Fire Country adds new cast member (who will also star in the spinoff)

CBS may be bringing Blue Bloods to a close, but the network has another prime franchise with Fire Country. The thrilling first responder drama has become CBS' answer to Chicago Fire, and like that Dick Wolf produced juggernaut, its bringing out multiple spinoffs.

The first Fire Country spinoff planned is Sheriff Country, which, as one can ascertain from the title, is going to be about the sheriffs on duty the same way firefighters spearheaded the original. There will be overlapping characters, and perhaps even intersecting storylines. The most exciting aspect of the spinoff, though, is the way that secondary characters will be turned into leads.

W. Earl Brown will played "lovable outlaw" Wes

Fire Country will be adding a new supporting character to season 3. The character will be a former convict played by W. Earl Brown. Deadline did confirm that the character, named Wes, will actually be the father of Sheriff Country protagonist Mickey Fox (Morena Baccarin).

In classic spinoff fashion, Brown's character will be introduced as a minor character on Fire Country before making the shift over to Sheriff Country, where he will be given more screen time. It's a tried and true practice for TV franchises, in order to ensure that audiences connect with a character before they become the focus of spinoffs.

Sheriff Country will follow the aforementioned Fox, who is the stepsister of Cal Fire division chief Sharon Leone (Diane Farr). She patrols the town of Edgewater, while juggling the headaches that her family members cause when she's off-duty. This includes a wayward daughter and an ex-con father, who, as we mentioned, will be played by Brown.

Wes is the father of Sheriff Country's protagonist

CBS describes Wes as a "lovable outlaw" who operates an illegal marijuana business in Edgewater. He has ways of avoiding legal trouble, but his decision to grow and sell causes issues with his by-the-book daughter. The network also noted that Wes is "kind and generous toward his family, particularly his granddaughter Skye."

He wouldn't be an interesting character without a few complications, though. Wes may be a charmer and a successful businessman but he has some "unreliable" tendencies that will be explored in both Fire Country and Sheriff Country. We can't wait to learn more about this character as he takes a more prominent role in the franchise.

If W. Earl Brown looks familiar to you, it's because he's been a television staple over the last two decades. He's had memorable stints on Chicago Fire, Psych, The Mandalorian, and most recently, Yellowstone.