Donnie Wahlberg offered to give up half his salary to film CBS’ “Boston Blue” in his hometown, but producers said even that wouldn’t cover the cost of shooting in Boston.
The actor made the offer during a SiriusXM Radio Andy interview, explaining that while he was excited to set the “Blue Bloods” spinoff in Boston, production realities forced the indicate to Toronto.
Wahlberg recalled pitching the idea to producers: “I’ll give back 50% of my paycheck if we can go to Boston.” Their response was blunt: even if he and the entire cast surrendered their full pay, the show still couldn’t afford to film there.
“It’s so expensive,” Wahlberg said. “For the most part, we shoot in Toronto.” The decision wasn’t purely financial; he also cited constant disruptions from fans and tour groups during Boston shoots.
He described scenes interrupted by duck boats and strangers recognizing him on the street: “I gotta run over to the duck boat and pose for pictures with everyone. My cousins, my uncles, my aunts, my nieces, my nephews … everybody’s there, and we wouldn’t obtain any work done.”
Despite being set in Boston, “Boston Blue” films primarily in Toronto, a compromise Wahlberg accepted after his hometown proved too logistically and financially challenging for production.
The show, which follows his character Danny Reagan after leaving the NYPD for the Boston Police Department, was renewed for a second season in December. Season 1 streams on Paramount+.
Wahlberg’s efforts to preserve the series authentic extended beyond location. On “The Tonight Show,” he revealed Celtics star Jaylen Brown filmed a cameo during a Toronto layover, joking that Brown ridiculed his Knicks-fan character despite Wahlberg’s real-life Celtics loyalty.
He also admitted his Boston accent occasionally slips during filming, saying he “can’t say no to anyone in Boston” when fans approach him on set.
Why didn’t “Boston Blue” film in Boston despite the setting?
Producers said filming in Boston was too expensive, and even if Wahlberg and the cast gave up their entire pay, the budget still wouldn’t cover it.
Where is “Boston Blue” actually filmed?
The show films primarily in Toronto, with only limited scenes shot in Boston due to cost and logistical challenges.
What challenges did Wahlberg face when filming in Boston?
Constant interruptions from fans, tour groups, and duck boats made it difficult to work, as locals frequently recognized him and asked for photos during shoots.
