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Villains make the world go round. What is a good story without one, and thankfully, ABC's The Rookie has a good story and several villains we all love to hate in equal measure. The show is currently in its off-season with filming on its upcoming eighth season currently ongoing and, with its premiere in 2026, will come the return of some of our most beloved characters. Season 7 ended with a couple of baddies getting loose of the cages that held them down. Matthew Glave’s Oscar Hutchinson and notorious villain, Monica Stevenson (Bridget Regan), both sprang loose using two different methods. With production underway, one of them has been quite active online, continually pleading innocence, of course.

While the legal powerhouse, Ada Wesley Evers (Shawn Ashmore), has consistently been on the right side of the law. Monica Stevens is on the opposite aisle as the corrupt attorney has consistently been on the radar of law enforcement.

The Rookie has been one of the most successful shows on network television, with its popularity continuing to increase with each subsequent season. Now, the eighth season of the series is set to premiere in January 2026, but that hasn't stopped fans from wanting more information about what to expect from the next batch of episodes. To promote the upcoming release of The Rookie Season 8, star Nathan Fillion and executive producer Alexi Hawley attended a panel at San Diego Comic-Con to discuss the international filming locations, as well as the challenges of filming in Los Angeles due to the show's growing popularity.

One of the most exciting announcements from The Rookie panel at Sdcc 2025 was that the Season 8 premiere had already been filmed, with the characters going on an overseas adventure to Prague. The Czech Republic-centered episode will also include Mekia Cox’s Detective Nyla Harper, Bridget Regan’s antagonist character...

The Rookiecreator Alexi Hawley and star Nathan Fillion lay out some major details about the series' upcoming eighth season.

Speaking to TV Line, Hawley discussed the timeline for The Rookie Season 8 in regards to where it picks up following Season 7's explosive finale. "I don't think it'll be months later," Hawley said about when Season 8 will begin in the series' timeline. "I think it'll be fairly continuous. Not literally the next day, but within a fairly short amount of time... There's some time-sensitive stuff that we left hanging, that feels like we should [resolve soon] for the audience."

One of the major developments that took place at the end of The Rookie's seventh season was longtime villain Monica, portrayed by Bridget Regan, striking an immunity deal before heading off to Europe. At the outset of Season 8, Nathan Fillion's John Nolan is set to be in Prague chasing Monica down. Fillion himself...

The Rookie – (Disney/Mike Taing)

Nathan Fillion

Get ready for an international adventure, Rookies! ABC’s hit procedural, The Rookie, is kicking off its eighth season with a surprising trip to Prague! This exciting news was confirmed at San Diego Comic-Con by showrunner Alexi Hawley and star Nathan Fillion, as reported by TVLine.

The country-hopping season premiere has actually already been filmed! Expect to see Officer John Nolan (played by Nathan Fillion) and his wife Bailey (Jenna Dewan) navigating the Czech capital. They’ll be joined by Mekia Cox’s Detective Nyla Harper, Bridget Regan’s ever-slippery Monica Stevens, and Felix Solis’ FBI Supervisory Special Agent Matt Garza (once again crossing over from the now-defunct The Rookie: Feds).

Fans who worried about cast departures after Season 7 can breathe easy! Showrunner Alexi Hawley reassured TVLine that “We’re all good there.” This means we’ll see all our beloved main characters back,...

James Gunn’s new DC Universe is rapidly taking shape, and while all eyes are on Superman as the launchpad for this ambitious reboot, Lanterns is quietly becoming just as crucial. The HBO Max original series is the first live-action show set in the rebooted Dcu and aims to reintroduce Green Lantern mythology in a grounded, serialized format. And now, straight out of San Diego Comic-Con 2025, Lanterns just dropped some new intel — but during Steve Weintraub's conversation with the star and showrunner of The Rookie.

Nathan Fillion is everywhere in the Dcu — literally. After debuting as Guy Gardner in Superman, he’ll pop up again in Peacemaker Season 2 and later take center stage in Lanterns, the mystery series that’s shaping up to be one of the most unique projects in Gunn’s slate. And if you think Green Lanterns can’t swear, you’re in for a surprise.

