Fans of 911: Lone Star were left disappointed as the final episode of the series aired on Monday February 3. The hit Fox drama, a spin-off of 911, focused on first responders in Austin, Texas, and starred Rob Lowe as Captain Owen Strand and Gina Torres as Captain Tommy Vega.
Fox had announced last September that 911: Lone Star would come to an end after its fifth season, a decision that upset many loyal viewers. Showrunner Ryan Murphy explained to Variety that financial constraints were the primary reason behind the cancellation. “Sadly, we all love Lone Star, but the financials just didn’t work,” he said.
Ryan Murphy elaborated that the show’s status as a Disney production airing on a Fox network contributed to the financial complications. “It’s a Disney company that was on a Fox network, and it just was never going to work. And we had a long run of it,” he added.
Rob Lowe, who also served as an executive producer, acknowledged that the cast and crew were aware that season five would likely be their last. “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.
Reflecting on the show’s legacy, Rob Lowe emphasized the ambitious storytelling and high production values. “We wanted to go out making our case for the value of shows like that, and I think we did a really good job. The stories that we were able to tell on a weekly basis in terms of the scope and scale—that’s probably the thing I’m the most proud of. They were truly like mini-movies every week.”
A New 911 Spin-Off in the Works
Although 911: Lone Star is coming to an end, fans may not have to wait long for another entry in the franchise. Ryan Murphy revealed that he and fellow showrunner Tim Minear are developing a new spin-off, which could premiere as early as 2026.
“Tim Minear and I are working on a new spinoff that we’re actually writing, and that we hope to get on the air next fall,” Ryan Murphy shared. “Now we’re going to launch a new show in a new city that I can’t name, but it’s fun.”
While details about the spin-off remain limited, Deadline previously reported that Hawaii is one of the locations being considered for the setting. However, Minear has confirmed that there are currently no plans to bring back any of the 911: Lone Star characters for the new series.
When asked about the possibility of appearing in the spin-off, Rob Lowe kept his options open. “I never say never to anything. I learned that a long time ago,” he said. He added that his decision would depend on the quality and production value of the new series. “Is it a cheaper, wannabe version, or is it going to continue to have the kind of production value hallmarks that we’re really proud of, that we did on our show? Who knows? We’ll have to see what everything looks like.”
With 911: Lone Star concluding its five-season run, fans can look forward to what the next chapter in the 911 universe will bring.
