Major Update for ‘The Rookie’ Spin-Off as Pilot Order Nears (Exclusive)

A major update arrives as the pilot order nears for a new spin-off from The Rookie. ABC has confirmed development of The Rookie: North. The pilot was recently filmed in Vancouver.

Premise and plot

The Rookie: North follows a middle-aged man who joins the Pierce County Police Department. He becomes the department’s oldest rookie after a traumatic home invasion. The series will focus on his adjustment to police work and recovery.

Casting and production news

Karen Fukuhara is attached to the pilot. She is best known for playing Kimiko on Prime Video’s The Boys.

Jay Ellis is set to lead the series as the titular rookie. Janet Montgomery and Chris Sullivan also have roles in the project.

Filmogaz.com’s Steve Weintraub recently spoke with Fukuhara while she was promoting the new season of The Boys. She confirmed she had just returned from shooting the pilot in Vancouver. Fukuhara praised Nathan Fillion, noting his leadership on the original series. She said the cast and crew are hopeful the project will be picked up. The decision is expected near the end of April or the start of May.

Connections to the original show

The Rookie debuted on October 16, 2018. Nathan Fillion stars as John Nolan in the original ABC drama. The series has run for eight seasons so far.

Fillion has discussed staying with the role long term. He has suggested he could play Nolan for another decade.

The franchise previously produced a spin-off, The Rookie: Feds, in 2022. That series starred Niecy Nash as Special Agent Simone Clarke. The Rookie: Feds was canceled after one season.

Where to watch

All episodes of The Rookie are available on Hulu. Filmogaz.com will report further updates about The Rookie: North as the pilot order nears.

Creative team credits

Alexi Hawley serves as showrunner for the original series. Directors and writers who have worked on The Rookie include the following.

• Directors: Tori Garrett, Chi-Yoon Chung, Michael Goi, Sylvain White, Lisa Demaine.
• Directors (continued): Lanre Olabisi, Bill Johnson, David McWhirter, Liz Friedlander, Daniel Willis.
• Directors (continued): Toa Fraser, Anne Renton, Jon Huertas, Cherie Nowlan, TK Shom.
• Directors (continued): Rob Seidenglanz, Valerie Weiss, Barbara Brown, Charissa Sanjarernsuithikul, SJ Main Muñoz.
• Directors (continued): Nelson McCormick, Marcus Stokes, Adam Davidson, Anna Mastro.
• Writers: Corey Miller, Bill Rinier, Zoe Cheng, Mary Trahan, Ally Seibert.
• Writers (continued): Liz Alper, Nick Hurwitz, Racheal Seymour, Madeleine Coghlan, David Radcliff.