As a fan of the hit ABC procedural drama The Rookie, I appreciate the show’s smart characters, action scenes, and humor. The pilot episode aired in 2018 and shared main character John Nolan’s (Nathan Fillion) hopes to become a cop after experiencing some changes in his life. Since then, Nolan has worked for the LAPD for several years, and the show has expanded to focus on a big ensemble cast, from Nolan’s intelligent coworkers to his clever and funny wife Bailey Nune (Jenna Dewan). The series is so popular that showrunner Alexi Hawley is working on a spinoff called The Rookie: North.
When The Rookie fans have to wait until January 2026 for the season 8 premiere, Nathan Fillion and Alexi Hawley recently shared something interesting about this upcoming episode. Although there are still several months to go until the show is back on the air, I enjoyed hearing what they had to say, and now I’m even more intrigued.
After Hearing Nathan Fillion’s Comments About The Rookie Season 8, I’m Anticipating A Great Season
Nathan Fillion and creator/showrunner Alexi Hawley talked about The Rookie season 8 at 2025’s San Diego Comic Con, and Fillion shared what fans can expect from the season premiere. According to Variety, he said:
“In the first episode, we go to Prague and [John] becomes James Bond in the episode.”
Fillion continued:
“We have a lot of exciting stories for [the cast] this season.”
A few months ago, Hawley described The Rookie season 7 finale as “a big action movie,” but some fans felt it wasn’t thrilling enough. However, I liked the finale and thought it was fun watching Nolan and Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox) look for long-time villain Oscar Hutchinson (Matthew Glave). I’m happy to hear that The Rookie season 8 premiere will be action-packed and that Nolan will act like James Bond. I think this is the right move for the show, especially since it’s been on the air for a long time now. After seven seasons of Nolan solving cases in Los Angeles, it’s definitely time to see him go somewhere else, even if it’s just for one episode.
From frustration over Chenford not getting back together to questions about Nolan’s career path, viewers wonder where The Rookie can go from here. The season 8 premiere sounds thrilling, and I like that the new season will start in a different setting. Since the show is already fast-paced with strong character development, taking cues from the overwhelmingly popular James Bond franchise is smart.
Making Nolan more of an action hero is a great way to take the show to the next level. Fans have already seen Nolan helping others and saving the day more than once, and he should lean into this role even more. Since Nolan didn’t actually catch Oscar in the season 7 finale, I hope he’s more successful in the season 8 premiere. While it’s possible that he tries to find Oscar in Prague, I have a feeling that he’s working on another case.
I enjoy watching The Rookie because of the focus on the ensemble cast, but I also want to see Nolan’s character change a bit in season 8. While he might not get the chance to become a detective like he has always wanted, it sounds like he’s going to work on an important and thrilling case in season 8. Maybe it’s his idea to go to Prague, or he convinces his boss that it’s time to step out of his comfort zone and pursue a lead from a previous case. I hope Nolan has a weighty and meaningful storyline in The Rookie season 8, and it sounds like the premiere episode won’t disappoint.
Nathan Fillion Shared More About The Rookie Season 8’s Premiere Episode’s Prague Setting
At San Diego Comic Con, Nathan Fillion and Alexi Hawley discussed The Rookie season 8’s Prague setting a bit more. Fillion explained:
“I’ve said this, it felt like we were making Casino Royale.”
It’s interesting to hear Fillion compare the season 8 premiere to Casino Royale, the 21st James Bond movie that was released in 2006. Some of the story takes place in Prague as the action hero gets up to his usual antics and adventures. After hearing this comparison, I wonder if Nolan is going to spy on a suspect or get involved in a high-stakes game at a casino. No matter what the storyline is, I’m eagerly anticipating The Rookie season 8’s January 2026 premiere.
