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One Chicago Casting News: Changes Coming in 2024

Megan Elliott — Sat, 03 Aug 2024 18:30:00 +0000

Change is coming to the Windy City. When Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Chicago P.D. return to NBC in September 2024, fans will notice a few missing faces, as well as meet some new characters. Here’s what we know about cast changes for the One Chicago shows.

Dermot Mulroney joins ‘Chicago Fire’ cast

Dermot Mulroney | Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

It was the end of an era at Chicago Fire when Chief Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker) was promoted to Deputy Commissioner of the Chicago Fire Department at the end of season 12. The character has appeared on the show since its first season in 2012.

With Boden gone (though Walker might return as a guest star, according to Deadline), who will take his place? For now, the battalion chief role will be filled by Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney).

Also joining Chicago Fire in season 13 is Ka Dee Strickland. She’ll play Monica Pascal, the new chief’s estranged wife

In another change, Jake Lockett, who plays Sam Carver, and Jocelyn Hudon (Lyla Novak) have been promoted to series regulars starting in season 13. Other returning cast members include Taylor Kinney as Kelly Severide, David Eigenberg as Herrmann, Miranda Rae Mayo as Stella Kidd, Joe Miñoso as Cruz, Christian Stolte as Mouch, Daniel Kyri and Ritter, and Hanako Greensmith as Violet Mikami.

Toya Turner joins ‘Chicago P.D.’ after Tracy Spiridakos’ exit

Longtime Chicago P.D. cast member Tracy Spiridakos, who played Hailey Upton, left the show at the end of season 11.

In season 12, the show will welcome a new officer named Kiana Cook, TVLine reported. She’ll be played by Toya Turner. Turner has previously appeared on both Chicago Med and Chicago Fire, playing different characters.

Returning cast members include Jason Beghe as Voight, Marina Squerciati as Burgess, Patrick John Flueger as Ruzek, LaRoyce Hawkins as Atwater, and Benjamin Levy Aguilar as Torres.

Dominic Rains is leaving ‘Chicago Med’

Sophia Ali as Dr. Zola Ahmad and Dominic Rains as Dr. Crockett Marcel in ‘Chicago Med’ | George Burns Jr/NBC

Change is also coming to Gaffney Chicago Medical Center. Dominic Rains, who played surgeon Dr. Crockett Marcel, has left the show. He joined Chicago Med in season 5. In the season 9 finale, hospital head Sharon Goodwin (S. Epatha Merkerson) ordered Crockett to take time off following a tragedy involving a young patient, whose death reminded him of the loss of his own daughter.

Returning Chicago Med cast members for season 10 include Merkerson, Oliver Platt as Dr. Daniel Charles, and Marlyne Barrett as nurse Maggie Lockwood.

When do the One Chicago shows return to TV?

All three One Chicago shows will return to TV on Sept. 25, 2024, on NBC.

Chicago Med Season 10 premieres at 8 p.m. ET
Chicago Fire Season 13 premieres at 9 p.m. ET
Chicago P.D. Season 12 premieres at 10 p.m. ET

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Hallmark’s August 2024 Movie Schedule Includes New Movies With Autumn Reeser and Rhiannon Fish

Megan Elliott — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 21:19:00 +0000

Get ready for some romantic summer nights. Hallmark Channel’s August 2024 schedule includes premieres of five all-new movies featuring stars such as Autumn Reeser, Ian Harding, and Rhiannon Fish. Keep reading for our rundown of the Hallmark movie schedule for August 2024.

‘Junebug’

In Junebug, Autumn Reeser plays Juniper, a book editor on the cusp of turning 40. When she’s visited by an eight-year-old version of herself, she starts to question her life choices. Realizing it’s time to make a change, she starts writing again. She also connects with Alex (Aaron O’Connell), a cute artist. Juniper overcomes challenges and pushes past her insecurities to get her life back on track.

