‘The Rookie: North’: Plot, Cast, Release Date & Everything Else We Know

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After about a year in the making, ABC has confirmed that The Rookie: North is going into production. This new series is the third installment in The Rookie franchise, following The Rookie: Feds. Unlike The Rookie: Feds, The Rookie: North will be similar in style to the original, focusing on a new, older rookie detective, Alex Holland (Jay Ellis), as he begins his career in Washington state, taking over from John Nolan (Fillion).

While there’s still plenty to sift through as production ramps up, ABC released the logline for The Rookie: North. In presenting some of the most pressing details of the series thus far, fans of the mothership series ought to prepare for a drastic change from the bustling streets of Los Angeles to the scenic beauty of the forested Pacific Northwest.

‘The Rookie: North’s Premise, Explained


ABC

After the initial spinoff, The Rookie: Feds, didn’t quite hit its stride, The Rookie: North is returning to the core idea that made The Rookie successful in 2018. The original show, created by Alexi Hawley, centered on John Nolan (Nathan Fillion), a man in his 40s from Pennsylvania who became a police officer after stopping a bank robbery. Nolan relocated to Los Angeles to join the LAPD, where he became the oldest rookie in the Mid-Wilshire division.

Nolan juggles his personal and professional life, building close relationships at work and finding romance with firefighter Bailey Nune (Jenna Dewan). From 2022 to 2023, the first spin-off of The Rookie, titled The Rookie: Feds, aired on ABC, starring Niecy Nash as Simone Clark, the oldest recruit at the FBI Academy. After one season consisting of 22 episodes, The Rookie: Feds was canceled, leading the creators and ABC to refocus on the format that made the original The Rookie so popular.

According to ABC (via Deadline), The Rookie: North has received a pilot order andwill follow:

I’m really invested in Alex Holland’s story. He always thought his life was pretty ordinary, but a scary home invasion completely changed things. It woke something up inside him, and despite being older than most new recruits, he decided to join the police force. It’s tough for him, going from city policing to dealing with emergencies way out in the woods where help isn’t close by. He’s really trying to prove to everyone – his trainer, the other rookies, and most of all, himself – that he’s finally found something he’s willing to fight for.

Although the new show features familiar characters, it offers a fresh experience with a move from the Los Angeles area to the countryside of Washington state.

Jay Ellis Will Lead ‘The Rookie: North’


Paramount Pictures

Currently, Jay Ellis is the only actor confirmed to star in the new series, The Rookie: North. According to Deadline, it took some time to finalize Ellis’s contract because he’s been in high demand. Originally from South Carolina, Ellis began his television career with the ABC series Invasion. This new show marks a significant return for Ellis and ABC, bringing them together again after 20 years, which is likely a very satisfying moment for both of them.

Ellis has appeared in many popular TV shows, including episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS, Hart of Dixie, iCarly, Masters of Sex, and Grace and Frankie. He’s particularly well-known for his roles as Bryce Westbrook in The Game, Lawrence Walker in HBO’s Insecure, and more recently, Jay Brown in Netflix’s Running Point and Colin Dobbs in All Her Fault. He’s currently starring in The Rookie: North and will also be in the upcoming sitcom Not Suitable for Work.

Ellis has been gaining recognition through roles in films like Escape Room, Somebody I Used to Know, Freaky Tales, and The Gutter. He’s also become well-known for playing Lt. Reuben “Payback” Fitch in the popular film Top Gun: Maverick. With his growing popularity and diverse acting experience, Ellis is now set to star as the lead in The Rookie: North, taking over from Nathan Fillion as the oldest new recruit in the police department.

Upon the casting news, Ellis beamed on Instagram:

Hi everyone, I’m the new officer! I’m still figuring things out – I haven’t found my locker yet. Also, does anyone know where I can get a lot of ice? I’m planning on taking daily ice baths for my knees and back.

As Nathan Fillion welcomed Alan Tudyk to the Firefly reunion within the Rookie universe, he hinted that he might make a guest appearance on The Rookie: North as well.

Hey, it’s Nathan Fillion. You might recognize me from The Rookie. I’m really grateful you’re all working on this new Rookie spin-off, and I want to give a warm welcome to everyone involved.

When Will ‘The Rookie: North’ Be Released?


ABC

While ABC hasn’t announced an official release date for The Rookie: North yet, creator and showrunner Hawley recently gave Deadline a general idea of when it might air. He said the writing and filming are progressing well.

We have a script in development, and I’ve been working on drafts and getting feedback. We’re planning to film a pilot episode either in late winter or spring, and we’re starting to prepare for production.

If filming for The Rookie: North starts as planned this winter or next spring, the first season should likely premiere in the fall of 2026. Since the eighth season of The Rookie is set to begin airing on ABC on January 6, 2026, fans could potentially see both the original show and its new spinoff within the same year.

The first five seasons of The Rookie usually started in September, but the most recent three seasons premiered in January. If ABC continues this pattern, The Rookie: North might not air until January 2027. Hawley is set to write and direct the first episode.

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2025-11-29 21:34