ABC tried to build a franchise around The Rookie with The Rookie: Feds, and even though the network canceled the spinoff after only one season, that doesn’t mean that its characters can’t join the cast of the parent series. The police procedural series, created by Alexi Hawley, debuted in 2018 and revolves around Nathan Fillion as John Nolan, a middle-aged rookie in the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). Hawley and Terence Paul Winter had the idea of taking the same concept but applying it to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and The Rookie: Feds was born.
Niecy Nash-Betts starred as Simone Clark, a middle-aged rookie in the FBI, in The Rookie: Feds, which would often cross over with The Rookie. Despite the original show’s popularity and the writers’ attempts to boost the spinoff’s popularity by connecting it to The Rookie, ABC canceled The Rookie: Feds following its season 1 finale. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strikes in 2023 likely played a part in the network’s decision, but so did its ratings. Nevertheless, The Rookie: Feds is gone, but its characters are not.
Simone Clark
Played By Niecy Nash-Betts
Of course, the ideal The Rookie: Feds character that could join the cast of The Rookie is Niecy Nash-Betts’ Simone Clark. Simone was the face of the ABC spinoff, and she is undoubtedly unlike any other character in the franchise. She brings a breath of fresh air to this world, and one of the most disappointing aspects of the crime drama’s cancelation was the fact that Simone was gone. However, Nash-Betts could return as a main cast member in the original series.
Yes, Simone is in the FBI while The Rookie’s characters are in the LAPD. She could remain in the FBI even if she joined the cast of The Rookie in season 7, or Simone might transfer to the LAPD and work at the Mid-Wilshire station. The logistics truly don’t matter because this is a fictional TV show, after all.
Simone also has an established friendship with John Nolan as they previously connected over their similar circumstances, and it’s always fun watching the two of them share a scene. So, Simone already has an in with The Rookie, meaning Nash-Betts could easily sign on as a series regular (given her schedule isn’t too busy). The actress couldn’t appear in the season 6 finale of The Rookie alongside some of her former costars, so, Nash-Betts might be unable to commit to the show.
Laura Stensen
Played By Britt Robertson
Britt Robertson is a TV veteran who has often got the short end of the stick by being a part of many shows that were prematurely canceled, including The Rookie: Feds. Robertson starred as Laura Stensen, an FBI agent previously attached to the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit. Laura was Brendon Acres’ training agent (T.O.), and her methods were similar to those of Tim Bradford’s in The Rookie (but a little less extreme). She was hard on Brendon and a valuable asset to the team, making her an excellent addition to the cast of the spinoff’s parent series.
Robertson reprised her The Rookie: Feds role during The Rookie season 6 finale, alongside Felix Solis as Matt Garza and Kevin Zegers as Brendon Acres. Even though she had limited scenes, it was clear that Laura had good chemistry with Mekia Cox’s Nyla Harper from their minimal screen time together in the episode. Laura and Harper would make a great team, and fans could see more of them if Robertson returns to The Rookie.
Matt Garza
Played By Felix Solis
As mentioned above, Felix Solis reprised his role as Matt Garza during the season 6 finale of The Rookie, and his leadership and no-nonsense work ethic is something that the ABC police procedural series needs more of. Garza was the supervisory special agent and team leader in the spinoff, and although he was a tough nut to crack at first, Simone eventually got through to him. Solis’ character had a dodgy and complex past, and uncovering parts of it was one of the best storylines in The Rookie: Feds.
Garza could retain his job at the FBI and frequently assist the LAPD on different cases in the same vein as Bailey Nune always serving as the paramedic called to a scene.
Based on the last episode of The Rookie season 6, it would be effortless for Solis to join the cast in season 7. Garza could retain his job at the FBI and frequently assist the LAPD on different cases in the same vein as Bailey Nune always serving as the paramedic called to a scene. It’s improbable and illogical as Los Angeles is a huge city. However, that never stopped The Rookie writers from incorporating Bailey into various cases of the week. Consequently, Garza could become a series regular in The Rookie without difficulty.
Brendon Acres
Played By Kevin Zegers
If Laura Stensen was the Tim Bradford of The Rookie: Feds, then Brendon Acres was the Lucy Chen. Of course, Lucy was never a famous actress, but Brendon shared other similarities with her. Like Lucy, Brendon was starry-eyed and eager to do well as a rookie in the FBI. Meanwhile, Brendon’s training agent was as hard on him as Tim was on Lucy during the show’s early days. As a result, it seemed like The Rookie: Feds duo would follow the same path as The Rookie’s Tim and Lucy. Unfortunately, the spinoff was canceled before it could explore anything between Laura and Brendon.
Brendon was probably the most intriguing character to watch develop throughout The Rookie: Feds season 1 as he transitioned from being a beloved TV star to a serious FBI agent. His arc was sadly cut too short, but it could continue if Brendon appears more in The Rookie on ABC. Plus, it’s always a joy to watch Kevin Zegers onscreen, and, like Britt Robertson, he deserves a reliable role.
Carter Hope
Played By James Lesure
Although Carter Hope was one of the quieter members of the team in The Rookie: Feds, his character became more interesting as the season went on (and as Simone Clark continuously badgered him to open up to her). The audience never got to truly see everything that Carter, played by James Lesure, had to offer. So, it would only be right if Lesure got to continue his role in season 7 of the TV show The Rookie.
Sadly, Lesure was not one of the former The Rookie: Feds cast members to appear during the season 6 finale of The Rookie. Perhaps the actor was busy with other projects and couldn’t fit it into his schedule. Whatever the case, Lesure could still reprise his role as Carter in future episodes. Even if he only appears in a recurring capacity, it would be exciting to see Carter again and learn more about him if he joins the cast of The Rookie.
Elena Flores
Played By Michelle Nuñez
Even though Michelle Nuñez wasn’t a part of the main cast of The Rookie: Feds,Elena Flores was still one of the best characters on the show. Similar to Carter Hope, the ABC crime drama never showcased Elena’s true potential because Nuñez was only a recurring cast member and due to the spinoff’s cancelation. If The Rookie: Feds had continued, Elena likely would have gotten a bigger role and more scenes as the series went on.
Out of all the characters from The Rookie: Feds, integrating Elena into The Rookie might be the easiest.
Elena was the Special Investigative Unit’s tech analyst and Matt Garza’s niece in The Rookie: Feds. So, while she wasn’t a field agent, Elena was an important part of the team, despite her youthful and naive nature. It would have been interesting to watch Elena grow as a person and in the FBI, but ABC stole that away when the network canceled the spinoff. However, out of all the characters from The Rookie: Feds, integrating Elena into The Rookie might be the easiest. She isn’t an FBI agent and could easily transfer to the LAPD.
Antoinette Benneteau
Played By Devika Bhise
Like Elena Flores, Devika Bhise’s Antoinette Benneteau was only a recurring character in The Rookie: Feds. But, similar to Elena’s situation, Antoinette moving from working at the FBI to the LAPD would be a smooth transition. Antoinette was an FBI laboratory technician and forensic biologist in the ABC crime drama TV series who regularly helped the main team solve their cases. She was also Brendon Acres’ love interest, so, if Kevin Zegers joins the cast of The Rookie, it would make sense if Bhise did, as well.
Antoinette’s return might be regarded as the least likely, though, given the size of her role in the spinoff. Or, perhaps her minimal number of appearances throughout season 1 could work in her favor. The writers could theoretically want to explore Antoinette’s story further, and it would make sense for her to transfer to the LAPD in The Rookie after ABC decided not to renew The Rookie: Feds for season 2.
