The Rookie is finally making its way back to the small screen, though fans will be missing one familar face in Season 7. Ahead of the new season’s arrival, it was revealed that Tru Valentino had exited the show from his role as Officer Aaron Thorsen after serving as one of the main stars since Season 4.
Per Screen Rant, series showrunner Alexi Hawley shared an update on the potential return of Valentino at some point in the future. Hawley confirmed that Valentino’s dismissal was due to creative reasons, though it wasn’t stated exactly what the problem with his presence was causing. In any case, the door is staying open for a return in some capacity to happen later on, as Officer Thorsen is “very much alive” in the world of The Rookie — even if he’s off-screen.
When asked about a possible return, Hawley said, “Of course. Tru [Valentino] is a great actor, and he was a huge part of our show for several seasons, and so we’d love to have him back in some capacity. It just ultimately felt like, creatively, for where the show was going, that we needed to pivot a bit. But he’s still very much alive in our universe.”
But he’s still very much alive in our universe.
When Season 6 concluded, Valentino was still very much a part of the series, so his character had not been written out yet. There will likely be a storyline explanation given for his absence in Season 7, but it has not yet been revealed. It will be good news for fans of the character that he’s confirmed to still be alive, so no one should fear Thorsen getting an off-screen death that’s mentioned when Season 7 picks up.
Meanwhile, there will be some other faces added to the mix for the new season of The Rookie. Two revealed guest stars include Eric Augustine (Shameless) as Miles, a “Texas transfer who despite having two years under his belt, will be a rookie at the LAPD.” Patrick Keleher (The Egos) will also appears as Seth, who “may seem like the ideal police officer, but the job requires quick, decisive action — and that, alas, is something that doesn’t come naturally to him.”
Nathan Fillion Leads the Ensemble Cast
The cast is led by Nathan Fillion. From the start, Fillion has been playing John Nolan with the show beginning as he takes on a new career as a police officer as a middle-aged man. The series also stars Alyssa Diaz, Richard T. Jones, Melissa O’Neil, Eric Winter, Mekia Cox, Shawn Ashmore, Jenna Dewan, and Lisseth Chavez.
