The CBS universe is rapidly expanding, anchored by the success of Max Thieriot’s Fire Country and its first official spin-off, Sheriff Country, starring Morena Baccarin as Sheriff Mickey Fox. But for star Diane Farr, who plays the formidable Division Chief Sharon Leone, the franchise potential extends far beyond emergency services and law enforcement. Farr recently dropped two compelling, yet very different, ideas for the next chapter of the Country universe: a gorgeous, commercially driven “Wine Country” series, or a deeply personal, history-rich Sharon Leone prequel.
Farr’s suggestions highlight the vast narrative possibilities inherent in the Northern California setting—a region defined as much by its agricultural wealth and small-town politics as it is by its seasonal wildfires. While Sheriff Country will focus on the tensions in law and order, Farr wants to peel back the layers on the land, the community, and the complex backstory of her own character.
These ideas are not mere passing comments; they are strategically sound concepts that could inject the franchise with the new thematic depth and commercial appeal required to sustain a multi-show universe.
🍷 Idea 1: The Wine Country Commercial Drama
Diane Farr’s first idea leverages the stunning, wealthy, and often turbulent agricultural landscape surrounding Edgewater: the California Wine Country.
The Appeal of the Vineyard
Farr envisions a drama that focuses on the vintners, the land owners, and the wealthy political forces that operate beneath the surface of the picturesque Northern California vineyards.
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A Yellowstone Parallel: This concept immediately draws comparisons to Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone, which successfully built a massive franchise around the high-stakes world of land ownership, family feuds, and political power struggles in Montana. A Wine Country series could trade cattle ranching for grape cultivation, exploring the same themes of legacy, inheritance, and the fight to preserve tradition against modern commercial pressures.
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Unique Conflict: The vineyards offer a constant, beautiful tension. Wine country is built on tradition and wealth, yet it is perpetually threatened by wildfire and drought, the two core natural conflicts of the Fire Country universe. The spinoff could focus on a multi-generational winemaking family facing ruin, or a local Cal Fire crew constantly battling blazes that threaten to wipe out multi-million dollar harvests.
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Thematic Expansion: A Wine Country show would allow the franchise to move beyond pure procedural rescue. It could delve into complex business disputes, labor issues (farmworkers vs. owners), and the environmental politics of land and water use—all compelling themes largely untouched by the current shows.
The Crossover Potential
A Wine Country spinoff would naturally feature crossover opportunities that feel organic and necessary:
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Cal Fire Response: Sharon Leone (Farr) and the Firehouse 42 team would constantly be called in to protect the vineyards, providing high-stakes action.
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Sheriff Investigations: Sheriff Mickey Fox (Baccarin) could investigate crimes related to wine theft, illegal land encroachment, or corporate espionage in the vineyard industry.
👶 Idea 2: The Sharon Leone Prequel Series
Farr’s second suggestion is more personal and character-driven: a prequel series centered on a young Sharon Leone before she became a Division Chief and before the tragic death of her daughter, Riley.
Untangling the Leone/Fox Backstory
The Fire Country universe has repeatedly hinted at a complicated, messy past for Sharon, her late husband Vince Leone (Billy Burke), and her step-sister, Sheriff Mickey Fox (Morena Baccarin). A prequel would be the perfect vehicle to untangle this rich, unresolved history.
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Young Love and Early Tragedy: The show could explore the early, passionate romance between Sharon and Vince, showing them as young, ambitious firefighters rising through the ranks. It would also cover the devastating, defining trauma of losing their daughter, Riley, and the resulting fractures in the family that led to Bode’s downward spiral.
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The Sisters’ Feud: The relationship between Sharon and Mickey is fiercely “un-squishy,” as Farr described it—full of tough love, high expectations, and deep-seated grudges. The prequel could reveal the original source of their strained relationship, perhaps involving their shared father (who is Mickey’s estranged dad and Sharon’s step-dad) or a conflict during Bode’s initial arrest, which Mickey was involved in. Farr noted that Sharon has “no status” with Mickey, suggesting a past failure or secret that the prequel could finally expose.
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The First Female Chief: The series could follow young Sharon as she battles sexism and institutional barriers in her quest to become the Division Chief, providing a powerful, female-driven narrative of professional triumph and sacrifice.
The Billy Burke Question
While the prequel would inevitably feature a younger actor playing Vince Leone, Farr suggested a creative way to include Billy Burke himself: flash-forwards or dream sequences in which older Sharon sees Vince, particularly as she navigates her grief in the main timeline. Farr believes this would allow Burke’s talent to remain part of the show’s legacy without violating the character’s death.
🔑 Conclusion: The Franchise’s Future is Diverse
The Fire Country franchise is currently capitalizing on the procedural success of its “First Responder Universe,” expanding from fire to law enforcement with Sheriff Country. However, Diane Farr’s insightful suggestions for a “Wine Country” drama and a Sharon Leone prequel reveal a much broader potential for the Edgewater world.
The Wine Country idea offers a smart, commercially appealing drama that taps into the Yellowstone vein, using the agricultural stakes of Northern California as its central conflict. The Sharon Prequel offers a deep dive into the complex, messy family history that drives the emotional core of the current series. Both ideas underscore the fact that the Country universe’s greatest asset isn’t just the action, but the rich, layered community and the fascinating characters who call the area home. The ball is now in CBS’s court to see which direction they take the rapidly expanding franchise next.