A new season of The Rookie means more drama, action, thrills, and Chenford. Season 8 of the hit ABC series returns next year, and fans are eagerly waiting to see what's next for the fan-favorite ship consisting of Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) and Lucy Chen (Melissa O'Neil). Showrunner Alexi Hawley and series star Nathan Fillion stopped by Collider's Sdcc studio this year, where they talked to Steve Weintraub about where the upcoming season finds Lucy and Tim, and what fans can expect. Their will-they/won't-they has been going on for years now, and the upcoming season might not feature a significant departure from their dynamics, where there is always something that comes between them. "When you have a romance on the show, when are people ever happy?" Fillion said when the question of whether this is the season that finds them achieving stability in their lives and relationship was asked.

The Rookie is one of the biggest shows on television and that means it is one of the most talked-about shows. Meaning when it comes to San Diego Comic-Con, the fans are going to want answers about what is to come for the new season. And with Season 8 on the way, there is a lot to learn about the new episodes, and star Nathan Fillionand executive producer Alexi Hawley took to the convention to talk about filming in Prague. But Fillion also noted that there is an issue with the show being so popular: It is harder to film.

“When I first said, hey, I want to go to Prague for Season 8, I got some looks, because that's not a normal network television thing to do,” Hawley said of the show. “But I'm like we can absorb it, because we've gotten really good at making the show.” For Fillion, he...

During “The Rookie” panel at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, actor Nathan Fillion was serenaded by Zander Hawley on stage in front of the Ballroom 20 audience.

As the series is set to begin Season 8, Fillion and showrunner Alexi Hawley talked about the success of the show and how the procedural drama has found an audience with multiple generations, including families and young teenagers.

“I have friends who are good actors in their own right. They’re calling me saying, ‘Hey, man, my daughter just turned 11, and she and her friends are all crazy about “The Rookie.” Can I please have a birthday with you?’ I love that,” revealed Fillion.

“I think that ultimately television, specifically television with lots of episodes with characters that you can really invest in, has become comfort food for people,” says Hawley. “There’s 1,000 shows on the air but it does feel like people sort...

After six years and lots of wondering, The Rookie showrunner finally revealed why the role of Captain Andersen still hasn't been filled. ScreenRant's Rachel Foertsch attended the panel for The Rookie at San Diego Comic-Con 2025, where, during the audience Q&a portion of the panel, showrunner Alexi Hawley explained why no character has stepped up or in to replace Captain Andersen.

As Hawley explained, after Andersen's death, it felt very hard to replace the venerated and well-respected Captain Zoe Andersen. Thus, unless an episode specifically requires the narrative to incorporate a character who holds the rank of captain, it's something the show simply hasn't chosen to focus on, even as The Rookie season 8 heads our way.

What Captain Andersen Not Being Replaced Means For The Rookie It's Symbolically Fitting

It's a fitting tribute, in a very meta way, that The Rookie has never officially filled the role of Captain Andersen.

Police procedural The Rookie is one of several network TV series having their own panels at 2025's San Diego Comic-Con, and details coming out of the panel from ScreenRant's own Rachel Foertsch indicate just why showrunner Alexi Hawley decided to take the series to Prague in the season 8 premiere.

The news of taking The Rookie, a series focused on police officers in Los Angeles, California, to Prague in the Czech Republic came as a surprise to many fans of the show. Hawley, however, had a reason that contributed to his ambitious plans for the season 8 premiere of the series.

While on the Sdcc panel, Hawley spoke about needing to "repilot a bit" as The Rookie headed into its eighth season. He told the panel audience:

I rolled into season 7 feeling like we needed to repilot a bit, which is kind of what that first episode is.

While Hawley did...

The Rookie'sSan Diego Comic-Con panel revealed some juicy information about what's to come for Lucy Chen (Melissa O'Neil) next season, but could leave some Chenford fans confused. Lucy, who's long been interested in undercover work, seemed to give it up for her relationship with Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) throughout The Rookie season 7. Now, showrunner Alexi Hawley's running it back.

