Though Boston Blue is officially a spinoff of the long-running and beloved CBS police drama Blue Bloods, the upcoming series is carving out a distinct identity that sets it apart in both tone and storytelling. While it carries the DNA of its predecessor and welcomes a familiar face in Donnie Wahlberg’s Danny Reagan, it’s clear that this new chapter will take viewers down an entirely different path.
Currently in production, Boston Blue shifts the narrative northward—from the bustling streets of New York City to the historically rich and complex landscape of Boston. With that geographic change comes a symbolic and narrative shift as well. This time, the focus is no longer on the Reagan family dynasty. Instead, the torch passes to a new police legacy: the Silver family, a multi-generational clan rooted in law enforcement, politics, and faith, who will form the emotional and thematic core of the new show.
Only One Reagan Remains
Donnie Wahlberg reprises his role as Detective Danny Reagan, now uprooted from his tight-knit NYPD family and placed into unfamiliar territory. His usual allies—Tom Selleck’s patriarch Frank Reagan and Bridget Moynahan’s principled ADA Erin Reagan—will not be joining him in this next chapter. While Wahlberg brings with him the emotional gravity and familiarity of the original series, his new surroundings, partners, and storylines suggest a markedly different tone and structure.
Wahlberg recently shared insights into the series’ direction, telling Parade: “The journey of developing this show, it’s really fun letting Danny be a fish out of water to be in this new world. It’s also important to remember where he comes from and what the Blue Bloods legacy is. We’re keeping all of that at the forefront of our thoughts as we build this thing.”
A New Sean Reagan—and a Creative Shift
Another major change comes with the recasting of Sean Reagan, Danny’s youngest son. For all 14 seasons of Blue Bloods, Sean was portrayed by Andrew Terraciano, who appeared alongside his real-life brother Tony, who played Danny’s older son, Jack. But in Boston Blue, the role of Sean has been given new creative direction—and a new actor.
Stepping into the role is Mika Amonsen, a Canadian-born actor whose résumé includes appearances on Designated Survivor, Suits, Reacher, and the acclaimed Apple TV+ series Pachinko. According to Deadline, the recasting of Sean is due to a shift in the character’s arc. Now a young adult following in the family’s footsteps, Sean is entering the Boston Police Department as a patrol officer—determined to carry on the Reagan legacy while creating space between himself and the weight of his family’s name back home in New York.
Jack Reagan, Danny’s elder son, had already taken a step back from the series in Season 9 when he left for college to pursue a career in medicine. With Sean’s move to Boston, Boston Blue introduces a fresh dynamic, centered on reinvention rather than replication.
A New Family Takes Center Stage
While the Reagans shaped the moral compass of Blue Bloods, Boston Blue will revolve around the Silvers—a powerful, intergenerational family deeply entrenched in Boston’s law enforcement and civic institutions. The cast, a blend of seasoned performers and rising stars, reflects the show’s ambition to stand apart while staying grounded in the character-driven drama that made the original series a hit.
Sonequa Martin-Green was the first major casting announcement following Wahlberg. She will play Detective Lena Silver, Danny’s new partner and the eldest daughter in the Silver family. A proud product of her own legacy, Lena enters the force with deep convictions and complex loyalties.
Speaking at a CBS press conference, Martin-Green said: “I’m gonna have to get a really good Boston accent, just so I can throw it out at times. We love the Reagans. We have all loved the Reagans for so long. Being Detective Lena Silver, who is coming from a prominent law enforcement family, you will love the Silvers too. I’m super excited for this partnership, and to be back in the CBS family.”
The Silver Family: Boston’s New Law and Order Legacy
The matriarch of the Silver family is Mae Silver, played by Gloria Reuben. Mae serves as Boston’s district attorney and is described as a woman of conviction who has known both power and personal tragedy. The widow of a judge murdered on the courthouse steps, she now heads a blended family of law enforcement professionals. Her daughter Lena (Martin-Green) is a detective, her stepdaughter Sarah is a police superintendent, and her son Jonah is a rookie cop.
Reuben’s character is also the daughter of Reverend Peters, played by Ernie Hudson. Reverend Peters is the patriarch of the family and a deeply respected Baptist pastor in Boston. Known for his open-mindedness and calm authority, he serves as a spiritual anchor not only to his family but to the larger community as well.
Maggie Lawson will portray Sarah Silver, the Boston Police Department’s Superintendent and Lena’s stepsister. Sarah is described as decisive, pragmatic, and well aware of the delicate balance she must maintain between duty and blood. Her position places her at the crossroads of family loyalty and institutional responsibility—fertile ground for conflict and character development.
Marcus Scribner joins the cast as Jonah Silver, the youngest member of the family and a rookie cop eager to prove himself. Once the “cool kid” in the family, Jonah now finds himself sidelined from high-stakes investigations and struggling to find his place within the legacy he was born into. His youthful swagger is tempered by the frustrations of being the new guy in a department where his sisters and mother already command authority.
A Glimpse Behind the Scenes
Donnie Wahlberg recently gave fans a first look at the new production by sharing a snapshot from the pilot’s table read on his Instagram Stories. The excitement surrounding the project is palpable, as the Blue Bloods universe prepares to enter uncharted but promising territory.
While Boston Blue pays homage to the world that Blue Bloods built, it does not aim to replicate it. With a new city, a new family, and fresh thematic layers to explore, the show is poised to expand the franchise while telling a story that feels timely, grounded, and uniquely its own.