Junebug airs Saturday, August 3 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

‘My Dreams of You’

Grace (Skyler Samuels) is a struggling novelist who’s had more luck finding temp work than getting published. One night, she starts dreaming she’s fallen for Michael (Kapil Talwalkar) an aspiring musician. But the recurring dreams are actually the result of a clerical mixup by Alura (Cecilia Lee), a new hire in Dreamland. When Grace is transported to Dreamland in an attempt to fix the error, she discovers that Michael is living nearby, and she rushes to meet him, hoping their connection also exists in real life.

My Dreams of You airs Saturday, August 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

‘A Costa Rican Wedding’

Reeling from her latest breakup, Emily (Rhiannon Fish) knows that standing up as the maid of honor in her best friend Phoebe’s (Brittany Carel) Costa Rican wedding is just the distraction she needs. But the dream vacation soon turns into a nightmare when a group of monkeys steal her bag and with it, her friend’s heirloom wedding rings. Desperate to avoid ruining Phoebe’s big day, she turns to Ryan (Christopher Russell), the best man and her longtime rival, for help. By helping each other, Emily and Ryan find a way to get past their old hang-ups and look to find common ground.

A Costa Rican Wedding airs Saturday, August 17 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

‘The Magic of Lemon Drops’

In The Magic of Lemon Drops, Lolly’s Aunt Gert gives her three magical lemon drops that allow her to experience what her life would have been like if she had made different choices and lived her unfulfilled dreams. Lyndsy Fonseca and Ian Harding star

The Magic of Lemon Drops airs Saturday, August 24 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

‘Head Over Heels’

Rebecca Dalton and Olivier Renaud star in Head Over Heels, which follows suburban-girl-at-heart Addison, who must prove herself in the world of high-end fashion footwear when she lands a life-changing internship ahead of New York Fashion Week. Addison is determined to maintain her integrity and her family values while forging a path to success and romance. But as she’s trying to make her dreams come true, she falls head over heels in love.

Head Over Heels airs Saturday, August 24 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

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‘And Just Like That…’ Fans Are Left With a Funeral Scene Mystery Once Again

Andrea Francese — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 02:19:00 +0000

The cast of And Just Like That has been spotted more than once dressed in all black. A casting call for funeral extras and the somber attire seen on set make it clear that a death will occur in And Just Like That… season 3. This won’t be the first time in the show’s history that fans have a funeral mystery to solve before the season premiere. So, who dies in the iconic reboot this time?

‘And Just Like That…’ viewers have theories about the season 3 funeral

While the mystery surrounding which character will die seems to deepen, fans are taking their theories online. Fans appear to be split into two camps. Some viewers believe that the death will be significant, while others think that the funeral scene will be largely inconsequential in the grand scheme of the storyline.

Sara Ramirez as Che Diaz | Craig Blankenhorn/Max

Several Reddit users have theorized that the show might do away with Che Diaz by killing off the character. Sara Ramirez will not be returning to portray Miranda Hobbes’ ex. It would be a tidy way to draw a close to the character. Some believe Steve Brady may have died, while others argue that the funeral will be for an extended family member of Lisa Todd Wexley. Some viewers wonder if the funeral will be for a never-before-seen character.

Miranda and Steve | Craig Blankenhorn / HBO Max

While anything could happen, it seems unlikely that the writers will kill off a beloved or hated main character. After all, season 1 dealt with a pretty emotional death. Mr. Big’s death made the entire first season feel incredibly heavy, and fans criticized how different the reboot was from the original series. Season 2 had a much lighter feel and was more closely aligned with the original series. It was better received by fans. If the production team is paying attention to fan sentiment, the death will serve as a throwaway scene and not a major plotline.

Could Samantha Jones be the dearly departed?

As ardent fans will remember, the And Just Like That.. cast was spotted filming a funeral before the series premiered. The scene led to speculation about which character’s demise would play out on screen. While several names were tossed around, fans eventually learned that Mr. Big had died in the show’s premiere episode. His funeral was featured in episode two.

