One of ABC's biggest shows right now is the police procedural drama, The Rookie, which follows Nathan Fillion‘s John Nolan as he becomes the oldest rookie in the LAPD when he opts to change careers. A hugely successful show, all seems set for the series to expand with another spin-off potentially coming to the fore. According to Deadline, an order pilot for a spin-off titled The Rookie North from the original series’ creator, Alexi Hawley, “has been gaining momentum.” It was first reported in December 2024, that The Rookie was potentially poised for another spin-off with ABC, 20th Television, and Lionsgate Television developing.
Besides the title reveal, it was also revealed that the proposed offshoot is working towards the casting of the lead, with “a handful of known actors … approached for the role.” Other details about the spin-off were also shared as it is believed to be similar to the Fillion's original series. The Rookie North is set in Washington state, with new casting notices for the lead revealing that the character, “tentatively named Alex [is] a former overachiever who becomes a rookie cop after his life did not go as planned.” Just like with the original series, The Rookie North
Showrunner Alexei Hawley Feels "Really Good" About the Script For 'The Rookie North'
Eric Winter, Deric Augustine, Richard T. Jones, Nathan Fillion, and Flula Borg in The Rookie Season 7, Episode 17.
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Lucy Chen smiling and holding embroidered Sergeant's stripes in The Rookie Season 7.
Sergeant Grey giving Lucy Chen embroidered Sergeant's stripes in The Rookie Season 7.
Celina Juarez and Miles Penn talking to each other in the Season 7 finale of The Rookie
Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper resurfacing from a tub in The Rookie Season 5
Should The Rookie North take off, it will signal ABC's growing reliance on franchises, and it'll mark the second spin-off crafted from the original 2018 series. It'll follow ABC's attempt in 2023 with The Rookie: Feds, which failed to move past Season 1. The proposed spin-off sees Hawley remain at the helm of affairs as the network seeks to carve out another successful show. Prior to the title reveal, Hawley had spoken about the potential offshoot, showing great fate in the script which was available. "I feel really good about the script. Ultimately, we’re waiting to hear what the needs are [at ABC], but I feel very positive about it," he said at the time.
While we wait to see if ABC goes through with The Rookie North, audiences can remain excited about the future as an eighth season of The Rookie is already in production. There are several potential storylines to look forward to as we head towards a mid-season premiere. Notorious characters such as Monica Stevenson (Bridget Regan) and Matthew Glave’s Oscar Hutchinson, will be returning to continue their villainous streaks. On the political side of things, ADA Wesley Evers (Shawn Ashmore) could potentially see himself in the race for District Attorney even as we begin to see some tangible progress emerge with Chenford.
The Rookie Season 8 is currently in production with a premiere window scheduled for mid-season. As always, stay tuned for updates. Past episodes are available to stream on Hulu.
Source: Deadline
