‘The Rookie’ Season 9 & Spinoff ‘North’ Get Premiere Dates, Teaser & Guest Stars as ABC Sets ‘Rookie’ Block on Wednesday
ABC is betting big on a single night of television, and ‘The Rookie‘ fans are the ones who will benefit. The network has finally pinned down when its flagship police drama and its new spinoff will arrive, and the news came packed with fresh casting and a first taste of footage. January is shaping up to be a very busy time for the franchise.
‘The Rookie’ arrived on ABC in 2018, following John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) as the oldest rookie in the LAPD. The franchise tried to expand once before, but its first spinoff, ‘The Rookie: Feds’ with Niecy Nash-Betts, lasted just one season. With its second attempt, ABC has moved forward with a different setting and cast, which says a lot about how much faith it has in the format.
Now the schedule is official. ABC will launch both shows on Wednesday, January 6, 2027, with the new season of ‘The Rookie’ leading the evening and ‘The Rookie: North’ following at 10 pm ET. Both series will stream on Hulu the next day, turning Wednesday into a full ‘Rookie’ block.
The spinoff stars Jay Ellis as Alex Holland, who believed his midlife wasn’t worthy of a crisis. After a violent home invasion awakens a dormant purpose, Alex joins the Pierce County Police Department in Washington state as its oldest rookie. He has to prove himself to a skeptical training officer, his fellow rookies and himself in an area where backup isn’t five minutes away.
A new mini-teaser gives a sharper look at that darker Pacific Northwest tone. The cast includes Chris Sullivan, Janet Montgomery, Karen Fukuhara, Froy Gutierrez, Mya Lowe and Malik Watson. ABC ordered ten episodes, and the pilot was filmed in Vancouver.
The announcement also came with a wave of casting. On the flagship show, Troian Bellisario will play recurring guest star Stephanie Monroe, a single mother in her 30s who joins the police department to start over. Dulé Hill will appear as Lt. Hughes, a “distracted” 30-year veteran learning the Watch Commander job while dealing with personal challenges.
Molly Kunz rounds out the new additions as Quinn, a small-town girl determined to become an EMT in Los Angeles, described as smart, athletic and eager to impress. On the spinoff side, Andy Allo will guest star as Brooke, a warm, smart first-year ER resident who forms a connection with Alex. These roles add fresh faces to both casts.
🚨 THE ROOKIE SEASON 9 OFFICIAL TEASER https://t.co/Kmlg47gbdZ
— kaye ✨ (@ImKayeeK) October 11, 2026
Fans have been waiting to see how the two shows will connect, and the creative team has been dropping hints. Fillion is set to cross over in the premiere of ‘North,’ and showrunner Alexi Hawley told TV Insider that Nolan will be “a mentor of sorts” for Ellis’s character. The two characters share the same story of coming to the job later in life.
Hawley has also been open about the logistics. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, he said the crossovers are harder than they were with ‘Feds,’ since the new show is a plane ride away, but that he’s “definitely planning to collide those worlds.” He also hinted that Tim and Lucy, the fan-favorite ‘Chenford’ pairing, may be heading north during the first season.
New badge. New beat. New rookie. 🚨 Meet Alex Holland when #TheRookieNorth premieres Wednesday, January 6 on ABC! Stream on Hulu. https://t.co/yTVs64fGQS
— The Rookie North (@therookienorth) October 11, 2026
Hawley has confirmed that the new season of ‘The Rookie’ will begin with a two-part premiere, though he’s keeping plot details quiet. Filming on the flagship season began earlier this year, with production on ‘North’ following. Returning cast includes Mekia Cox, Alyssa Diaz, Richard T. Jones, Melissa O’Neil, Eric Winter, Jenna Dewan, Shawn Ashmore, Lisseth Chavez and Deric Augustine.
The programming strategy is clear. By putting the two series back to back, ABC is building a block that makes crossovers easier and gives audiences a natural reason to stay tuned for another hour. If it works, it could turn ‘The Rookie’ into a true franchise rather than a single hit show.
With a premiere date, a teaser and a strong slate of guest stars all locked in, the countdown to January has officially begun.
Which The Rookie Crossover Are You Most Excited to See?
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