Donnie Wahlberg says he was willing to give up half his salary to film “Boston Blue” in Boston: “It’s very expensive”

According to CinemaDrame News Agency, Donnie Wahlberg revealed that he went as far as offering to significantly reduce his salary in order to have the series Boston Blue filmed in his hometown of Boston, but the economic realities of television production ultimately made the idea unfeasible.

In an interview with SiriusXM Radio, Wahlberg explained that he had hoped the Blue Bloods spin-off, which continues the story of his character Danny Reagan, would be shot in Boston to give the series a more authentic feel. Although the show is set in Boston, most of the filming is actually done in Toronto due to lower production costs.

Wahlberg said that when he first received the project, he considered it a dream opportunity. He initially assumed the series might be set and filmed in cities like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, or Texas, but when he learned it was actually based in Boston, he became very excited and pushed for it to be shot there.

However, producers quickly explained that filming in Boston would be financially prohibitive. Wahlberg noted that he even suggested giving back part of his salary to make it happen, but was told that even if the entire cast waived their pay, it still would not be enough to cover the cost of filming in the city.

He also pointed out that beyond the financial burden, filming in Boston presents logistical challenges, as large crowds and tourists at real locations can significantly disrupt production.

Ultimately, the majority of the series is filmed in Toronto. Boston Blue has already been renewed for a second season, while the first season is currently available on Paramount+.