Chris Noth as Mr. Big | Craig Blankenhorn / HBO

Many fans accurately predicted the death, but could some of those death guesses from season 1 still apply? When season 1 was being filmed, many Sex and the City fans worried that Samantha Jones would be killed off because actor Kim Cattrall was not asked to reprise her role. While it didn’t happen in season 1, Samantha may die in season 3. Cattrall insists she’s not returning to the series despite rumors to the contrary. Still, such a move would surely anger the show’s harshest critics.

For now, fans will just need to wait and see. Filming for season 3 of And Just Like That… began in May. Max has yet to announce an official release date, but the season is expected to premiere early in 2025.

Find Out When the Final ‘Blue Bloods’ Episodes Will Air on CBS

Megan Elliott — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 19:53:00 +0000

The end of Blue Bloods is fast approaching. The final episodes of the CBS cop drama will air this fall, and we have all the details about when the Reagan family will return to TV for the last time.

CBS has canceled ‘Blue Bloods’

Donnie Wahlberg and Marisa Ramirez on the set of ‘Blue Bloods’ in June 2024 | Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

Last fall, CBS announced that Blue Bloods would end with its 14th season.

“Blue Bloods will forever be a beloved part of CBS’ legacy. It ruled Friday nights with unprecedented dominance since its premiere and established itself as a pillar of our winning lineup with an exceptionally devoted fan base,” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment and David Stapf, president of CBS Studios, when announcing the cancellation. “We’ll be forever grateful to the legendary Leonard Goldberg for developing this signature series and to the amazing cast led by Tom Selleck.”

The final episodes of ‘Blue Bloods’ premiere in October 2024

The final, 18-episode season of Blue Bloods has been split into two parts. The first 10 episodes premiered on Feb. 16, 2024. The mid-season finale aired May 17.

The final eight episodes of Blue Bloods will premiere on Friday, Oct. 18 at 10 p.m. ET on CBS. Episodes also stream live and on-demand on Paramount+.

CBS hasn’t confirmed when the Blue Bloods series finale will air. But it seems likely that the last episode will be broadcast sometime in December 2024.

What happened in the ‘Blue Bloods’ mid-season finale?

So, where did we leave things with the Reagan family in the mid-season finale?

In “The Heart of Saturday Night,” Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck) connected with his father, former NYPD Commissioner Harry Reagan (Len Cariou), who wanted his help getting a widow’s request for benefits from the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund approved. Jamie (Will Estes) and his wife, Eddie Janko-Reagan (Vanessa Ray), unexpectedly ended up spending their five-year anniversary undercover at a corrupt rehab facility. Meanwhile, Danny Reagan (Donnie Wahlberg) and Gormley (Robert Clohessy) were keeping an eye on rogue Detective Gus Vanderlip (guest star Aidan Quinn), who was going after those responsible for putting a rapist back on the streets.

What to expect from the last episode of ‘Blue Bloods’

CBS hasn’t released any plot details about the final episodes of Blue Bloods. But showrunner Kevin Wade says fans can expect the show to have a satisfying resolution.

“There won’t be any cliffhangers because there’s no cliff, but it ends,” Wade told TV Insider. “Anything we would do that was an open question would by definition never be answered, so we’re trying to bring character stories to a close in that one. Obviously, we have some stories, some plot, but no, it’s designed as the last one.”

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Was Blair Underwood Approached to Play Chivon Williams in ‘Sex and the City’ Before Becoming Dr. Robert Leeds?

Andrea Francese — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 03:18:00 +0000

On Sex and the City, Blair Underwood guest-starred as Dr. Robert Leeds, the sexy sports medicine doctor Miranda Hobbes briefly dated. Dr. Robert Leeds was certainly a swoon-worthy character who’d be a welcomed addition to the Max reboot. While Underwood hasn’t announced his involvement in And Just Like That…, he’s happy to discuss his participation in the original series.

