ABC Picks Up "The Rookie: North" to Series - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 12-06-2024, 12:21 AM

"The Rookie" Spin-off in Early Development at ABC
by Joe Otterson
Dec. 5, 2024

A new spinoff of “The Rookie” is in the works at ABC, Variety has confirmed.

The untitled project hails from creator Alexi Hawley. Per the official description, the show is set in Washington state and “follows a male cop who is stepping into a new phase of life in his second act.”

https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/the...bc-1236236655/

TMC · 10-18-2025, 06:02 PM

The Rookie Spinoff Is Doomed Unless It Adopts The ABC Show's Important Trait

ABC is developing another spinoff of The Rookie, and the biggest way to ensure its success is to take a page out of the original show’s book.

TMC · 11-24-2025, 11:13 PM

Jay Ellis to lead The Rookie: North as ABC gives The Rookie spinoff a pilot order

ABC is moving forward with “The Rookie” spinoff “The Rookie: North,” with the broadcast network giving the project a pilot order. In addition, Jay Ellis has been cast in the lead role of the project, which was first reported to be in development at ABC back in December 2024.

JamesG · 01-06-2026, 10:54 PM

"The Rookie: North" Creator Alexi Hawley Provides ABC Spinoff Pilot Update
by Nellie Andreeva
January 6, 2026

On the day of "The Rookie‘s" Season 8 premiere on ABC Tuesday, its creator, executive producer and showrunner Alexi Hawley is traveling from Los Angeles, where the hit series starring Nathan Fillion films, to Vancouver, where the pilot for spinoff "The Rookie: North" will shoot.

Jay Ellis was cast as the lead in the ABC pilot, which was greenlighted in November. Hawley, who did some prep on the project last year, is heading back to Vancouver to restart prep. Currently casting, the pilot, written and directed by Hawley, will shoot at the end of February, Hawley told Deadline in an interview about the Season 8 premiere of "The Rookie", which will be posted later tonight.

The offshoot centers on Alex Holland (Ellis) who 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.

Is a standalone pilot and will not be embedded into "The Rookie" the way spinoff "The Rookie: Feds" starring Niecy Nash was.

And because "The Rookie: North" is targeting next season, there are no plans for Ellis to appear on the mothership series this season.

https://deadline.com/2026/01/the-roo...bc-1236665964/

JamesG · 01-15-2026, 08:54 PM

Chris Sullivan Cast in ABC’s "The Rookie: North" Pilot
by Rosy Cordero
January 15, 2026

Chris Sullivan (This Is Us) has been cast in the ABC drama pilot "The Rookie: North", Alexi Hawley’s spinoff of his ABC drama series "The Rookie".

Sullivan will portray Sgt. Nix, a recently promoted Watch Commander whose heart still wants to be out on the street. If the project gets picked up to series, Sullivan’s role will be series regular.

https://deadline.com/2026/01/chris-s...ot-1236684330/

JamesG · 02-14-2026, 09:03 AM

"The Rookie: North" Pilot Rounds Out Series Regulars
by Rosy Cordero
February 13, 2026

The cast of ABC‘s "The Rookie: North" pilot continues to take shape as five additions to the series-regular cast have been set to star opposite Jay Ellis and Chris Sullivan.

- Froy Gutierrez (I Love LA) will play Odell Chance, a new rookie.

Cool, athletic and confident, things have always come easy to him. He aced everything he’s tried in life, including the police academy. But he’s never been truly tested.

- Karen Fukuhara (The Boys) will play Leah Mizuno, Odell’s training officer.

Leah comes from the high expectations of overachievers, where becoming a cop did not go over well. But unlike most youthful acts of rebellion, Leah loves what she does.

- Janet Montgomery (New Amsterdam) will play Charlotte Dru, Alex’s (Jay Ellis) training officer.

A former MP-turned-Pierce County Police Officer, Charlotte is precise, disciplined and calm under pressure with a subversive sense of humor.

- Mya Lowe (My Life with the Walter Boys) will play Elora Howe, a new rookie chasing a recently discovered purpose, like an oasis in the desert, hoping desperately that it’s not a mirage.

