, and Ernie Hudson as Reverend Peters.

There will also be some continuity with Boston Blue, as Bridget Moynahan reprises the role of Erin Reagan in the premiere episode. Danny’s son Sean will also be part of the ensemble in a recast role, taking over from Andrew Terraciano. But while the main players are set, less is known about what the change means for Danny himself.

In the Instagram video, Wahlberg leans into Danny’s confident energy. He is wearing gray, which is a shift from the blue suits he would typically wear during the original series. He also has a slightly different hairstyle than Danny’s typical padded-down look, though it remains to be seen whether that will make it into the majority of the spinoff.

Our Take On Boston Blue’s New Look

It’s A Balance

The spinoff is aiming to capture the original’s family focus while spinning Danny off into a different direction. Time will tell if that approach is a winner for Boston Blue. But for Wahlberg, who is a key part of the new series, on-screen and off, he seems excited about the new possibilities for his veteran character.