Recently, Blair Underwood revealed he was offered a different part in Sex and the City but turned it down. The prevailing theory is that he was initially asked to play Chivon Williams.

Blair Underwood recently reflected on his guest role on ‘Sex and the City’

Blair Underwood was already a well-known actor when he was cast as Dr. Robert Leeds on Sex and the City. The casting team behind the series wanted him on the show. They were so interested in him joining the cast that Underwood was offered more than one part.

During a chat with A.V. Club, Blair Underwood revealed that he had been offered a different part on Sex and the City a year or so before he agreed to portray Dr. Robert Leeds. He passed on the role because he didn’t like the storyline surrounding the character. More specifically, he didn’t like the way race was factored into the character arc.

Dr. Robert Leeds and Miranda Hobbes | HBO/Sex and the City

Underwood said he agreed to take on the role of Dr. Robert Leeds because the production team assured him that the part wasn’t about his race. Instead, the storyline centered on the character’s relationship with Miranda Hobbes. Underwood told the publication that the team was true to their word. He said he enjoyed working with Cynthia Nixon and the rest of the cast. He called Nixon, who portrayed Miranda, a “sweetheart.”

Was Blair Underwood offered Chivon Williams before becoming Dr. Robert Leeds?

While Underwood didn’t reveal who he was initially asked to portray, Sex and the City aficionados will easily connect the dots. Underwood dropped plenty of clues about what part the production team had him in mind for before casting him as Dr. Robert Leeds.

Underwood noted that the calls for the two parts came about a year apart. He also revealed that the first role he was offered was directly connected to Samantha Jones and her “curiosity” about Black men. While Underwood didn’t come out and say it, it is pretty clear he was offered the role of Chivon Williams. It is the only character that fits all the clues Underwood offers up.

Who was Chivon Williams in ‘Sex and the City’?

Chivon Williams appeared in a single season 3 episode of Sex and the City. In the episode, his sister, Adeena Williams, introduced him to Samantha Jones and her group at a restaurant. Chivon then starts a romance with Samantha.

Chivon Williams | HBO/Sex and the City

While Chivon and Samantha got along just fine, his sister didn’t care for the relationship. By the end of the episode, Chivon and Samantha break up, and he is never mentioned again. Asio Highsmith portrayed Chivon. In more recent years, the episode has been heavily criticized.

Kim Cattrall Speaks Out About ‘And Just Like That…’ Season 3 Involvement

Andrea Francese — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 23:11:00 +0000

Last week, Sex and the City fans were delighted by the prospect of seeing Samantha Jones again. Media reports swirled that Cattrall had agreed to reprise her role as Samantha in the third season of And Just Like That… after the production team met several caveats. Now, Kim Cattrall is speaking out about the rumors, and the news is not good for fans of the sexually liberated character.

Kim Cattrall will not reprise her role as Samantha Jones

While rumors continue to swirl that Kim Cattrall will appear in multiple episodes of And Just Like That… season 3, she denies the claims. Cattrall popped up on X (formerly Twitter) to reply to a report that she would be appearing in the series.

Kim Cattrall | Tom Dulat/Getty Images for AELTC

The New York Post caught the exchange. In one user’s post about the rumor, Cattrall said it was “kind” but that she wasn’t going to appear. This marks the first time Cattrall has publicly commented on rumors that she would appear in the show’s third season.

Cattrall famously appeared in a cameo in the show’s season 2 finale but refused to actually be on set with any of her former co-stars. She filmed the short spot alone. The rest of the cast was not aware that the scene was being filmed at the time. She has spoken briefly about the cameo and what compelled her to reprise the role after she very vocally insisted she had no interest in revisiting the iconic part.

