Jennifer Lopez’s Crime Drama “Shades of Blue” Will End After Season 3

Shades of Blue, Season 1. L-R: Vincent Laresca as Tony Espada, Dayo Okeniyi as Michael Loman, Drea de Matteo as Tess Nazario, Ray Liotta as Bill Wozniak, Jennifer Lopez as Harlee Santos, Hampton Fluker as Patrick Tufo, Santino Fontana as Stuart. Photo by: Jeff Riedel/NBC

NBC announced that their crime drama Shades of Blue, which stars Jennifer Lopez in the lead role, will end with the season three. The first of 10 episodes of the new season will premiere on June 17. Shades of Blue had Lopez starring as Harlee Santos, single-mother corrupt NYPD detective who is forced to become an FBI informant and work for the anti-corruption task force.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the decision to end the series was made because of Jennifer Lopez’s busy schedule. The 48-year-old singer/actress, who also served as an executive producer for Shades of Blue, is currently serving as a judge on NBC’s dance competition World of Dance, has a Las Vegas Residency and is working on several movies including a television feature for HBO in which she will star as drug lord Griselda Blanco.

“I have enjoyed producing and starring in this beautifully complicated world and playing such an empowering yet flawed character — a woman, a detective, but, first and foremost, a mother,” said Lopez in a statement. “Now looking at it with a little distance, playing Harlee strengthened me and helped me grow into a more self-assured woman. It’s crazy how some parts permeate your soul and change you forever, and for that I am grateful. We crafted a poetic three-season arc on how her journey ends, which is true redemption. The way only Harlee could have done it — the hard way, the road less traveled. I thank NBC and all the talented actors, writers, crew and producers for going on this journey with us!”

Created by Adi Hasak, Shades of Blue premiered on January 7, 2016. The series received mixed reviews, with critics lamenting the lack of originality and depth. The performance of Jennifer Lopez, however, was singled out as one of the positive moments of the series.