The Rookie and Will Trent come in a package deal at this point, but what’s good for one doesn’t mean it’s good for the other. ABC is pushing back the premieres of its two successful police procedural series. On the surface, this seems like bad news for The Rookie and Will Trent. Down deeper, though, The Rookie can benefit from this delay (while Will Trent can’t).
It’s not unusual for a network to suspend the premieres of its TV shows. There’s only so much that a broadcast company like ABC can fit into its 2025–2026 schedule. Consequently, some series will debut in the fall of 2025. Meanwhile, others (like The Rookie and Will Trent) are being held back, set to premiere at a later date, elongating their hiatuses.
ABC Is Holding The Rookie Season 8 & Will Trent Season 4 For Midseason
The 2 Shows Won’t Premiere Until Next Year
According to TVLine, The Rookie and Will Trent aren’t returning with their respective new seasons this year. Instead, ABC is holding them for midseason. The Rookie season 8 and Will Trent season 4 aren’t expected to premiere until early 2026. If their upcoming schedules are similar to their previous ones, fans can assume that the new episodes will debut in January.
So, from the time the finales of The Rookie season 7 and Will Trent season 3 aired in May 2025 to their next seasons’ premieres, it will have been about eight months (assuming they return in January 2026). The hiatus is similar to the one between seasons 6 and 7 of The Rookie and between seasons 2 and 3 of Will Trent.
The only things that could interrupt The Rookie season 8 and Will Trent season 4’s runs are “presidential addresses” and any other “unavoidable preemption.” For example, ABC didn’t release new episodes of the two TV shows on March 4, 2025, because of President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress and the nation.
On the bright side, ABC ordered 18 episodes for The Rookie season 8 and Will Trent season 4. Just like their previous seasons, they’ll have 18 episodes. Plus, the upcoming episodes of both police procedural series will reportedly air weekly with little to no interruptions, meaning fans won’t have to wait for new installments of The Rookie and Will Trent.
The Rookie Needs Time To Get Back On Track, While Will Trent Is Thriving
The Rookie Season 7 Was Rather Disappointing
ABC’s approach to The Rookie season 8 and Will Trent season 4’s release schedules is thanks to how well the delayed premieres worked during the 2024–2025 TV season. Per TVLine, The Rookie’s viewership was up 13% from its previous season, averaging 5.4 million viewers. Meanwhile, Will Trent’s ratings increased 21%, averaging 6.8 million viewers.
Quality also plays a significant role in how well a TV series can perform, and while prolonging the hiatus might help The Rookie, it’ll only hurt Will Trent.
Due to the two shows’ achievements, ABC is doing the same thing for their upcoming seasons. However, just because they had good ratings, that doesn’t mean the network can replicate their past successes. Quality also plays a significant role in how well a TV series can perform, and while prolonging the hiatus might help The Rookie, it’ll only hurt Will Trent.
If I’m honest, The Rookie season 7 was disappointing and frustrating as a whole. Yes, it produced some great moments (like the entirety of The Rookie season 7, episode 8), but its negatives outweigh its positives. As a result, the writers need time to regroup and get back on track following the finale — a longer break accomplishes that.
As for Will Trent, the police procedural series is at its peak, and ABC should capitalize on its momentum by releasing more episodes as soon as possible. It needs to ride the high after the thrilling Will Trent season 3 finale. Therefore, an eight-month hiatus between seasons is not the way to go.
Will Trent Season 3 Ended On A Devastating Cliffhanger That Needs To Be Addressed ASAP
Amanda & Ormewood’s Lives Are In Danger
Both The Rookie and Will Trent’s previous finales ended on cliffhangers. While the newer show’s questions heading into its next season are a matter of life and death, the mysteries surrounding The Rookie season 8 after the season 7 finale are less dire. So, the audience should be more eager to learn what happens next in Will Trent compared to The Rookie.
Will Trent season 3 ended with both Ormewood collapsing and Amanda in a coma. Doctors had previously discovered a tumor in Ormewood’s brain, which is likely what caused his seizure in the finale, and terrorists shot Amanda in the chest, leaving her unconscious in a hospital bed.
Hype for what’s to come could fade fast, decreasing fans’ interest in Will Trent season 4.
Given that Ormewood and Amanda are two of Will Trent’s main characters, the idea of waiting eight months to learn their fates is agony. Not only will viewers be disappointed with the delay, but they might also forget the exciting events of the season 3 finale. Hype for what’s to come could fade fast, decreasing fans’ interest in Will Trent season 4.
