9-1-1: Lone Star has come to an end. The beloved first responder franchise went out with a bang, and now begins the long process of moving on. The fact that Lone Star is part of a larger franchise does provide a sliver of hope that its characters could live on in future spinoffs, though.
Naturally, the first character fans think of, with regard to spinoff plans, is protagonist Owen Strand. The character spearheaded Lone Star, and seems primed to move on to another setting and a new group of characters. If NCIS can do it, so can 9-1-1. Rob Lowe, the actor who plays Strand, talked about the possibility of returning during a recent TV Insider interview.
9-1-1 star Rob Lowe is "open to anything"
Lowe admitted he would be open to returning in the future, but he would want to make sure that the story would justify bringing the character back. “I mean, I never say never," he stated. "And I would be open to anything as long as it is not trying to be a cheaper or low-budget knockoff of what we worked so hard to establish."
The actor told the outlet that he didn't want to cheapen the Lone Star legacy, especially given how proud he was of the finale and the way the characters were wrapped up. Still, he cannot deny that he would be eager to meet fan demand for more Owen Strand should the right opportunity arise.
"I think we leave a legacy, not to put too fine a point on it, on storytelling, big spectacle, big cast, great actors, stars," Lowe added. "And if there’s an appetite for that that still exists. I’m down." Strand's fate was left purposely vague during the finale, which adds another level of fan intrigue as to whether he's alive and well.
Another 9-1-1 spinoff is in the works
Fortunately, 9-1-1 co-creator Ryan Murphy has already begun to future spinoffs. In October 24, the TV titan told Variety that he was already masterminding plans for another 9-1-1 show with partner in crime Tim Minear. "Tim Minear and I are working on a new spinoff that we’re actually writing, and that we hope to get on the air next fall," Murphy asserted.
The details of the spinoff are being kept under wraps, given that it's set to air until the end of 2025. If we know anything about first responder franchises, though, it's that they love to bring back beloved characters for cameos. Lowe isn't counting out an Owen Strand return, so neither are we.