Exclusive Fire Country First Look: Morena Baccarin Debuts as Sheriff, Lead of Potential Spinoff
It soon will be time to “Alert the Sheriff,” as in the title of the upcoming Fire Country episode that will introduce Morena Baccarin as deputy sheriff Mickey Fox — and TVLine has your exclusive first look.
Back in mid-December, TVLine reported that Fire Country, the breakout freshman hit of the 2022-23 TV season, was mulling a possible offshoot centered around a female sheriff character. CBS/CBS Studios in turn began the process of casting the sheriff character, and in late January it was announced that Baccarin, whose previous TV credits include Homeland and Gotham, had landed the role.
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Baccarin will first appear on Fire Country as a guest star, with an option for a series regular role in the spinoff if Sheriff Country (the title we’ve heard bandied about) winds up being ordered to series.
Baccarin’s Mickey Fox is described as a sheriff’s deputy with 15 years of experience, who is fiercely protective of her Edgewater, California turf.
Under what specific circumstances will viewers first meet Mickey?
In the episode “Alert The Sheriff,” airing Friday, April 12 at 9/8c on CBS, after a fire camp inmate escapes from Three Rock, the deputy sheriff — who we hear has a “surprising connection” to the Leone family — is called to investigate.
Though sheriff’s deputy Mickey Fox could wind up the central character of a spinoff series, TVLine understands that Baccarin very much has a “guest-starring” role in what will otherwise be a typical Fire Country episode — meaning, it is not the sort of backdoor/”planted” pilot that oftentimes sets the stage for an offshoot.
CBS CEO George Cheeks first teased Fire Country offshoots back in June 2023, saying the network would be “doubling down” on a show that “completely lends itself to building out a whole new universe.”
Coming off of best-of-freshman class ratings and a highly engaged audience, “It became very clear that not only was [Fire Country] special, it really felt like this could be a great example of us building together a franchise from scratch,” Cheeks said. “And so I’m like, ‘You guys, congratulations, you got your [full-season order]. Now let’s start talking about ideas for new extensions.’ They’ve already come up with some great ones.”
Fire Country resumes its sophomore season on Friday, April 5, after CBS’ March Madness tournament coverage wraps.
Want scoop on Fire Country, or for any other TV show ? Email InsideLine@tvline.com, and your question may be answered via Matt’s Inside Line!
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