The Fosters, which originated on ABC Family before they rebranded to Freeform, is ending its successful with a 3 episode series finale. The successful five-season family drama will use those final 3 episodes to also introduce a spinoff series that will keep the show going in some capacity.
The network will air the finale event next summer and with that announcement is also the decision to give a 13-episode series order to a Fosters offshoot starring the series’ Cierra Ramirez and Maia Mitchell.
The show will be set several years in the future and will follow the lives of their characters, Callie (Mitchell) and Mariana (Ramirez), as they embark on the next phase of their young adult lives. There is also word that the two may be joined by at least one more young Fosters cast member, with conversations and negotiations currently underway.
The news comes as The Fosters recently wrapped production on its fifth season, which includes the show’s two-hour 100th episode, which will serve as a Season 5 finale, setting up the three-part limited series summer event. The ten-episode Season 5B debuts Jan. 9.
The decision to launch the spinoff actually makes perfect sense. The Fosters has been a reliable performer since its launch and ever since ABC Family rebranded to Freeform, the network has struggled to launch huge rating hits. Pretty Little Liars was their biggest holdover and that ended its run so the network needs a signature show. Keeping the brand going seems to be the best way to achieve that.
