NCIS: LA star Chris O'Donnell has been cast in the lead role of ABC's upcoming spinoff series 9-1-1: Nashville. The original 9-1-1 show, created by Ryan Murphy, premiered in 2018 and has since become a major flagship procedural for ABC with a growing universe. The second 9-1-1 spinoff follows the recently concluded 9-1-1: Lone Star, which Rob Lowe led in Austin, Texas. This time, Ryan Murphy's 9-1-1 franchise ventures further into the American South to follow the lives of first responders in the titular Tennessee city. The premiere of 9-1-1: Nashville will release later this year on ABC.
Now, Variety has reported that Chris 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 in NCIS: 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 spinoff 9-1-1: Nashville. With the lead role secured and the series expected to premiere later this year, more Nashville characters 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 of NCIS: 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.
The NCIS actor 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 nine episodes of Grey's Anatomy (seasons 2 and 3), a guest appearance on Hawaii Five-0, and a role in Pete Davidson's Bupkis. O' Donnell has also ventured into film throughout his career, where he became known for playing Robin in the 1995 film Batman Forever and its 1997 sequel, Batman & Robin. Other roles in major feature films for O'Donnell include Fried Green Tomatoes (1991) and Vertical 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 original 9-1-1 series, a big part of 9-1-1: Nashville's success comes down to the actors who bring the procedural to life. Nashville is off to a solid start with Chris O’Donnell, but the 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 by 9-1-1: Lone Star. With the premiere months away, the casting for the rest of the 9-1-1: Nashville team is likely to be revealed in the coming weeks.
