The highly anticipated police drama Boston Blue is set to premiere on CBS on October 17, 2025, taking over the 10 p.m. slot once held by Blue Bloods. As a direct spin-off of the popular long-running series, it brings back Donnie Wahlberg as Detective Danny Reagan—only this time, Danny leaves New York behind and joins the Boston Police Department.
Fans can expect a mix of familiar personalities and fresh faces, including Sonequa Martin-Green, Ernie Hudson, Maggie Lawson, Gloria Reuben, and Marcus Scribner. Danny has a new city and new problems to deal with, but one big question remains: where was Boston Blue filmed?
In this NetFilming guide, we’ll look at the real places where the show was filmed and share some fun facts about each city.
Where Was Boston Blue Filmed?
The show is set entirely in Boston, but it is actually filmed in two main cities: Toronto, Ontario, and Boston, Massachusetts. Toronto is the main place where the movie is shot, and Boston is where the movie gets real-life shots of buildings and landmarks that make the story feel real.
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
To make the show look real, the production team made sure to film in real Boston locations. The series connects with the community more by using real cityscapes, which also makes it feel more real to viewers.
Key Boston filming locations include:
- Downtown Boston is one of the busiest and most well-known parts of the city. It is used for everyday Boston life and urban street scenes.
- Park Street T Station is a historic and famous transit hub near Boston Common. It’s perfect for showing how people circulate around and how busy the area is.
- Granary Burying Ground is an old cemetery that adds a touch of old-world Boston charm to some of the more dramatic scenes.
- The filming of Boston Common took place on August 4, 2025, during a thrilling chase scene that garnered significant attention from the spectators.
- Fenway Park is the famous home of the Boston Red Sox. Filming took place in the middle of a live game for the most realistic effect.
Fun fact: Boston has been a popular place to film for a long time. The Departed, Good Will Hunting, and The Town are just a few of the films that filmed important scenes here, making the city a part of Hollywood history.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DMtMh4-SQ-5/
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
For many scenes, especially interiors and controlled street shots, Toronto is also Boston. Because of its flexible architecture and low-cost filming environment, it is a popular choice for productions.
Toronto is a more flexible place for Boston Blue to film because it is easier to build sets and deal with bad weather. The producers have also said that filming in Toronto saves them a lot of money, which lets them spend more on other parts of the series.
Trivia: Toronto has been the setting for many big films and TV shows, such as Suits, The Handmaid’s Tale, and The Shape of Water. Filmmakers love it because it can turn into cities like New York, Chicago, and Boston.
Boston Blue Behind The Scenes
I love peeking behind the curtain of TV shows, and “Boston Blue” has some fascinating stories from the set. As a spin-off of “Blue Bloods,” this series brings back Donnie Wahlberg as Danny Reagan, but it mixes things up with a new Boston setting and fresh challenges. Filming started in July 2025, and the team faced tough decisions right away.
According to TVInsider, Donnie, who’s from Boston, really pushed to shoot in his hometown for that real feel, even though money was tight in the industry after COVID and strikes.
He explained in an interview, “People think it’s a personal choice or that I didn’t want to film in Boston. I had the best time in my life filming in Boston… The industry has really been beat up from COVID and the strike. CBS, for example, used to make, like, 20 shows a year. They’re making two this year — new shows — and I’m on one of them. It’s really dire straits financially.”
That’s why most indoor scenes happen in Toronto—it’s cheaper, about thirty cents on the dollar compared to Boston. But Donnie wouldn’t back down.
He said, “But I said, ‘We have to go to Boston. I can’t not go to Boston.’ And so the plan right now is to do the interiors up here [in Toronto] and go to Boston every couple of weeks… The goal is, let’s compromise to get the show made.”
This compromise lets them use Boston crews for outdoor shots and even bring in local actors as guests.
One highlight was filming at Fenway Park during a live Red Sox game. Donnie shared how surreal it felt: “Just being able to walk on this ground, you know. It’s just – it’s hallowed ground. It’s a historic place. It’s a sacred place and if you’re from Boston its the place really we can only dream of being in one day… It’s unbelievable. It’s surreal and humbling and overwhelming and I’m just so grateful.”
He even mentioned a childhood memory of going to a game with his mom, eating sandwiches from home because they couldn’t afford hot dogs.
The show also teases surprises, like Bridget Moynahan guest-starring and directing. Donnie posted on Instagram, “Reunited and it feels so good! So excited to have my dear friend, and TV sister @bridgetmoynahan, join me for a special guest appearance in the premiere episode of #BostonBlue!”
According to TheThings, on a podcast, he hinted at family ties: “It will be a Danny Reagan-based show, but the Reagans are only a phone call away, and Danny Reagan likes to use the phone, that’s all I’ll say.”
Overall, the production focuses on blending authenticity with smart budgeting. As per EW, Donnie’s passion shines through—he’s excited to carry on the legacy, saying, “So excited to carry on the tradition, to share so many surprises, to answer some unanswered questions and to welcome all of you — to #BostonBlue! The next chapter in the #BlueBloods legacy begins. I can’t wait.”
With a talented cast like Sonequa Martin-Green joining as Detective Lena Silver and producers Brandon Sonnier and Brandon Margolis at the helm, this show promises emotional depth and action. If it succeeds, we might see even more filming in Boston down the line. Can’t wait to see how it all plays out on screen!
Boston Blue Official Trailer
Mark your calendars for October 17, 2025, and get ready to see Danny Reagan in action!
FAQs
Q1: When does Boston Blue premiere on CBS?
A: Boston Blue premieres on CBS on October 17, 2025, at 10 p.m., and will also be available to stream on Paramount+.
Q2: Where was Boston Blue filmed?
A: The series was filmed in Boston, Massachusetts, for authentic city shots and Toronto, Ontario, for studio and controlled location scenes.
Q3: Is Boston Blue connected to Blue Bloods?
A: Yes. It’s a spin-off that brings back Donnie Wahlberg as Detective Danny Reagan, who now works for the Boston Police Department.
Q4: Why did production use Toronto instead of filming entirely in Boston?
A: Toronto is a cheaper place to film, which lets the production make the most of its budget while still getting the real look of Boston for important scenes.
Q5: What Boston landmarks appear in the show?
A: Some of the places are Boston Common, Fenway Park, Downtown Boston, Park Street T Station, and Granary Burying Ground.
Must Read: Where Was Netflix’s Young Millionaires Filmed? Complete 2025 Location Guide
