The *Real* Reason 9-1-1: Lone Star Was Suddenly Canceled
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9-1-1: Lone Star is returning for Season 5 this fall, and it could be its last season. The 9-1-1 spinoff hasn’t been on air since May 2023, and rumors are swirling that the upcoming season will serve as the final chapter in the 126 squad’s story. Keep reading to see if 9-1-1: Lone Star is ending, plus more details about Season 5.
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FOX announced on September 6, 2024, that 9-1-1: Lone Star was officially ending after five seasons. “From the start, fans have followed the heroic and deeply moving stories of the men and women who make up Austin’s 126, so a huge thanks to one of the greatest creative teams in all of television — Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear — for creating one of the most action-packed dramas anywhere.” said Fox Television Network president Michael Thorn 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.”
Why was 9-1-1: Lone Star canceled?
Though FOX didn’t confirm the reason 9-1-1: Lone Star wasn’t renewed for a sixth season, it’s likely that the series was canceled for the same reason FOX canceled 9-1-1 after Season 6 before the mother series’ move to ABC. for Season 7.
Deadline reported at the time of 9-1-1’s cancellation that FOX pulled the plug on the series due to its high cost to produce. Sources told the magazine in May 2023 that 9-1-1 cost around $9 million to $10 million per episode to make due to two main reasons. The first are the expensive visual effects and stunts used to create the series’ disasters. The second is 9-1-1‘s high-paid cast, which only became more expensive the longer the series has run for.Given that 9-1-1: Lone Star also includes the same visual effects as 9-1-1, and is lead by household name Rob Lowe, it’s likely that the cost to produce the series also had to do with the reason it was cancelled.
Prior to the confirmation of 9-1-1: Lone Star’s final season, Deadline, many of the series regulars hinted at their expectation the first responder drama would come to an end. Some have even begun to look for new jobs.
“We all went into it pretty much knowing that it was going to be the last season, so that affected everything we did,” Rob Lowe told Variety in a recent interview. The actor also reminisced about the changing of the guard on network television, and what 91-1-: Lone Star was able to accomplish, adding: “We wanted to really show everybody what is still possible in network television if people have the appetite to do it. It feels like it’s probably the end of an era of a certain type — well, it doesn’t feel like it. It is the end of an era of a certain type of show we once had an opportunity to make, and I think they’re great.”
The rest of the cast also seemed to be moving on with other projects, including original cast member Sierra McClain, who quietly left the show following some contract renegotiation drama. McClain starred in the spinoff series as Grace Ryder, a 9-1-1 operator and the wife of firefighter Judd Ryder (Jim Parrack). The actress allegedly went “back and forth” with the studio regarding her contract, but ultimately decided to part ways with the series ahead of Season 5. Reps for McClain have not yet responded to Deadline‘s request for comment.
Additionally, the contracts for the other series regulars expired recently, and they were reportedly not extended or renegotiated to include raises. This contract issue, on top of McClain’s departure, all but confirmed that Lone Star was heading for a cancelation.
To add even more flames to the fire, cast member Robyn Lively, who recurs as the mother of Judd’s son, shared a tribute to the show’s “final season” in a now-deleted social media post. “So excited to be a part of @911lonestar’s final season!! What a ride it’s been!” she wrote before quickly deleting the message.
Brian Michael Smith, who plays firefighter Paul Strickland, recently told TVLine: “I can’t say much to the rumors. I feel like the network said, ‘Let’s wait and see what the numbers have to say,’ so we’re going to wait and see what the numbers have to say. I hope that means everybody will tune in and show the same amount of love and support they’ve been showing us for the first four seasons.”
Fox originally intended on waiting until Season 5 aired to make a renewal decision. Fox Entertainment CEO Rob Wade addressed the show’s future back in May 2023, telling Deadline: “Lone Star was not on the schedule this year because of the strike, and we’re really looking forward to getting it back on in the fall … We are excited about the new season. We’re going to see how that goes as always, and then make decisions on that about the future of that franchise.”
The series first debuted in 2020 as a spin-off of the hit drama 9-1-1, which has since moved to ABC. It follows the personal and professional lives of the fire, police and ambulance departments of the fictional first responder company, 126, located in Austin, Texas. The show stars Lowe as firefighter captain Owen Marshal Strand; Ronen Rubinstein as Owen’s son, Tyler Kennedy “TK” Strand; Parrack as Judson “Judd” Ryder, the sole survivor of the original 126 squad; McClain as Grace; Natacha Karam as Marjan Marwan; Smith as Paul Strickland; Rafael L. Silva as Carlos Tomas Reyes and Gina Torres as Tommy Vega.
Season 4 ended on a happy note, with fan-favorite couple Carlos and T.K., affectionately dubbed “Tarlos” by fans, finally tying the knot. Carlos also learned who killed his father Gabriel (Benito Martinez) and took some major steps forward in his healing process. Silva and Rubinstein have also responded to the speculation that Lone Star is ending with Season 5. “Wherever the ship sails, [I’m] grateful for the family I’ve created on this show,” Silva wrote on his Instagram Story shortly after Deadline‘s report was released. For his part, Rubinstein addressed the article directly, writing: “Nowhere in that article stated a certain fate for our show. But one thing I do know for certain is we will continue pouring our blood, sweat and tears into these last few episodes and deliver to you our most special season yet. I better see all of you in September.” Neither actor spoke about their co-star McClain or her exit.
9-1-1: Lone Star is available to stream on Hulu.
For more on 9-1-1, check out cast’s salaries per episode — including which star makes the most — in the gallery below.
