After months of speculation, it has been confirmed that the upcoming fifth season of “9-1-1: Lone Star” will be the series’ last on Fox. The Texas-set spinoff of “9-1-1,” which originally premiered in January 2020, is scheduled to return on September 23 for a 12-episode run, culminating in a series finale early next year.
Fox Television Network President Michael Thorn expressed gratitude to the creative team behind the series. “From the start, fans have followed the heroic and deeply moving stories of the men and women who make up Austin’s 126,” Thorn said in a statement. “Now in our final season of the show, we’re set to give it the high-stakes send-off it deserves, complete with breathless rescues, insurmountable odds, and relatable personal struggles, thanks to our incomparable, stellar cast led by Rob Lowe and Gina Torres.”
The announcement follows a period of uncertainty for “9-1-1: Lone Star,” including significant cast changes. Sierra McClain, who portrayed 9-1-1 operator Grace Ryder, quietly exited the series. Additionally, Robyn Lively, who plays Marlene Harris, hinted at the show’s possible conclusion in a now-deleted Instagram post, referring to the upcoming season as the “final season,” a sentiment echoed by other cast members who have reportedly begun exploring new opportunities.
The drama, created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Tim Minear, follows Captain Owen Strand, played by Rob Lowe, and his team of first responders in Austin, Texas. Alongside Lowe, the cast includes Ronen Rubinstein, Gina Torres, Natacha Karam, Brian Michael Smith, Julian Works, Rafael Silva, Brianna Baker, and Jackson Pace. The new season will feature key plot developments, including Judd Ryder (Jim Parrack) stepping down from his duties to care for his son, Wyatt, who is now a series regular, and a storyline where Owen must choose a new lieutenant, with Marjan (Natacha Karam) and Paul (Brian Michael Smith) vying for the role. Meanwhile, Captain Tommy Vega (Gina Torres) navigates romantic challenges, and T.K. (Ronen Rubinstein) and Carlos (Rafael Silva) face the aftermath of a family tragedy that puts their marriage to the test.
Throughout its four seasons, “9-1-1: Lone Star” has been a strong performer for Fox, consistently ranking behind only its predecessor, “9-1-1,” among the network’s dramas. The series averaged 9.6 million multi-platform viewers in the 2022-23 season, making it one of the top 10 drama series on broadcast networks in the key 18-49 demographic.
The end of “9-1-1: Lone Star” marks a significant shift for Fox, as the series was the last drama produced by 20th Television for the network following Disney’s acquisition of the studio in 2019. The show’s conclusion also reflects broader changes in the economics of television, particularly for non-vertically integrated networks like Fox. Despite negotiations and a willingness from some cast members to continue, including series star Rob Lowe, the financial considerations ultimately led to the decision to end the series after Season 5.
As “9-1-1: Lone Star” prepares for its final bow, fans can expect an action-packed farewell with high stakes and emotional storylines that have defined the series. The season is set to kick off with a dramatic multi-episodic storyline involving a catastrophic train derailment, showcasing the team’s resilience and dedication one last time.