Brace yourselves as Fox’s 9-1-1: Lone Star season 5 is delayed until later in 2024 with a shorter season.
Fox’s 2023-24 schedule excludes its top-rated dramas, with “9-1-1: Lone Star” Season 5 postponed to Fall 2024. This decision, driven by financial considerations, follows the earlier move of the flagship “9-1-1” to ABC. The spinoff series, starring Rob Lowe and Gina Torres, was initially set for an 18-episode order, but due to the Hollywood strikes, it will now produce 12 episodes airing in the fall of 2024.
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While Fox had originally hoped for “9-1-1: Lone Star” originals this midseason, the production challenges arising from the strikes and the need for extensive pre-production and post-production time compelled a shift in plans. The series, known for its big-scope and big-budget production, involves significant VFX work, making it difficult to fit a meaningful season within the 2023-24 broadcast schedule.
The agreement between Fox and 20th Television to produce 12 episodes for the fall of 2024 raises questions about the financial dynamics, considering the deficit financing model. As a deficit-financed series, Fox pays a flat license fee to 20th Television, which covers the production costs. This model, common in the industry, places the onus of deficit coverage on the studio.
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Financial considerations have become crucial for media companies, given increased scrutiny. Last season, “9-1-1: Lone Star” stood as Fox’s second-highest-rated and most-watched drama.
The series stars Lowe, Gina Torres, Ronen Rubinstein, Sierra McClain, Jim Parrack, Natacha Karam, Brian Michael Smith, Rafael Silva, Julian Works and Brianna Baker as well as Kelsey and Skyler Yates.
The series, a production of 20th Television in association with Ryan Murphy Television and Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision, provides insights into the lives of first responders in Austin.
Murphy, Falchuk and Tim Minear are creators, executive producers and writers. Bradley Buecker is an executive producer and directed the series premiere. Alexis Martin Woodall, Rashad Raisani, John J. Gray, Angela Bassett, Lowe, Kelly Souders & Brian Peterson and Bob Goodman also are executive producers.
Fox, like other networks, is working on restructuring its 2023-24 scripted series lineup, with dramas Doc and Rescue: Hi-Surf pushed to 2024-25. The network plans to leverage the established and highly rated ‘Lone Star’s’ fall release to lead-in to support the launch of new series.