Minutes after receiving the bitter news last December that his series Blue Bloods had been cancelled by CBS, Tom Selleck was left in tears.

After all, the 80-year-old Hollywood veteran had spent all 14 seasons as Frank Reagan on the popular police drama from its incarnation in 2010.

Five months later, the former Friends star remains furious, with sources suggesting he is considering legal action against CBS for ‘ageism.’ This comes after plans for a spin-off focusing on Donnie Wahlberg, 55, who portrayed his on-screen son, were swiftly approved by the network.

‘Tom is thinking about suing CBS for ageism because they canceled Blue Bloods only to spin it off,’ our source revealed. ‘He is extremely angry about it, particularly since the ratings were robust when the show was canceled.’

Watched by millions every Friday night, Blue Bloods centered around the close-knit Reagan family, many members of which were part of the NYPD under the guidance of NYC police commissioner Frank. His eldest son Danny (Wahlberg) served as an NYPD detective, his youngest Jamie (Will Estes) as an NYPD sergeant, and his daughter Erin (Bridget Moynahan) as an NYC assistant district attorney.

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Tom Selleck spent 14 years as Frank Reagan on the popular CBS police procedural drama from its incarnation in 2010 until it bowed out in December last year

Selleck, 80, is ‘livid’ and might take legal action against CBS for ‘ageism’ after plans for a spin-off – focusing on Donnie Wahlberg, 55, (left) who played his ons-creen son – were green lit

The Emmy-nominated show ran for 14 seasons spanning 293 episodes, before bowing out with a series finale on December 13 last year.

At the time, Selleck was emphatic in his public condemnation of CBS over the axing, repeatedly insisting in interviews that the show was not in decline, had strong ratings, and therefore had no reason to end.

Fans echoed his ire, even launching Twitter account ‘Save Blue Bloods’ to campaign, as well as a Change.org petition, which garnered 30,000 signatures, calling on CBS to renege on the decision.

Facebook groups dedicated to the show are now begging Selleck to join the Boston Blue spin-off show, due for premier in the fall. But the actor is said to still feel bitter at being ‘screwed over’ by the broadcaster.

‘Donnie would like to get everyone back to make cameos, including Tom – but he is still angry that Blue Bloods was cancelled,’ a second insider told the Daily Mail. ‘If Tom was asked to play his character again, he would probably say no because he is so mad with CBS. He wouldn’t want CBS to benefit, since he feels they screwed him over.’

Satiating fans’ appetite for the Reagans, CBS announced Boston Blue in February, with the upcoming show ordered straight to series, bypassing the pilot stage. In what must have been a sucker punch to Selleck, it will air in Blue Bloods’ 10pm slot on Fridays.

Wahlberg’s Danny will take center stage in a new position with Boston PD alongside detective Lena Silver, played by Sonequa Martin-Green, the eldest daughter of a prominent law enforcement family.

Ghostbusters’ Ernie Hudson will replace Selleck as the new series patriarch, playing Lena’s grandfather Reverend Peters, ‘a renowned pastor of an historic Baptist church in Boston.’

‘Tom is considering suing CBS for ageism over cancelling Blue Bloods and spinning it off into Boston Blue,’ an insider told the Daily Mail. ‘He is absolutely livid about it’ 

Wahlberg’s Danny Reagan will take center stage in Boston Blue as he takes up his new position with Boston PD alongside detective Lena Silver, played by Sonequa Martin-Green

Wahlberg’s decision to front the spin-off – which he will also executive produce – was no surprise having previously claimed he wanted Blue Bloods to emulate the success of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.

Last month he made clear his wish for the Reagans to reunite, hinting to the Morning Magic with Sue and Kendra podcast: ‘It will be a Danny Reagan-based show, but the Reagans are only a phone call away, and Danny Reagan likes to use the phone. That’s all I’ll say.’

His comments came weeks after reports claimed Selleck felt betrayed by Wahlberg and was seething over his plans to front this spin-off.

But while one insider poured cold water on the alleged tensions, they did suggest that Wahlberg hopes Selleck will see the spin-off as a way to recover from the devastation of Blue Bloods being cancelled.

‘Donnie has become so close with Tom and is supportive of all his decisions,’ the insider said. ‘But Donnie has also turned a sad situation upside down for Tom with Boston Blue.

‘Donnie felt the need to have his character live on for his fans and hopes this show has the same success. He fought for the show to continue going because they didn’t tie things up and left a lot unanswered. Tom and everyone else knows that they are welcome on the spin-off.’

Season 14 of Blue Bloods limped onto screens last year following lengthy negotiations and only after the cast and producers agreed to take a reported 25 percent pay cut.

With the series filmed on location in New York, and with big names in long-running roles commanding hefty salaries, the venerable show made for a costly production.

Wahlberg with his Blue Bloods costars Bridget Moynahan as Erin Reagan Boyle, Marisa Ramirez as Maria Baez, and Steve Schirripa as Anthony Abetemarco

Selleck was believed to be on an eye-watering $200,000 per episode with Wahlberg’s reportedly increasing from $60,000 to $150,000.

With the cancellation, Selleck, who is personally worth an estimated $25 million, feared he would be forced to give up his idyllic 63-acre ranch in Ventura County, California.

‘To have that upheaval at 80 years old was a major slap in the face,’ one insider said.

Selleck is currently working on an ‘Untitled Jesse Stone Project’ for the Hallmark Channel.

‘Tom still has to work to maintain his lifestyle,’ the insider said. ‘He would have preferred to do that with Blue Bloods but since that’s no longer an option, he’s trying to figure out the best way to move forward because the cancellation was a death to him.’