Chris O’Donnell leads ‘9-1-1: Nashville’ cast, what to expect

TL;DR:

Chris O’Donnell is headlining ABC’s new spinoff, 9-1-1: Nashville.
He plays Capt. Don Sharpe, a rugged fire captain and rodeo rider.
The role marks his first lead after NCIS: Los Angeles ended in 2023.
Tim Minear and Ryan Murphy’s team steer the show for 2025.
Expect family drama, high-stakes rescues, and Music City flair.

Chris O’Donnell is returning to series television as the lead in ABC’s 9-1-1: Nashville, a new spinoff in the first-responder franchise created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Tim Minear. ABC confirmed his casting on March 17, 2025, positioning the show for a 2025 launch.

Entertainment Weekly reported O’Donnell’s character, Capt. Don Sharpe, as a rugged fire captain and rodeo rider who runs Nashville’s busiest house. The setup blends action with family stakes, a tone familiar to the 9-1-1 universe.

On October 7, 2025, O’Donnell discussed the role on Good Morning America, teasing both the cowboy thread and high-adrenaline rescues. The segment signaled that ABC’s promotion cycle is in motion ahead of premiere details.

When and where

The casting news landed on March 17, 2025. Press and fan coverage spiked through mid-2025 as filming moved forward, with fresh morning-show promotion on October 7, 2025. The series is set in Nashville, Tennessee, tapping local culture and country-music imagery to distinguish it from earlier entries.

Who is Chris O’Donnell today

For 14 seasons, O’Donnell starred as Special Agent G. Callen on CBS’s NCIS: Los Angeles, which wrapped in May 2023. His move to 9-1-1: Nashville is his first new lead since that finale, marking a quick return to weekly drama.

Off screen, O’Donnell often shares family-first posts and gratitude to longtime viewers, reinforcing a steady, grounded persona that fits the franchise’s heart-on-sleeve tone. His public Instagram and recent lifestyle coverage reflect that image.

What to expect in ‘9-1-1: Nashville’

Character and tone. Capt. Don Sharpe is written as a seasoned leader with secrets, balancing service, family, and the rodeo. Expect a mix of large-scale incident episodes and personal arcs that track Sharpe’s team and home life, similar to the franchise’s formula.

Creative team. The series comes from the core 9-1-1 braintrust. Tim Minear showruns, with Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Angela Bassett among executive producers, which should ensure continuity in pace and stakes.

Cast dynamics. Coverage to date suggests a multi-generational ensemble, with Sharpe working alongside his son, echoing the franchise’s family-work overlap that drove 9-1-1 and 9-1-1: Lone Star. Expect crossovers and guest appearances that connect the universe and help launch a new locale.

Background and context

The 9-1-1 brand shifted from Fox to ABC for Season 7 of the flagship in 2024, strengthening ABC’s stake in the franchise. Spinoffs have helped the brand explore different regions and emergency profiles. Nashville adds country-music atmosphere, rodeo culture, and Southeastern hazards like tornadoes and floods.

O’Donnell’s resume includes film turns in Scent of a Woman and Batman & Robin, but television cemented his global reach. NCIS: Los Angeles, which aired from 2009 to 2023, kept him front and center for 14 years, giving him procedural chops that translate well to the 9-1-1 template.

How it affects viewers

For NCIS: LA fans. You get another weekly procedural led by a familiar face, but with new texture. Instead of federal cases, the show focuses on first-responder crises, from structure fires to multi-car wrecks. The family thread should deliver softer beats between set pieces.

For 9-1-1 fans. Expect the franchise’s reliable rhythm. Cold-open emergencies, character micro-arcs, then a bigger crisis at mid-episode or finale. Nashville’s rodeo angle offers fresh stunts and practical effects.

For cord-cutters. ABC linear viewers can watch live, then stream next day on Disney-controlled platforms where ABC content lands regionally. Check local availability at launch.

What happens next

ABC has not publicly set a firm premiere date, but on-air promotion and press interviews in October 2025 suggest an announcement is near. Watch for a teaser with date placement during an ABC tentpole or NFL window. Trade outlets like Variety, Deadline, and The Hollywood Reporter will post the date first.

If the show follows 9-1-1’s playbook, expect:

A disaster-scale pilot to introduce the team.
Early reveals about Sharpe’s rodeo past.
A midseason event episode tying personal stakes to a citywide emergency.

Quick reference: Chris O’Donnell at a glance

Item	Details
Full name	Christopher Eugene O’Donnell
Known for	NCIS: Los Angeles (2009–2023), Scent of a Woman, Batman & Robin
New role	Capt. Don Sharpe, 9-1-1: Nashville
Announced	March 17, 2025
Network	ABC
Show context	9-1-1 franchise spinoff set in Nashville

Key points above are compiled from ABC trade confirmations and recent promotional interviews.

Why it matters

Procedurals still anchor primetime because they are easy to enter at any episode. O’Donnell’s move keeps a bankable lead on broadcast, and Nashville gives the franchise a new flavor. If the show hits, ABC strengthens a reliable, year-round tentpole while fans get a fresh weekly fix.

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