EXCLUSIVE: A brand new location has emerged as a number one contender to function backdrop for the anticipated second 9-1-1 spinoff within the works at ABC from Ryan Murphy and Tim Minear. Based on sources, Hawaii is heating up as a possible setting for the offshoot, which, as Deadline reported earlier this month, has been choosing up momentum after a prolonged gestational interval. It’s but to be greenlighted.
Through the gestational interval, different locations had been thought of to comply with Los Angeles (9-1-1) and Austin (9-1-1: Lone Star), with Las Vegas at one level rising as a favourite.
That has now shifted to America’s fiftieth state, we hear. Reps for ABC and studio twentieth Tv, which is behind the first-responder drama franchise, declined remark.
With its paradise-like tropical setting and lots of seashores, the attract of Hawaii is evident, and it suits the aspirational tone of Murphy’s broadcast fare, most just lately Physician Odyssey for ABC.
However filming in Hawaii isn’t with out its challenges — most of them monetary — which makes setting a 9-1-1 sequence there a not-so-straightforward proposition. Dwelling of a few of TV’s most iconic sequence, akin to Gilligan’s Island, the 2 incarnations of Hawaii 5-0 and Magnum P.I. in addition to Misplaced, Hawaii is an costly location that’s tougher to suit into the constantly trimmed TV budgets, particularly in linear TV. Value was among the many components for CBS’ determination to cancel NCIS: Hawai’i after 3 seasons regardless of being the #12 most watched non-sports program on broadcast, averaging 7.8 million linear viewers and 10M multi-platform viewers (Reside+35).
Fox and producer John Wells just lately discovered a solution to produce a broadcast drama sequence, freshman Rescue HI-Surf — which additionally options first responders — in Hawaii whereas becoming into the community’s $3M-$4M per episode vary with a solid that doesn’t have large names.
In the meantime, 9-1-1 on ABC, headlined by Angela Bassett, is claimed to value about twice as a lot. Spinoff 9-1-1: Lone Star, starring Rob Lowe, is also considerably costlier that that to provide, which performed a job in its run on Fox coming to an finish after the present fifth season. The 9-1-1 franchise was conceived as high-end broadcast procedurals with star casts and elaborate particular results, so to try this in Hawaii with out changes can be difficult.
As Deadline reported final month, in contrast to 9-1-1, which moved to ABC after six seasons on Fox, Lone Star isn’t anticipated to make the identical transition. As an alternative, the concept is to probably launch a brand new spinoff sequence subsequent season. Overseen by Minear and Murphy, the challenge remains to be within the script stage of growth.
9-1-1 and Lone Star are created and govt produced by Murphy, Minear and Brad Falchuk, with Minear spearheading the franchise as showrunner. The franchise is produced by twentieth Tv and Ryan Murphy Prods.
