CBS announced production for its upcoming Fire Country spinoff Sheriff Country will take place in New Mexico, roughly 2,100 miles from the original series’ California filming locations.
The network confirmed the new drama will shoot in Albuquerque and surrounding areas. Fire Country films primarily in Northern California.
Sheriff Country received a full season order of 22 episodes for its debut season.
The geographic distance reflects the show’s narrative setting. Sheriff Country follows a California sheriff who relocates to a rural town, creating natural separation from the firefighting world of its predecessor.
New Mexico offers significant tax incentives for television production. The state provides up to 35 percent in refundable tax credits for qualifying productions.
CBS executives said the location change allows Sheriff Country to establish its own visual identity while maintaining story connections to Fire Country.
The spinoff stars Morena Baccarin as Sheriff Mickey Fox, who moves from California to take over law enforcement in a small town. The series explores rural policing and community dynamics.
Fire Country creator Tony Phelan and Joan Rater developed Sheriff Country as part of CBS’s expanding first responder universe.
Production on the 22-episode first season began this month. CBS hasn’t announced a premiere date for Sheriff Country but expects it to debut during the 2024-25 television season.
The network previously found success with Fire Country, which became one of broadcast television’s most-watched new dramas. That series follows inmates who join firefighting crews in California.
Despite the filming location change, Sheriff Country will maintain connections to its parent series through occasional crossover episodes and shared storylines.