Her former castmates don’t want her involved

While fans might want to see Samantha Jones return to the small-screen, her former castmates seem far less interested in reconnecting with her professionally. While Sarah Jessica Parker has remained notoriously quiet about the alleged feud between her and Cattrall, she did note that it would be nearly impossible to bring Cattrall back into the fold in any significant way after all that has been said.

Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kristin Davis | Ray Tamarra/Getty Images

Cynthia Nixon has remained pretty neutral on the situation but did note that the set of And Just Like That… felt different from Sex and the City. During an interview with Vanity Fair, she said it was nice to be on a set where everyone wanted to be involved in the project. She did not comment on Cattrall’s season 2 cameo.

While Cattrall won’t be back, And Just Like That… season 3 is shaping up to be star-studded. Several new guest stars have signed onto the project, and some familiar faces have popped up on the set. Season 3 is being filmed right now in New York City. It is set to premiere on Max in 2025.

Mark Harmon’s Son Sean Explains Why He’s Not Playing Young Gibbs in ‘NCIS’ Prequel

Megan Elliott — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 21:27:00 +0000

When NCIS needed someone to portray a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs, the show’s team didn’t need to look far to find the right person.

Sean Harmon – the son of Gibbs actor Mark Harmon – stepped into the role as the youthful NCIS agent for seven episodes between 2008 and 2020. But when it came time to cast someone to play young Gibbs in the new prequel series NCIS: Origins, producers went in a different direction.

Sean Harmon didn’t intend to ‘make a career out of’ playing Gibbs

Sean Harmon, Austin Stowell, and Mark Harmon from ‘NCIS: Origins’ | Francis Specker/CBS via Getty Images

The idea of an NCIS spinoff focused on young Gibbs originated with Sean, who came up with the concept while playing the character in a 2020 episode. NCIS: Origins will explore Gibbs’ early days with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, when he is still reeling from the murder of his wife and young daughter.

“It was a lightning-bolt moment. Gibbs is a guy who has something broken inside, a guy who at one point could have down a darker path,” Sean said during an appearance at the TCA Summer 2024 press tour (via USA Today).

“On NCIS, Gibbs had 30 years to come to terms with the trauma,” he added. “But on NCIS: Origins, this is a guy with none of the answers and all the trauma.”

Both Sean and his dad will serve as executive producers on NCIS: Origins. The elder Harmon will also act as the show’s narrator. But Sean Harmon won’t appear on screen in the new series. He’s fine with that.

“It was an absolute honor to step into the role; it will always be something I’ll hold close to my heart,” he said. “In truth, I never intended to make a career out of it.”

Mark Harmon is happy to be a ‘distant’ part of ‘NCIS: Origins’

As for Mark Harmon, he’s happy to see another person’s take on the character he played for 19 seasons. (Harmon left NCIS in 2021.)

“I’m fine with the stepback role and (to) let the (new) cast do the work,” Harmon said. “I’m pleased to be part of it. I’m a distant part. I’m just here to support.”

That support included some words of advice for Austin Stowell, who has been cast as Gibbs in NCIS: Origins and is putting his own stamp on the iconic character.

“It’s not the Gibbs the world knows. This is someone broken, searching for his identity,” Stowell said. “During the screen test, Mark came up to me and gave me two words that I’ll remember forever — ‘trust yourself.'”

NCIS: Origins premieres Monday, Oct. 14 at 9 p.m. ET on CBS. It moves to its regular 10 p.m. timeslot starting Oct. 21.

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New Season of Netflix’s ‘Unsolved Mysteries’ Will Explore One of the Biggest Cold Cases of All Time

Megan Elliott — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 15:58:00 +0000

Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries is tackling one of the biggest cold cases of all time. Season 4 of the true-crime and mystery series will explore the story of notorious serial killer Jack the Ripper, who killed five women in London in 1888.

‘Unsolved Mysteries’ Volume 4 premieres July 31

Netflix’s revival of Unsolved Mysteries premiered in 2020. The new version of the show switched up the format of the cult favorite series, ditching the host and focusing on just one case per episode. But like the original, it featured a mix of unexplained deaths, strange disappearances, and paranormal occurrences.

