“The Rookie” is one of the most popular shows on network television. In fact, season eight will premiere in January 2026. Now, there’s more news about the show’s upcoming spin-off, “The Rookie: North.”
Alexi Hawley, the creator of “The Rookie,” spoke to Parade in December 2025. He said about the spinoff, “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.
We’re shooting that pilot in late winter. 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, a little bit of rural, and a little bit of meth labs in the woods, so it’ll be fun.”
GettyABC Ordered the Pilot for ‘The Rookie: North” in November 2025
According to Deadline, a new spin-off for “The Rookie” has been in the works since December 2025. Hawley then provided an update to the outlet in May 2025, saying, “There’s a script, I’ve been doing some drafts and getting some notes.”
Following the script, ABC wanted to film a pilot, but this was contingent on Jay Ellis signing on for the lead role. Now that this has happened, the show can move on to the next stage of development: filming the pilot later this winter.
The show’s description reads, “Alex Holland believed his midlife 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.”
This Isn’t the First Spin-Off Series
The first spin-off for “The Rookie,” “The Rookie: Feds,” premiered on ABC in 2022. The show starred Niecy Nash, Britt Robertson, James Lesure, and Kevin Zegers. The show focused on Simone Clark, played by Nash. She’s the oldest rookie at the FBI academy, and they assign her to the LA field office.
According to Deadline, “The Rookie: Feds” only lasted a single season, with ABC pulling the plug in November 2023.
