Ryan Murphy has shed some light on why 9-1-1: Lone Star was canceled.
Back in September, it was heartbreakingly revealed that the fifth season of the first responder drama would be its last.
According to Deadline, the cast learned earlier this year that Lone Star might end with a fifth season “after two failed contract renewals.”
Following the departure of original cast member Sierra McClain, “many other actors” began “reading, meeting, and auditioning for other projects months ago.”
The news was immediately devastating to fans, especially those who supported Ronen Rubinstein and Rafael Silva’s power couple Tyler Kennedy “TK” Strand and Carlos Reyes — affectionately known as “Tarlos.”
While the final season of 9-1-1: Lone Star has proven to be a strong one so far, many viewers have been wondering why the show was canceled.
Fortunately, in a recent interview with Variety, the American Horror Story creator shed some light on the cancellation.
“It’s sad, we all love Lone Star, but the financials just weren’t right. It was a Disney company that was on Fox, and it was never going to work,” Murphy explained.
While Lone Star will end after the 2024-2025 television season, the 9-1-1 universe shows no signs of ending.
“Tim Minear and I are working on a new spinoff that we’re actually writing right now and we’re hoping to air next fall,” Murphy revealed to the outlet.
“So now we’re launching a new show in a new city that I can’t name, but it’s exciting. And 9-1-1 moved to ABC and suddenly became, I think, the biggest show on Thursday nights. They obviously had an interest in that, so we’re going to give them another show that I really like.”
9-1-1: Lone Star focuses on the fire and police departments in Austin, Texas.
Created by Murphy, Minear and Brad Falchuk, the emergency drama has received widespread recognition for its diverse cast and leading LGBTQIA+ characters, earning three consecutive nominations — and one win — for Outstanding Drama Series at the GLAAD Media Awards.
As well as Tarlos, one of the most beloved TV couples of all time, the cast includes Brian Michael Smith as firefighter Paul Strickland. The actor made notable history as the first black transgender person to star in a regular series on network television.
In a recent interview with TV Insider, co-executive producer Rashad Raisani opened up about Tarlos’ upcoming journey and how their marriage will be tested in the new series.
“A big part of their marriage for me is that I really wanted to treat it like a real marriage, and I mean, even though these guys are great together and they’re really good-looking, life isn’t perfect, no matter who you are, and people have real struggles that affect even great relationships,” he explained.
New episodes of 9-1-1: Lone Star air Mondays on Fox.
