Ryan Murphy opens up about the cancellation of 9-1-1: Lone Star. The 9-1-1 spinoff starring Rob Lowe will premiere in 2020 on Fox, focusing on the story of first responders in Austin, Texas. While the flagship series recently debuted its eighth season and will continue on ABC, where it moved after Fox’s cancellation, 9-1-1: Lone Star season 5 will be the show’s final season. It premiered on September 23 and will consist of 12 episodes.
Speaking to Variety, Murphy, who created both 9-1-1 and Lone Star with Tim Minear and Brad Falchuk, commented on the reasons behind the beloved show’s cancellation, alluding to financial struggles. While the series will continue with the original show and a spinoff in the works, which Murphy revealed in the same chat, Lone Star’s end seems inevitable. Murphy said: Sadly, we all love ‘Lone Star,’ but the financials just didn’t work out. This is a Disney company that used to be on Fox, and it never worked. And we’ve had such a long run. So now we’re launching a new show in a new city that I can’t name, but it’s exciting.
The decision to cancel 9-1-1: Lone Star appears to be part of a larger trend of networks reevaluating long-running shows amid streaming competition and budget constraints. Lone Star has established its own identity by focusing on Austin-based emergency responders, and the dynamic interplay between the original 9-1-1 and its spinoff has helped solidify both. Throughout its run, Lone Star has explored important social issues and deep emotional arcs. Stories about grief, mental health, family dynamics, and social justice have been incorporated into the action-packed series, giving it a layer of depth beyond its explosive rescue scenes.
Although Lone Star is coming to an end, Murphy revealed that another 9-1-1 spinoff is in the works, ensuring that the series will continue and may even find opportunities to bring back more Lone Star characters.
However, despite its popularity, various factors may have contributed to the show’s demise. Ratings in later seasons, while steady, were not as strong as previous seasons, and the rising costs of production, especially with elaborate stunts and special effects, may have played a part in the decision to cancel the show. Although Lone Star is coming to an end, Murphy revealed that another 9-1-1 spinoff is in the works, ensuring that the series will continue and may even find opportunities to bring back more Lone Star characters. Murphy seems excited to bring new 9-1-1 stories and characters to the screen, so while fans may be disappointed, this cancellation does not mean the end of the 9-1-1 universe. The upcoming spinoff could mean the beginning of a new era. This time, with ABC’s cooperation, the spinoff could gain a new audience by portraying new stories, and hopefully be as successful as the original show. The ending of 9-1-1: Lone Star was certainly a shock, especially given the financial reasons that led to the show’s cancellation, but there could be a bright future for the series.
