Donnie Wahlberg Says Sonequa Martin-Green Was ‘The Only Choice’ to Play His Partner on ‘Boston Blue’

Donnie Wahlberg could not be more thrilled to expand the Blue Bloods universe with a new costar by his side! CBS announced that actress Sonequa Martin-Green will be playing Donnie’s character Danny Reagan’s new partner in the offshoot series, Boston Blue.

Donnie, 55, opened up about the casting of his costar during a CBS press conference on Wednesday, May 8. He said that Sonequa, 40, was “not the first choice — the only choice” to play the new character named Lena Peters.

He reflected on how the show will project similar values of Blue Bloods – highlighting the importance of family and strong bonds above all else.

“One thing about Blue Bloods and how beloved it was is because there are so many law enforcement families in this country. There’s not just the Reagans,” he said during the appearance.

“They’re in every state, every city, every town, everywhere and there are other families around that have stories to tell too. Danny’s story will continue the Reagan family. You can’t have Danny without Reagans — there’ll be connective tissue. But we’re also going to get to discover a new family and carry on the tradition of telling their stories,” Donnie continued about what viewers can expect in Boston Blue.

Sonequa also joined him at the press conference, where she dished on looking forward to working in Boston with Donnie.

“You’re going to have a lot of fun poking fun at me,” the Walking Dead alum told Donnie. “And I’m going to have to get a really good Boston accent just so I can, like, throw it out at times!”

Filming of the new drama series will begin this summer. Boston Blue will premiere this fall, taking over the time slot on Friday nights at 10 p.m. ET on CBS, the exact time Blue Bloods aired. Blue Bloods ended after 14 seasons on CBS and speculation about spinoffs began shortly after.

Both Donnie and Sonequa pointed out that Boston Blue will honor Blue Bloods in new ways, keeping the traditions of the Reagan family alive despite taking the franchise to a new city.

“We love the Reagans. We have all loved the Reagans for so long,” Sonequa shared. “And I feel that we’ll love the Peters too. I’m super excited for this partnership, and to be back in a CBS family — and in this family, your family. It means a lot, and I’m grateful for it. I think we’re going to have a good time.”

Her character, Lena, is a detective who is the eldest daughter of a “prominent law enforcement family,” according to a press release. In Blue Bloods, Donnie was partnered with Maria Baez from season 4 all the way to season 14.

Saying goodbye to their partnership and his Blue Bloods costars on his final day of filming the show was emotional, Donnie previously revealed.

“The last day on the set of Blue Bloods was a lot of tears,” he told TV Insider in October 2024. “My final day was in the squad room where Danny and Baez filmed most of their scenes and Tom Selleck doesn’t come to the squad room ever — I don’t think he’s ever been in the squad room — but he came that day to watch us film the last day of the show. And seeing him there and seeing the emotion on his face, just it, yeah, turned on the waterworks for me.”