Police procedural The Rookie starring Nathan Fillion remains one of the most popular shows on ABC, and the network is now hoping to build on that success, with a new spin-off now in the works. The plan for the show, according to Deadline, is to stick with what works and once again set the series in the world of cops, with Lionsgate Television and 20th Television now developing a spin-off that would shift the action into Washington state.
This new branch in the emerging The Rookie franchise has been written by creator Alexi Hawley, with Hawley also reportedly on board as an executive producer alongside The Rookie star and executive producer Nathan Fillion, Bill Norcross, whose experiences as a cop inspired the premise of the original show, and Michelle Chapman.
According to the outlet, the spin-off will be set in Washington state, and “follows a male cop who is stepping into a new phase of life in his second act. It keeps the major midlife change concept of the Los Angeles-set original series, which started off with Nathan Fillion‘s John Nolan switching careers to become the oldest rookie in the LAPD.” The insight continues, with Deadline revealing that “ABC earlier this year gave Hawley a blind script commitment intended for a potential new Rookie spinoff, which resulted in the current project in development.”
‘The Rookie’ Has Been a Major Hit for ABC & Will Debut Season 7 in 2025
Beginning back in 2019, The Rookiecenters on Nathan Fillion as small-town guy John Nolan, who, after a life-altering incident, decides to pursue his dream of becoming an LAPD officer. As the force’s oldest rookie, he’s met with skepticism from some higher-ups who see him as just a walking midlife crisis. The series is now all set to enter its seventh season, with Nolan having since proven himself time and again, climbing the ladder at the LAPD. The Rookie has long been one of the biggest hits on ABC, and has now continued that popularity on streaming, becoming a huge hit on Hulu.
Disney Television Group President Craig Erwich previously revealed that The Rookie had seen a surge in popularity on the streamer, reaching heights of the #2 drama on Hulu and garnering more than 500 million hours viewed since landing on the platform back in 2018. “Fans are still discovering that show and will continue for years to come. That’s the staying power of a good drama,” he said. Clearly, the network could not ignore this popularity, and no doubt hope that another cop series will reach the same heights.
A spin-off to The Rookiehas been tried before with The Rookie: Feds, which followed Niecy Nash-Betts as Simone Clark, the oldest rookie in the FBI Academy. Airing in 2022, this spin-off effort didn’t last long, being canceled after just one season in part due to the industry strikes that took place in 2023. While we await further details regarding this latest attempt to replicate the success of The Rookie, the seventh season is due to premiere on January 7, 2025.