The new season, which has five episodes and premieres July 31, will stick with that formula, delivering the show’s “most unique volume yet,” Unsolved Mysteries co-creator Terry Dunn Meurer told Netflix’s Tudum.

“We have a wide variety of cases in the next batch: a severed head that has not been identified, a woman who died mysteriously in a basement, a mysterious flying creature that has been spotted around the Chicago area, [and] a young woman who suffered a brutal death and her killer has escaped justice,” Meurer said.

‘Unsolved Mysteries’ looks at the Jack the Ripper case

An 1891 illustration of police discovering one of Jack the Ripper’s victims | Stefano Bianchetti/Corbis via Getty Images

In addition to largely unknown cases, Unsolved Mysteries Volume 4 will also take a closer look at a series of crimes that have baffled people for years. One episode will explore “the famous case of Jack the Ripper, which has never been solved,” Meurer said.

Jack the Ripper terrorized the Whitechapel neighborhood in London’s East End beginning in late August 1888. Between then and November, the unidentified killer brutally murdered five women and mutilated their bodies, all within a relatively small geographic area. A person claiming to be the killer also sent several taunting letters to the authorities in which he referred to himself as Jack the Ripper.

“Jack the Ripper frightened people in a way that no killer had ever done before,” someone says in the trailer (via YouTube) for the new season.

The brutality of the Jack the Ripper murders was terrifying. The sense of fear was stoked by the enthusiastic coverage in the city’s press. Newspapers gravitated to the sensational story and helped create the idea of Jack the Ripper in people’s minds.

Despite a strong police response, no one was ever arrested for the Ripper murders. Over the years, a number of suspects have emerged, including a lawyer named Montague Druitt and a Polish barber named Aaron Kominski. Others have accused Prince Albert Victor, a grandson of Queen Victoria, and author Lewis Carroll of the crimes. However, there is little evidence supporting those claims. Fascination with Jack the Ripper and his crimes has also sparked a macabre tourist industry revolving around visits to the places where the victims lived and died.

Unsolved Mysteries Volume 4 premieres July 31 on Netflix.

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3 Times Luke Danes Was Downright Mean to Lorelai Gilmore

Andrea Francese — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 03:35:00 +0000

Most Gilmore Girls fans agree that Luke Danes and Lorelai Gilmore were the endgame couple of the series. Fans waited patiently for the couple to end up together for seven seasons. While we largely agree that Lorelai and Luke are good together, not every second of their relationship was kind and loving. We’ve collected three examples of when Luke Danes was unjustifiably mean to Lorelai Gilmore.

Luke left Lorelai at her parents’ vow renewal ceremony

Luke and Lorelai had plenty of tiffs during their friendship, but their first major issue as a couple came in season 5 of Gilmore Girls. When the couple goes to Richard and Emily Gilmore’s vow renewal ceremony together, Luke is shocked to find out Emily told Christopher Hayden to try and win Lorelai back.

Lauren Graham and Scott Patterson in ‘Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life’ | Netflix

While Luke had every reason to be upset that Lorelai spent a night drinking with Christopher and that Christopher conspired with Emily, he was in the wrong for leaving Lorelai stranded. The couple traveled to the ceremony together, and it would have been nice if Luke had, at the very least, ensured Lorelai had a way to get home. She eventually called a cab to find her way back to Stars Hollow. Still, it was petty of Luke to leave her behind.

He failed to tell her he had a child

Luke and Lorelai broke up after the vow renewal mishap but later reconnected. Things got so serious that they were planning a wedding when Luke Danes discovered he was a father. While being shocked by the revelation is understandable, most Gilmore Girls fans agree that Luke’s behavior after discovering he had a child was less-than-steller.

