The idea of a TV calendar without Blue Bloods still feels a little odd. The classic police procedural had been on the air since 2010 so its conclusion last December (after 14 seasons and 293 episodes!) is still taking a bit of getting used to, especially for loyal viewers who stuck around for the whole run. Thankfully, the time without stories set in the Blue Bloods world will also be coming to an end as CBS has officially ordered a spinoff that will arrive on our screens later this year. Although we don't know too much about it yet, we do know that it already has an awesome cast!
Donnie Wahlberg will be leading the charge as he reprises his Blue Bloods role as our beloved Daniel Fitzgerald "Danny" Reagan, meaning that one of TV's longest-standing characters will return for another (hopefully long) stint. And he has a brilliant new scene partner too as he's joined by a fellow TV veteran in Star Trek: Discovery icon Sonequa Martin-Green.
Martin-Green accompanied Wahlberg as they made the announcement, revealing to reporters at a CBS press event that her character will be Reagan's new partner Detective Lena Silver. Described as the oldest daughter of a well-established law enforcement family, Silver will have no problem making her presence felt on the show. Martin-Green promises that she's going "to get a really good Boston accent just so I can like throw it out at times!", suggesting that there will be an interesting contrast between the two as Reagan isn't a fan of Boston.
Wahlberg promises that there will still be "connective tissue to the old family" of Blue Bloods but that Boston Blue will also allow them to "discover a new family". That last part will be where Lena Silver comes in.
Martin-Green is no stranger to iconic franchises. She is perhaps best known for playing Captain Michael Burnham in Star Trek: Discovery - a role which she portrayed for all five of the show's seasons between 2017 and 2024, during which she earned two Saturn Awards for her performance. But that's not the star's only iconic role, as she also played Sasha Williams in The Walking Dead. Both characters were fan-favorites of their respective franchises and really solidified Martin-Green as the force of a performer that she is.
With those roles (as well as appearances in other classic TV shows Once Upon A Time, Gossip Girl and New Girl throughout her career) to her name, it goes without saying that she knows a thing or two about gripping audiences with her leading performances. As Michael Burnham, she reintroduced a classic franchise to a modern audience (Star Trek: Discovery was the first Star Trek series in 12 years) and delivered a thrilling performance that grounded the larger-than-life series throughout its five-season run. Meanwhile over on The Walking Dead, her portrayal of Sasha quickly made her one of the most compelling characters on the show - which is impressive considering that she didn't debut until its third season - and many regard her as one of the characters who should have stuck around longer.
The good news is that Martin-Green is back on TV and now she gets to make her presence felt in another beloved franchise. We don't know much about Detective Lena Silver just yet but we're very excited to meet her.
Boston Blue begins filming this summer and will premiere on CBS in the fall.