It looks like my biggest hope for Tom Selleck after Blue Bloods ends will become a reality. Selleck has starred in CBS' top-rated cop and family drama for fourteen years. However, the series was canceled despite its high ratings. Now, Blue Bloods only has a few episodes left before it goes off the air permanently. Thus, Selleck and other cast members are open to new projects after playing the same characters for over a decade. I have followed Selleck's career since before beginning my own, and I'm confident that he will eventually return on the screen.
Selleck is an accomplished and talented actor who has been a household name since the 1980s, when his role in Magnum, PI shot him to stardom. Despite that, I can't imagine anyone else playing Blue Bloods' Frank Reagan. Additionally, Selleck is a writer and producer who helped co-write all the scripts for the Jesse Stone movie franchise. Jesse Stone is particularly interesting because Selleck's character is so different from the Blue Bloods Reagan family patriarch he plays on that show.
Tom Selleck May Make More Jesse Stone Movies After Blue Bloods Ending
The Series Has Been On Hold Since 2015
When Selleck first began starring in Blue Bloods, he wanted to continue doing the Jesse Stone films. However, this plan did not pan out, as Selleck has not made another one after 2015's Jesse Stone: Lost In Paradise. I had given up hope of getting another such movie after Blue Bloods became popular, as it didn't seem like the police procedural would end for many years. Now that Selleck no longer has another commitment, however, he could write and produce another Jesse Stone movie and is open to doing so (via TV Insider).
I'm especially excited that Selleck says the next Jesse Stone movie "wouldn't be the final one." It would be bittersweet news if Selleck only wanted to do one more film to wrap the series up, especially if the news came so soon after Blue Bloods ended. However, knowing there might be more Jesse Stone movies for years to come gives me something tangible to look forward to that offsets the loss of one of my favorite television shows.
Another Jesse Stone Movie Is Something I've Wanted For Years
2015's Lost In Paradise Didn't Provide A Satisfying Ending
Lost In Paradise was not intended to be the final movie in the Jesse Stone series, and that was obvious after watching it. The movie does not end on a note that feels like a satisfying ending; instead, Jesse and his dog are sitting together, making it seem like Jesse's next mystery will fall into his lap at any second. Even though it has been almost ten years, I think of that ending often and wonder what Jesse's next movie will be about. For this reason, the idea that Selleck might resume the series after Blue Bloods ends is exciting news.
Selleck made the right decision by not trying to produce Jesse Stone at the same time as he was working full-time in Blue Bloods. He had very limited time off from the series, and I wouldn't have wanted a rushed, less-than-stellar production. It's admirable that Selleck had the integrity to realize he couldn't do the next Jesse Stone film justice while his attention was divided. However, now that he is finished with Blue Bloods, he should be able to focus exclusively on Jesse Stone and make up for the last ten years of radio silence about Jesse's next adventure.
I Still Wish Blue Bloods Was Continuing After Season 14
The Return of Jesse Stone Is A Silver Lining To A Sad Circumstance
Although it's exciting to get more Jesse Stone films, I'm still heartbroken about Blue Bloods ending. It was the show I looked forward to most each week because of its unique emphasis on the bonds between the members of the Reagan family. I especially loved the Reagan family dinners, which sometimes felt too short but were a comforting aspect of every episode. There are few family dramas left on television, so losing Blue Bloods leaves a large hole in the TV landscape that will be difficult to fill.
Throughout my career, I've witnessed the end of many shows I enjoyed, but Blue Bloods' cancelation is one of the most unfair. It would be easier to accept if Selleck and the rest of the cast had chosen to end the series on a high note. However, CBS canceled the series despite a massive fan-led movement to end Blue Bloods and the passion of the cast and crew for its continuation. It's disappointing that CBS canceled Blue Bloods despite the enthusiasm and love for the series, even though it does free Selleck to return to Jesse Stone.
Could Tom Selleck Play Frank Reagan After Blue Bloods Ends?
It's Unlikely, But It Could Happen
Although Selleck would probably agree to play Frank Reagan again after the end of Blue Bloods, it's not likely that this would happen. The series finale will close out this chapter of the Reagan family saga for good, although there are several possible Blue Bloods spinoffs. No spinoff has yet been developed, and I doubt that a sequel show would heavily feature Frank Reagan, as one of the major reasons for the cancelation was the show's high costs and a high-profile actor like Selleck would be expensive to hire.
If there is a Blue Bloods spinoff, it's possible that Selleck would return occasionally as a guest star. Cameo appearances are less demanding on his time as well as cheaper for CBS; thus, this possibility would not stop him from continuing to work on Jesse Stone the way full-time work did. Any such appearances would be limited to one or two episodes per season, giving Selleck plenty of time to work on other projects. That said, this is still better than nothing at all. If anything, this is the best-case scenario for both Blue Bloods and Jesse Stone's future.
However, if there is a Blue Bloods reunion movie in a few years, Selleck would likely return as Frank Reagan, assuming that his character's ending story doesn't make it impossible for him to pick the role up again. Until then, he will be free to work on other projects, including Jesse Stone, and will hopefully have at least one more movie under his belt before he has to put the project on hold again for a reunion movie or other Blue Bloods-related project.
Source: TV Insider
