An original 9-1-1: Lone Star cast member is exiting the show as the action spinoff faces an uncertain future. With a cast that includes Rob Lowe, Ronen Rubinstein, Natacha Karam, Brian Michael Smith, Rafael L. Silva, Julian Works, Gina Torres, Brianna Baker, Kelsey Yates, and Skyler Yates, the 9-1-1 expansion examines the lives of the police, fire and ambulance departments working at Company 126 in Texas. 9-1-1: Lone Star season 5 is on track to continue that story with new episodes later this year, though it may be the last.
Deadline is reporting that Sierra McClain is exiting 9-1-1: Lone Star ahead of season 5. It’s unclear how McClain’s departure is handled given her centrality to the spinoff, playing the original character Grace Ryder, who is married to Judd Ryder (Jim Parrack). The news comes after another cast member, Robyn Lively, wrote the following in a now-deleted social media post: “So excited to be a part of @911lonestar’s final season!! What a ride it’s been!”
9-1-1 Lone Star’s Uncertain Future, Explained
9-1-1 Season 5 Is Likely The End Of The Road.
The majority of the main cast are said to be under the assumption that the series is coming to an end, following two unsuccessful contract negotiations, and some are looking for new job opportunities.
Rob Wade, the CEO of Fox Entertainment, had previously said that he hoped to decide on 9-1-1: Lone Star after seeing how the upcoming season performed in terms of its ratings. Deadline reports that likely won’t be possible, given that the cast is under deals until production on Lone Star concludes in July. It’s unlikely that the main cast’s deals will be extended, which means the spinoff’s fate would have to be decided beforehand.
Though there is some hope that the action drama could find a path forward, most signs point to 9-1-1: Lone Star season 5 being the final chapter. The majority of the main cast are said to be under the assumption that the series is coming to an end, following two unsuccessful contract negotiations, and some are looking for new job opportunities. Representatives for Fox and 20th Television, the spinoff’s producer, had no comment.
Along with the unsuccessful negotiations for salary increases, the divide between Fox and 20th Television (with the latter now falling under the Disney umbrella) is said to be among the factors complicating a renewal. Unlike the main 9-1-1 series, which moved to the Disney-owned ABC after it was cancelled by Fox, there is no talk of 9-1-1: Lone Star moving to a different platform if it is axed by Fox.
Why Is 9-1-1: Lone Star Getting Cancelled Despite Strong Ratings?
The Spinoff’s Fate Follows A Recent Television Trend.
The possible cancellation of 9-1-1: Lone Star follows a trend in television of long-running series ending despite their solid performance in the ratings, with other examples including Young Sheldon, The Good Doctor, and The CW reboot Walker. As evidenced by the two separate attempts at contract negotiations for Lone Star, shows tend to cost more as they increase in seasons due to expected salary bumps for the cast and crew. During a time of declining ad revenue and lower live viewership, both networks and studios are looking for ways to save costs. One of those ways is to cancel expensive veteran series.
During a time of declining ad revenue and lower live viewership, both networks and studios are looking for ways to save costs.
Specifically, in the case of 9-1-1: Lone Star, 20th Television is covering the expenses of producing the spinoff which is said to be in the seven-figure range per episode because it is a big-budget drama that involves action sequences. Fox, in turn, pays a license fee to 20th Television to air the series. However, Deadline notes that this financial arrangement is not advantageous to 20th Television, and it’s unclear if and how much Fox would be willing to increase its fee to alleviate some of the spending.
The latest update makes the end of 9-1-1: Lone Star seem like a certainty. But the positive side is that, with production still ongoing for at least a month, the creative team is likely working to craft a fitting farewell for the 126 crew if the expected cancellation is formally announced.