NCIS: LAstar Chris O’Donnell has been cast in the lead role of ABC’s upcoming spinoff series9-1-1: Nashville.The original9-1-1show, created by Ryan Murphy, premiered in 2018 and has since become a major flagship procedural for ABC with a growing universe. The second9-1-1spinoff follows the recentlyconcluded9-1-1: Lone Star, which Rob Lowe led in Austin, Texas. This time, Ryan Murphy’s9-1-1franchise ventures further into the American South to follow the lives of first responders in the titular Tennessee city. Thepremiere of9-1-1: Nashvillewill release later this year on ABC.
Now,Varietyhas reported thatChris O’Donnell will portray Captain Don Sharpe, a rugged fire captain and rodeo rider. Don is described as a “devoted husband and family man,” but has some secrets which are sure to cause problems as he leads Nashville’s busiest firehouse alongside his beloved son. O’Donnell will be taking on his second major role in a procedural spinoff after portraying Special Agent G. Callen inNCIS: Los Angeles, which concluded in 2023 after a successful 14-season run on CBS.
What This Means For 9-1-1: Nashville
The Spinoff Casts Its First Hero
Chris O’Donnell’s casting as Captain Don is the first in major casting news for the recently announced spinoff9-1-1: Nashville. With the lead role secured and the series expected to premiere later this year,moreNashvillecharacters are likely to be announced soon.The expectations of Captain Don are not a far cry from O’Donnell’s Agent G. Callen, who led the Office of Special Projects team under the orders ofNCIS: Los Angeles' Hetty Lange. As the Special Agent-In-Charge, Callen was responsible for issuing many of the commands to his colleagues, a skill that would translate into his new role.
7 Near Catastrophes In 9-1-1: Lone Star That Would Have Ruined The Show
9-1-1: Lone Star was packed with exciting emergencies and touching character development, but the procedural narrowly avoided ruin with certain plots.
TheNCISactor is also no stranger to the procedural drama world. O’Donnell has been featured in a variety of dramas, including a role as a doctor in nineepisodes ofGrey’s Anatomy(seasons 2 and 3), a guest appearance onHawaii Five-0, and a role in Pete Davidson’sBupkis. O' Donnell has also ventured into film throughout his career, where he became known for playing Robin in the 1995 filmBatman Foreverand its 1997 sequel,Batman & Robin. Other roles in major feature films for O’Donnell includeFried Green Tomatoes(1991) andVertical Limit(2000).
Our Take On Chris O’Donnell’s Casting
Success Lies In Building Up The Nashville Crew
With a devoted online fandom born out of the original9-1-1series, a big part of9-1-1:Nashville’s success comes down to the actors who bring the procedural to life.Nashvilleis off to a solid start with Chris O’Donnell, butthe real test will be the rest of the cast.If the spinoff can capture the team comradery fans have come to expect, it stands to fill the void left behind by9-1-1: Lone Star. With the premiere months away, the casting for the rest of the9-1-1: Nashvilleteam is likely to be revealed in the coming weeks.
