The Rookie guest star Ali Larter opens up about the chances of returning as Dr. Grace Sawyer. Known for her multiple roles in the NBC show Heroes and for playing Clear Rivers in the first two Final Destination films, Larter recently returned to television in the Taylor Sheridan oil saga Landman. The series, which streams on Paramount+, marks Larter’s first main cast member role since 2016’s short-lived baseball drama Pitch. But she recurred heavily during The Rookie season 2, playing a love interest of Nathan Fillion’s John Nolan.
In comments to MovieWeb, during a press event for Landman, Larter reflected on her time as Grace Sawyer. The actor mentions that she enjoyed working on the ABC, specifically citing her experience working with Fillion. Still, in the quote below, the Heroes alum talks about why she’s not as excited about working on a show like The Rookie and what makes Landman different:
It was so fun to play Grace, and Nathan was, you know, also wonderful to work with. It’s interesting, you know, since we kind of moved outside of Hollywood, the idea of wanting to work on that kind of television isn’t as enticing to me. It’s been really amazing to work down in Texas [for Landman] and do something that’s super special. But it was great to be on The Rookie when I was on it and, you know, it was awesome.
Larter’s Comments Mean A Return For Grace Sawyer Is Unlikely
The Character Was Still Important For John’s Journey
The Rookie season 7, which premieres Tuesday, January 7 on ABC, will continue spotlighting John. But he’s a somewhat changed character from when Larter was on the ABC series. Initially intended for just a few episodes, Grace Sawyer ended up appearing for the majority of season 2. After not seeing him for many years, she runs into John by chance. They had a fling, which ended badly, and the spark is never fully reignited once they cross paths again.
Grace and John become more friendly throughout season 2, even seeming to head in the direction of a relationship. However, Grace decides that she’d rather try to fix things with her estranged husband for the sake of their eight-year-old son. They part, unlike in the past, on solid terms. Even if Grace doesn’t find her way back to the Alexi Hawley-created police drama, she served her goal of illuminating John’s arc and shedding light on the person he used to be.
Our Take On Larter’s Comments
She Hasn’t Done Much TV
Except for a brief period early in her acting career, with guest roles on dramas like Dawson’s Creek and Chicago Hope, Larter’s roles have been more notable in movies like the Resident Evil franchise. Television procedurals like The Rookie are a different beast, which sounds like it may not have as much appeal for Larter as a project like Landman which straddles the line between prestige and audience-pleasing.