Not only did Luke keep April’s existence secret from Lorelai for as long as he could, but he was completely unapologetic about postponing their wedding and putting his relationship with Lorelai on the back burner while he accommodated not only April but her mother, Anna Nardini. Lorelai had every right to be angry at Luke, but he refused to empathize with her feelings.

Luke said he didn’t want to marry Lorelai anyway

The duo’s courtship was untraditional, and their fights could be epic. Still, Luke wasn’t one to be particularly petty and mean in general. He was outwardly mean in season 7 of Gilmore Girls, though.

Lauren Graham as Lorelai Gilmore and Scott Patterson as Luke Danes in ‘Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life’ | Saeed Adyani/Netflix

After his engagement to Lorelai ends, they run into each other in the streets. He tells Lorelai that the breakup wasn’t that big a deal and that he was over it. He suggested Lorelai was upset because she was the one who had proposed. While he didn’t say it, the implication was that he didn’t care if he married her. While he had a right to be mad, Luke’s mean-spirited nature of the retort was out of character. It still ranks as one of the meanest things he ever said to Lorelai.

A New ‘Blue Bloods’ Show Is in the Works, But It Doesn’t Have Anything to Do With the Tom Selleck Series

Megan Elliott — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 20:55:00 +0000

Say hello to the new Blue Bloods. Production company Awesomeness, which is owned by Paramount, has begun developing a show based on the best-selling YA book series of the same name by Melissa de la Cruz.

Despite the identical title, this Blue Bloods doesn’t have any connection to the CBS cop drama starring Tom Selleck and Donnie Wahlberg. Instead, the new Blue Bloods focuses on an elite group of immortal vampires who secretly rule New York City, Deadline reports.

The new ‘Blue Bloods’ will be based on book series by Melissa De La Cruz

Melissa de la Cruz at a launch party for ‘Blue Bloods’ in 2006 | Christian Grattan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Rather than giving an inside look at a family of NYPD officers, the new Blue Bloods will follow a 17-year-old named Sky, who is a newcomer to the prestigious Duchesne Institute. As the first half-human, half-vampire, Sky was previously exiled from the Blue Bloods and must find her way in her world. Meanwhile, the city’s vampires face an existential threat when an ancient and evil breed of vampires resurfaces. (Maybe they could call on Frank Reagan to sort out the mess?)

Jacquie Walters will write and executive produce the new show, which does not yet have a network attached. De La Cruz will also serve as an executive producer.

“I am so excited to bring my beloved Blue Bloods series to life with a stellar team at Awesomeness, Gotham, 3Arts, and our incredible writer Jacquie Walters who understands my story and characters deeply,” she said in a statement. “Cannot wait to see them on screen at last!!! LFG!!!”

De La Cruz also wrote the books that were adapted into the Lifetime series The Witches of East End and a series of books inspired by the Disney Channel series The Descendants.

”90% of the stuff I work on is never announced—so this is a fun treat to be able to share one of my projects with the world!! (And with Melissa’s many fans!) We are cooking up something GOOD for y’all, just wait,” Walters shared on Instagram.

The final episodes of ‘Blue Bloods’ begin airing Oct. 18

While the existence of two Blue Bloods could be a little confusing, it doesn’t sound like fans of either should have too much trouble telling them apart. Plus, the CBS show will be wrapping up its final season this fall, well before the new Blue Bloods makes it to TV.

The last eight episodes of the top-rated drama will begin airing on Friday, Oct. 18. It’s the end of an era for the cast, several of whom – including Selleck – have made it clear that they’d like the series to continue. While CBS has said it has no plans to un-cancel the show, “franchise extensions” are in the works. But it will be some time before anything makes its way to TV.

“We’ve got to get it right so we’re taking our time and trying to figure it out, OK, what is the next iteration of Blue Bloods?” CBS Studios President David Stapf told Deadline. “We have a whole season to go where we intend to celebrate it all season long as to how good that show is, so there’s still time for us to figure that out.”

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