Tom Selleck has no intention of slowing down anytime soon.
At 79, the seasoned actor opened up to Parade about his future plans following 14 successful seasons on Blue Bloods. While acknowledging with humor that “offers [aren’t] pouring in,” Selleck emphasized that retirement isn’t on his radar.
“I don’t know where my next job will take me,” he shared. “People ask, ‘What do you want to do next?’ I’m not sure. I don’t want to do Frank Reagan II.” Reflecting on his iconic Blue Bloods role, he added, “I’m open to suggestions because I love Frank Reagan, but nobody’s really asked. I don’t see him retiring and going off somewhere. If he goes off to a small town, I’d rather do more Jesse Stone movies.”
When asked about the possibility of another installment in the Jesse Stone series, Selleck admitted, “I haven’t worked on it yet,” though he remains optimistic about the idea. “It would be an interesting challenge because Jesse is older now,” he explained. “There’ve been quite a few years between shows. That doesn’t mean he isn’t a viable character. Everywhere I go, one of the things I get asked is, ‘When can I see another Jesse Stone?’”
Selleck is also eyeing a return to his Western roots. “A good Western’s always on my list,” he said, expressing a desire to “sit on a horse again.” He noted admiration for Taylor Sheridan, the creator of Yellowstone, and the opportunity to collaborate with him. Reflecting on Sheridan’s work with Sam Elliott on 1883, Selleck said, “Sam was great in [1883], Sam’s always great. We go way, way back. I love him dearly. I’d love to work with Sam.”
As Selleck adjusts to life after Blue Bloods, he spoke candidly about the challenges of moving on from the show. “The hardest part for me is we had the Blue Bloods family and we had the actors’ family,” he said. “They’re all my pals. I miss them. It’s going to take a lot of getting used to.”
The decision by CBS to cancel Blue Bloods in November 2023 was difficult for Selleck to accept. “I’m not going to turn into a bitter old guy saying, ‘Get off my lawn!’” he remarked. “I don’t believe in holding grudges. But if you were to say to the television network, ‘Here’s a show you can program in the worst time slot you got, and it is going to guarantee you winning Friday night for the next 15 years,’ it would be almost impossible to believe.” Reflecting further, he added, “After 15 years, it’s hard. It’s hard to let go because coming to work was a joy.”
Even with the end of Blue Bloods, Selleck remains deeply appreciative of his career. Speaking to PEOPLE in April, he remarked, “I’ve had a very good life, a very lucky life. I don’t know if it’s what I figured I’d be doing, but it’s with a lot of gratitude.”
Fans can catch Blue Bloods on CBS Fridays at 10 p.m. ET.