NBC Taking Page Out Of "Chicago Fire" Playbook With "Blacklist" Spin-Off

After seeing two spin-offs of "Chicago Fire" catch fire in the ratings (with a third on the way), NBC

is realizing its future may lay in its current slate. NBC revealed on Tuesday it was putting a spin-off in the works for its hit series "The Blacklist." The James Spader led series has been a big success for the network since its debut three years ago. The idea would mimic the "Chicago Fire" plan of starting with an embedded back door pilot. The seeds will be planted in the May 5th episode of "Blacklist" and introduce a new character named Susan "Scottie" Halsted, played by "How To Get Away With Murder" and "X-Men" alum Famke Janssen. Additional details about the spin-off are being kept close to the vest, but suffice it to say NBC's had a lot of success in this area in recent years. NBC has slowly expanded its Dick Wolf-helmed "Chicago Fire" franchise into a trilogy in a very short amount of time with "Chicago Legal" being prepped for this fall. After two straight years of failing to launch more than one successful fall drama, investors began to get frustrated. However so far this season those fears have been calmed as "Blindspot," "Chicago Med" and "Shades of Blue" have all proven to be hits as has reality series "Little Big Shots."