The Latest Update on ‘The Rookie: North’ Spinoff (Exclusive)
- - The Latest Update on ‘The Rookie: North’ Spinoff (Exclusive)
Paulette CohnDecember 24, 2025 at 9:07 PM
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Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
The Rookie universe is on track for expansion with ABC’s having given the greenlight for the spinoff pilot, The Rookie: North.
Last month, Jay Ellis was cast as the lead character, and he will be following the pattern of Nathan Fillion’s John Nolan, an older man who has decided to make a life change, a major career change, by going into law enforcement. The main difference between the two series is that Nolan joined a major law enforcement agency when he became a member of the Los Angeles Police Department, but Ellis’ Alex Holland will be joining a small-town police force in Washington state, where like Nolan, he will be the oldest rookie.
“I feel like the [basis to] our universe is re-invention in general, but specifically people making a choice to do something else with their life,” series creator Alexi Hawley told Parade.
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The official description for the spinoff reads: “Alex Holland believed his mid-life wasn’t worthy of a crisis. But after a violent home invasion ignites a dormant purpose, Alex battles a lifetime of failed commitments by joining the Pierce County Police Department as its oldest rookie. Policing from the urban coast to the rural forest where backup isn’t just 5-minutes away, Alex must prove to his skeptical training officer, his fellow rookies, and himself, that he’s finally found something worthy of the fight.”
“We’re shooting that pilot in late winter,” Hawley continued. “It was announced that Jay Ellis has signed on to be the lead, which is a dream, he’s amazing. I’m excited about it. It’s a patrol show like Rookie, but it’s set in a very different world, which is the Pacific Northwest. Not just a big city cop show but more of a little bit of urban, little bit or rural, and little bit of meth labs in the woods, so it’ll be fun.”
Next, The Rookie Promises ‘Explosive Action’ and ‘Unexpected Alliances’ in Highly-Anticipated Season 8
This will be the second spinoff of The Rookie. The first, Rookie: Feds, starring Niecy Nash, only lasted one season, but it was a step out of policing because rather than a cop, Nash's Simone Clark was a rookie for the FBI.
When Ellis' casting was announced in November, Fillion posted a welcome on Instagram, writing, “…and the Rookie-verse grows. Welcome, Mr. Ellis! You’re gonna love this ride!
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At this point in time, The Rookie: North is still a pilot, so there’s no airdate, but if all goes well, ABC could pick it up for the 2026-2027 season.
The Rookie will return for its eighth season at 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026 on ABC.
Next, ABC Announces 2026 Midseason Premiere Dates for American Idol, The Rookie, Will Trent and More
This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the TV section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
