Chris O’Donnell has been cast in a lead role in ABC‘s upcoming spinoff series “9-1-1: Nashville,” Variety has learned.
The spinoff of “9-1-1” was originally announced in February, with the show scheduled to debut during the 2025-2026 broadcast season. Plot details are still scarce, but the show will follow the lives of first responders in the titular Tennessee city.
O’Donnell will star as Captain Don Sharpe, who is described as “a rugged fire captain and rodeo rider who runs Nashville’s busiest firehouse with his beloved son. Don’s a devoted husband and family man but he has his secrets.”
The now marks O’Donnell’s second starring role in a TV procedural spinoff. Previously, he starred in the CBS series “NCIS: Los Angeles,” which ran on that network for 14 seasons and over 300 episodes from 2009-2023. His other TV credits include “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Bupkis,” and “The Company.” In film, O’Donnell is known for roles in “Batman Forever” and “Batman & Robin” as well as “Scent of a Woman,” “The Chamber,” and “Fried Green Tomatoes.”
He is repped by Untitled Entertainment, Gersh, Vision PR, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.
“9-1-1: Nashville” is the latest expansion of the “9-1-1” franchise. Fox previously aired the Texas-based “9-1-1: Lone Star” starring Rob Lowe, with that show wrapping up its run after five seasons in early February.
“9-1-1” was created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear and premiered on Fox in 2018 before moving to ABC for its seventh season in 2024. Season 8 of the series is currently airing. “9-1-1: Nashville” will be executive produced by Murphy, “9-1-1” star Angela Bassett, Minear and Rashad Raisani, who both serve as writers alongside Murphy, and Falchuk. 20th Television, where Murphy is under an overall deal, is the studio.
