Donnie Wahlberg Says ‘Boston Blue’ Premiere Will “Blow People’s Minds” and Teases Fan-Favorite Returns

Donnie Wahlberg is setting the bar high for Boston Blue’s debut episode — and he’s not afraid to get sentimental in the process. Speaking in a new interview, the actor opened up about filming a scene that may tug at longtime fans’ heartstrings and hinted at some jaw-dropping moments in the premiere.

“The best part about the clip is that the family and friends in the clip put a Red Sox jersey on Danny at the end of the scene… it was really sweet and really fun, and it did pain me. But I loved every second of filming the scene because I knew the end was going to be worth the torture that I had to go through,” Wahlberg said, joking about the discomfort of wearing the jersey while recalling the warmth of the moment.

The Blue Bloods spin-off sees Danny Reagan trading the NYPD for the Boston Police Department, where he’s partnered with Lena Silver (Sonequa Martin-Green) while adjusting to a new city and new cases. Wahlberg admitted that moving into this “new world” comes with challenges, but made it clear fans of the original series won’t be left behind. “The family and Tom Selleck and the entire cast were… my friends, and we’re very close,” Wahlberg said. “Of course, [I’m] going to stay connected with the old characters, and they’ll be popping up from time to time.”

As for the first episode? Wahlberg’s hype is unshakable. “The first episode is going to blow people’s minds. I think people are going to be like, ‘Oh my god.’ There’s some twists and turns in the first episode, and then we’re going to continue that. We want to pay respect and honor Blue Bloods, but also… tell some of those [other police family] stories too, and… let Danny explore, you know, be a fish out of water.”

Who Will Appear in ‘Boston Blue’?

Wahlberg has also been teasing potential guest spots from Blue Bloods alumni in the comments of his social media posts. When one fan wrote, “Excited for this, but really hope he’s with Baez,” referring to Detective Maria Baez (Marisa Ramirez), Wahlberg simply replied, “good idea.” Whether that means Baez could appear as Danny’s partner again — or something more — is anyone’s guess.

Some familiar faces are already confirmed. Danny’s sister Erin Reagan-Boyle (Bridget Moynahan) will appear in the series and even direct an episode. Wahlberg has also invited other fan favorites like Will Hochman’s Joe Hill to “come visit his uncle” on set, suggesting the Reagan family ties could continue to play a part in Boston.