The new series of The Rookie is going strong, and we already know its protagonist

ABC has announced the development of a new spin-off of its successful series ‘The Rookie’, titled ‘The Rookie: North’. This new project, which continues the franchise’s tradition, centers its narrative on a middle-aged man, Alex Holland, who becomes the oldest rookie in rural police in a county south of Seattle after suffering a violent home invasion. Actor Jay Ellis, known for his role in ‘Insecure’, will play the lead role of Holland.

Another opportunity for The Rookie

The creator of the original series, Alexi Hawley, is in charge of this project and has already completed the script for the pilot episode. This episode has been greenlit and filming is expected to begin between winter and spring of this year. The series could debut in the 2026/2027 season, potentially coinciding with the hypothetical season 9 of ‘The Rookie’, whose eighth season premiere is scheduled for January 6, 2026.

ABC seeks to capitalize on the success of ‘The Rookie’, its biggest asset in the police genre, taking the narrative to a more rural context, where themes of vocation and personal struggle will be explored in a less urban environment.

However, the network has mixed experience in expanding this franchise. The previous spin-off, ‘The Rookie: Feds’, starring Niecy Nash-Betts as the oldest recruit in the FBI, was canceled after a single season due to its poor performance. The network has acknowledged that developing a television universe around ‘The Rookie’ has encountered several obstacles, but remains committed to trying to establish a new franchise with this new narrative approach.