You know a series is in good hands when Anthony Hemingway is at the helm.
The multi-award-winning director has officially signed on to direct and executive produce the first episode of Boston Blue, CBS’ upcoming Blue Bloods spinoff starring Donnie Wahlberg and Sonequa Martin-Green
First announced earlier this year, Boston Blue was given a straight-to-series order as part of CBS’ plan to build out the Blue Bloods universe. The series picks up with Wahlberg’s Danny Reagan leaving New York to take a new position with the Boston Police Department. Once there, he’s partnered with Detective Lena Peters—played by Martin-Green—the eldest daughter of a prominent Black law enforcement family.
Brandon Sonnier and Brandon Margolis (The Blacklist) are writing the series, and according to CBS, the show will continue the legacy of Blue Bloods while introducing fresh dynamics, especially around identity, legacy, and justice.
Hemingway’s involvement isn’t just a great look—it’s a promising creative choice. His directing resume runs deep with action-forward, character-rich dramas including most recently, Forever on Netflix, adapted by Mara Brock Akil and has a knack for launching series with long-term legs.
What makes Hemingway’s vision even more exciting for Boston Blue is his commitment to nuanced storytelling—particularly around Black experiences. From directing Red Tails, his feature debut about the Tuskegee Airmen, to upcoming projects like Hip Hop Cop (based on Ron Stallworth’s memoir The Gangs of Zion) and the powerful documentary Sugar Daddy, which examines the disproportionate impact of sugar consumption in Black communities, Hemingway isn’t afraid to tell complex, culturally-rooted stories.
With Boston Blue, there’s an opportunity to explore a perspective we rarely see in law enforcement dramas: that of a Black family in blue, led by Martin-Green’s character. That’s already a departure from the Reagan-centric POV of the original Blue Bloods, and with Hemingway’s thoughtful direction, there’s real potential to dive into themes like community accountability, legacy, and generational pressure—all while keeping the action and weekly case-solving CBS viewers love.
While Wahlberg will undoubtedly bring longtime Blue Bloods fans along for the ride, it’s clear Boston Blue wants to do more than repeat the past. And with Anthony Hemingway behind the camera, it just might succeed.