Following the cancellation of The Rookie: Feds, Alexi Hawley has another spinoff of The Rookie in development (titled The Rookie North), and ABC is currently casting the upcoming show's lead actor. I would be over the moon if the network picked one of eight specific actors. Of course, many talented TV actors would be good for the job, but some would work better than others.
The good news is that we already have an idea of what ABC is looking for. According to TVLine, ABC is describing the upcoming Rookie spinoff's protagonist as someone (potentially) named Alex, who is in his 40s or 50s and "a former overachiever who becomes a rookie cop after his life did not go as planned." Many actors could fit that mold, but only a few could thrive in it.
8 Joshua Jackson
Date Of Birth: June 11, 1978
In the wake of Doctor Odyssey's "cancellation," Joshua Jackson is a free agent. His medical drama series (which was more akin to a soap opera) has tentatively ended after one season, as ABC didn't decide its status before the cast's options expired. As such, Jackson, who is 47 years old, could realistically join The Rookie spinoff in the lead role as a middle-aged rookie.
7 Peter Krause
Date Of Birth: August 12, 1965
Similar to Joshua Jackson, Peter Krause is also no longer tied to a network TV series (spoilers for Bobby Nash's fate in 9-1-1 season 8 ahead). Krause exited the ABC procedural drama 9-1-1 in 2025 after being a part of the cast since its first season. His character, Bobby, tragically died. Now, Krause is free to work on any other project, including The Rookie North.
Krause, who is 59 years old, has a history with ABC, having worked on multiple TV shows for the network. So, he already has an in regarding the upcoming Rookie spinoff. Krause is also no stranger to procedurals and is a fantastic actor. The Rookie North would be lucky to have Krause as their leading man.
Date Of Birth: January 18, 1969
Jesse L. Martin is another veteran TV actor who has recently joined the free agents club, opening the door for him to get cast on the new Rookie spinoff. NBC canceled Martin's crime drama The Irrational in May 2025 after two seasons. Although the show's ending is disappointing, it could also be a great opportunity for Martin to join a different TV series.
|
Jesse L. Martin's Notable Movies & TV Shows |
Character |
|---|---|
|
413 Hope St. |
Antonio Collins |
|
Ally McBeal |
Dr. Greg Butters |
|
Law & Order |
Detective Edward "Ed" Green |
|
Rent |
Tom Collins |
|
The Philanthropist |
Philip Maidstone |
|
The Flash |
Captain Joe West |
|
The Irrational |
Alec Mercer |
Martin is 56 years old and known for his roles on Law & Order, The Flash, and The Irrational. All these characters were in law enforcement or tied to law enforcement in some way, meaning Martin has a lot of experience working on police procedurals. Plus, he's a renowned actor whose expertise could help The Rookie universe continue to flourish.
Date Of Birth: March 1, 1974
Mark-Paul Gosselaar first rose to prominence via his starring role as Zack Morris in Saved by the Bell. In recent years, though, Gosselaar (who is 51) has been making a bit of a comeback. He's starred in shows such as The Passage, Mixed-ish, Will Trent, and Found. Now that NBC has canceled Found, perhaps he can make the jump to ABC and play the leading role in the Rookie spinoff.
Like many other actors on this list, Gosselaar is a recent free agent. His schedule is seemingly open, and it's time for him to reclaim his rightful role as one of TV's leading men. Aside from his talent, Gosselaar would be a great pick for The Rookie North because of his name alone. The offshoot would likely gain more viewers if Gosselaar were attached to it.
4 Omar Epps
Date Of Birth: July 20, 1973
Whatever the case, Epps' talent is clear, but it's never been showcased in a leading role. That could change if he gets cast as the new rookie in The Rookie North. Given his talent and the fact that he has experience working on both police procedurals and network TV series, ABC would be wise to consider Epps for the Rookie spinoff.
3 Randall Park
Date Of Birth: March 23, 1974
If ABC is looking for an actor with comedic undertones, Randall Park should be considered to portray "Alex" in The Rookie North. Park, who is 51 years old, is actually more known for his comedic roles. However, that doesn't mean that he can't play serious characters. ABC could get the best of both worlds with Park.
If The Rookie North is anything like The Rookie, it will infuse some comedy into its storylines. Consequently, Park's iconic performance as Asian Jim in The Office, as Agent Jimmy Woo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and so much more would make him the perfect fit for the upcoming Rookie offshoot. The only downside is that his role as James Moriarty in Watson might conflict with the spinoff.
2 Walton Goggins
Date Of Birth: November 10, 1971
Goggins, who is 53 years old, is also known for his roles in FX series such as The Shield and Justified. Meanwhile, some might recognize him from the HBO shows Vice Principals and The Righteous Gemstones or the Amazon Prime Video post-apocalyptic drama Fallout. As anyone can see, Goggins has range. So, what's stopping him from joining the cast of The Rookie North?
1 Milo Ventimiglia
Date Of Birth: July 8, 1977
After This Is Us ended in 2022, Milo Ventimiglia (who is currently 47 years old) played the leading role in the ABC drama The Company You Keep. Unfortunately, the network canceled the series after only one season. So, since then, Ventimiglia has yet to return to network TV. However, maybe that could change if ABC brings him back for The Rookie North.
Ventimiglia has the talent, experience, and range that would make him the ideal choice to lead the cast of The Rookie offshoot. The fact that he isn't already back on TV is a shame. The good news is that Alexi Hawley and co. could change that if they hire Ventimiglia to star as the new rookie in the upcoming Rookies spinoff.
Source: TVLine