- Newcomer Malik Watson will play Mark Lewis, Elora’s training officer.

Mark is a cowboy, all sharp edges, but he’s the backup every cop hopes shows up when they’re in danger.

https://deadline.com/2026/02/the-roo...st-1236718994/

JamesG · 04-13-2026, 05:10 PM

"The Rookie" Creator Alexi Hawley Says he’s “Hopeful & Optimistic” about Spin-off
by Nellie Andreeva
April 13, 2026

Along with finishing Season 8 of "The Rookie", Alexi Hawley has been working on spinoff "The Rookie: North", starring Jay Ellis.

Shot in late February, the pilot has been completed and delivered to ABC.

“The pilot came out great,” Hawley said. “The network seems super happy with it. You never know until you know but we have a really amazing cast, led by Jay Ellis who’s a star; it was a joy to make that with him and the rest of them.

You know me, I’m just an optimistic person in general, so I’m hopeful and optimistic that we could be talking about that in the near future.”

https://deadline.com/2026/04/the-roo...ey-1236833344/

JamesG · 05-11-2026, 04:08 PM

"The Rookie: North" Picked Up to Series at ABC; Spinoff Eyes Midseason Run Alongside Mothership, Setting Up Crossovers
by Nellie Andreeva
May 11, 2026

"The Rookie" is a franchise again. Spinoff pilot "The Rookie: North", starring Jay Ellis, has been picked up to series by ABC just hours before the network is set to unveil its 2026-27 schedule Tuesday.

I hear the order is for 10 episodes, with the series, from creator Alexi Hawley and lead studio Lionsgate Television, expected to premiere in midseason.

That will set up crossover opportunities with the mothership series, starring Nathan Fillion, which has a full-season order and will once again premiere in January, I hear. As Deadline revealed last week, that will kick off right off the bat as "The Rookie: North" pilot features an appearance by Fillion as John Nolan.

Fillion also executive produces both series.

https://deadline.com/2026/05/the-roo...is-1236881912/

12-06-2024, 12:21 AM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 56,961	ABC Picks Up "The Rookie: North" to Series *"The Rookie" Spin-off in Early Development at ABC* by Joe Otterson Dec. 5, 2024 A new spinoff of “The Rookie” is in the works at ABC, Variety has confirmed. The untitled project hails from creator Alexi Hawley. Per the official description, the show is set in Washington state and “follows a male cop who is stepping into a new phase of life in his second act.” https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/the...bc-1236236655/
	Last edited by JamesG; 05-11-2026 at 04:10 PM.

10-18-2025, 06:02 PM	#2
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,493	The Rookie Spinoff Is Doomed Unless It Adopts The ABC Show's Important Trait ABC is developing another spinoff of The Rookie, and the biggest way to ensure its success is to take a page out of the original show’s book.

11-24-2025, 11:13 PM	#3
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,493	Jay Ellis to lead The Rookie: North as ABC gives The Rookie spinoff a pilot order ABC is moving forward with “The Rookie” spinoff “The Rookie: North,” with the broadcast network giving the project a pilot order. In addition, Jay Ellis has been cast in the lead role of the project, which was first reported to be in development at ABC back in December 2024.

01-06-2026, 10:54 PM	#4
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 56,961	*"The Rookie: North" Creator Alexi Hawley Provides ABC Spinoff Pilot Update* by Nellie Andreeva January 6, 2026 On the day of "The Rookie‘s" Season 8 premiere on ABC Tuesday, its creator, executive producer and showrunner Alexi Hawley is traveling from Los Angeles, where the hit series starring Nathan Fillion films, to Vancouver, where the pilot for spinoff "The Rookie: North" will shoot. Jay Ellis was cast as the lead in the ABC pilot, which was greenlighted in November. Hawley, who did some prep on the project last year, is heading back to Vancouver to restart prep. Currently casting, the pilot, written and directed by Hawley, will shoot at the end of February, Hawley told Deadline in an interview about the Season 8 premiere of "The Rookie", which will be posted later tonight. The offshoot centers on Alex Holland (Ellis) who 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. Is a standalone pilot and will not be embedded into "The Rookie" the way spinoff "The Rookie: Feds" starring Niecy Nash was. And because "The Rookie: North" is targeting next season, there are no plans for Ellis to appear on the mothership series this season. https://deadline.com/2026/01/the-roo...bc-1236665964/

