ABC Approves ‘The Rookie: North’ Spinoff Pilot

ABC has approved the pilot for a spinoff of The Rookie, Filmogaz.com has learned. The new series will be titled The Rookie: North.

The show is set in Washington state. Jay Ellis will star as rookie officer Alex Holland.

Premise

The series follows Alex Holland as he begins a police career after a disappointing midlife crisis. Stories will span urban coasts and rural forests across the Pacific Northwest.

Cast and characters

• Jay Ellis plays Alex Holland, the rookie lead.
• Karen Fukuhara is cast as training officer Leah Mizuno.
• Nathan Fillion remains the face of the original series, which inspired this spinoff.

Creative team

Alexi Hawley, showrunner of the parent series, is overseeing development of the spinoff. The creative aim is to bring character-driven crime drama to a new region.

Production details

The pilot filmed in Vancouver, Canada. Production wrapped in late winter or early spring of 2026.

Network timeline

ABC is expected to decide on a full series order by the end of April or the start of May 2026. The network will weigh the pilot before greenlighting the show.

Cast comments

Karen Fukuhara said she recently returned from shooting the pilot in Vancouver. She praised Nathan Fillion and described a positive creative atmosphere on set.

Why it matters

The Rookie has been a steady performer for ABC. This spinoff expands the franchise into the Pacific Northwest and introduces new characters and storylines.

Filmogaz.com will update readers as ABC moves toward a series decision on the pilot.