01-15-2026, 08:54 PM	#5
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 56,961	*Chris Sullivan Cast in ABC’s "The Rookie: North" Pilot* by Rosy Cordero January 15, 2026 Chris Sullivan (This Is Us) has been cast in the ABC drama pilot "The Rookie: North", Alexi Hawley’s spinoff of his ABC drama series "The Rookie". Sullivan will portray Sgt. Nix, a recently promoted Watch Commander whose heart still wants to be out on the street. If the project gets picked up to series, Sullivan’s role will be series regular. https://deadline.com/2026/01/chris-s...ot-1236684330/

02-14-2026, 09:03 AM	#6
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 56,961	*"The Rookie: North" Pilot Rounds Out Series Regulars* by Rosy Cordero February 13, 2026 The cast of ABC‘s "The Rookie: North" pilot continues to take shape as five additions to the series-regular cast have been set to star opposite Jay Ellis and Chris Sullivan. - Froy Gutierrez (I Love LA) will play Odell Chance, a new rookie. Cool, athletic and confident, things have always come easy to him. He aced everything he’s tried in life, including the police academy. But he’s never been truly tested. - Karen Fukuhara (The Boys) will play Leah Mizuno, Odell’s training officer. Leah comes from the high expectations of overachievers, where becoming a cop did not go over well. But unlike most youthful acts of rebellion, Leah loves what she does. - Janet Montgomery (New Amsterdam) will play Charlotte Dru, Alex’s (Jay Ellis) training officer. A former MP-turned-Pierce County Police Officer, Charlotte is precise, disciplined and calm under pressure with a subversive sense of humor. - Mya Lowe (My Life with the Walter Boys) will play Elora Howe, a new rookie chasing a recently discovered purpose, like an oasis in the desert, hoping desperately that it’s not a mirage. - Newcomer Malik Watson will play Mark Lewis, Elora’s training officer. Mark is a cowboy, all sharp edges, but he’s the backup every cop hopes shows up when they’re in danger. https://deadline.com/2026/02/the-roo...st-1236718994/

04-13-2026, 05:10 PM	#7
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 56,961	*"The Rookie" Creator Alexi Hawley Says he’s “Hopeful & Optimistic” about Spin-off* by Nellie Andreeva April 13, 2026 Along with finishing Season 8 of "The Rookie", Alexi Hawley has been working on spinoff "The Rookie: North", starring Jay Ellis. Shot in late February, the pilot has been completed and delivered to ABC. “The pilot came out great,” Hawley said. “The network seems super happy with it. You never know until you know but we have a really amazing cast, led by Jay Ellis who’s a star; it was a joy to make that with him and the rest of them. You know me, I’m just an optimistic person in general, so I’m hopeful and optimistic that we could be talking about that in the near future.” https://deadline.com/2026/04/the-roo...ey-1236833344/

05-11-2026, 04:08 PM	#8
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 56,961	*"The Rookie: North" Picked Up to Series at ABC; Spinoff Eyes Midseason Run Alongside Mothership, Setting Up Crossovers* by Nellie Andreeva May 11, 2026 "The Rookie" is a franchise again. Spinoff pilot "The Rookie: North", starring Jay Ellis, has been picked up to series by ABC just hours before the network is set to unveil its 2026-27 schedule Tuesday. I hear the order is for 10 episodes, with the series, from creator Alexi Hawley and lead studio Lionsgate Television, expected to premiere in midseason. That will set up crossover opportunities with the mothership series, starring Nathan Fillion, which has a full-season order and will once again premiere in January, I hear. As Deadline revealed last week, that will kick off right off the bat as "The Rookie: North" pilot features an appearance by Fillion as John Nolan. Fillion also executive produces both series. https://deadline.com/2026/05/the-roo...is-1236881912/