ScreenRant's Rachel Foertsch was at the Sdcc panel for The Rookie, featuring Hawley and Nathan Fillion, that a new undercover storyline is in the works for Lucy during The Rookie season 8. When asked about Lucy going undercover in the future, Hawley shared, the show's writers "have an undercover Lucy story that we’re working on in the writers’ room right now.”

What Lucy Having An Undercover Storyline For The Rookie Season 8 Means The Show's Returning To Lucy's Roots

Lucy, who notably went through an undercover training program early in...

The Rookie'slongtime showrunner Alexi Hawley shared that a crossover event fans have been hopeful about won't be in the cards for the ABC series. Throughout The Rookie's run on ABC, viewers have been hopeful that a crossover event between some of the network's other successful procedurals could be possible. With the show's LA location, one fellow procedural seemed like a perfect fit.

ScreenRant's Rachel Foertch attended The Rookie's San Diego Comic Con panel, featuring Hawley and Nathan Fillion, and learned that a crossover between The Rookie and fan-favorite 9-1-1 isn't likely. Alexi explained that introducing characters from either series into the same world wouldn't work in the long-run, as they'd consistently run into each other. Sadly, fans of both shows won't see the universes meld.

Though many have been hopeful that The Rookie and 9-1-1 would intersect in some way since the Ryan Murphy series...

At a panel for The Rookieduring this year's San Diego Comic-Con, star Nathan Fillion offered an intriguing answer to a question that fans have asked for years. Even though The Rookie season 8 won't debut until next year, the police procedural has broken new ground. It'll feature scenes in Prague, which marks the first time that the ABC hit has filmed overseas.

Many viewers, though, are more immediately concerned with what's next for Tim (Eric Winter) and Lucy (Melissa O'Neil). The turbulent duo have had plenty of highs and lows, even heading into The Rookie season 7 finale, but their courtship could potentially grow more complicated if Tim knew that Lucy and John (Fillion) briefly dated.

During a panel for The Rookie at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, with ScreenRant in attendance, Fillion was asked whether Tim would ever find out that John and Lucy dated. The actor and executive producer...

Exclusive: Fivel Stewart has inked with Paradigm for agency representation.

Stewart most recently starred opposite Noah Centineo in the action series The Recruit from showrunner Alexi Hawley and executive producer Doug Liman, which ran for two seasons on Netflix. She also starred in the Fox series Alert: Missing Persons Unit, from John Eisendrath and Jamie Foxx.

Before, Stewart starred opposite Keir Gilchrist in three seasons of the acclaimed hit Netflix series Atypical in the role of Izzie. She previously starred in the “The Girl Who Loved Horses” episode of the Nicole Kidman-produced Apple TV+ anthology series Roar, from creators Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch. She starred in Awesomeness TV’s T@gged and landed the lead role in the hour-long suspense drama pilot Close Up, executive produced by How to Get Away With Murder creator Peter Nowalk and Mary Rohlich.

On the film side, she starred as Sandra Oh...

Season 8 of the ABC police procedural drama, The Rookie, is already in production which will be music to the ears of the show's dedicated audience. Unfortunately, the show will not return till 2026, but recent production updates should have fans excited about what lies ahead. The series is set in Los Angeles, which meant that the trip by the cast and crew to Prague, as revealed by Jenna Dewan, who plays firefighter Bailey Nune, was extremely exciting. This means that Season 8 of the series will begin in Europe, marking the first time The Rookie has gone abroad.

Exactly what takes the team to the Czech Republic remains under wraps for now. However, series star, Nathan Fillion, has opened up about having to film the police procedural in Prague. Fillion, who also plays Green Lantern in the upcoming DC movie, Superman, made an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live to discuss the James Gunn-led effort.

Ahead of The Rookie Season 7 finale, showrunner Alexi Hawley promised TV Insider a cliffhanger that “hopefully will make people very excited about what’s going to happen in Season 8.” That was certainly true, with Monica (Bridget Regan) throwing everyone for a loop with her latest move. The bad news? It’s going to be a bit of a wait to see the fallout, as it will once again be part of ABC’s midseason lineup for the 2025-2026 season. The good news: Filming began in July. With that in mind, what do we know about The Rookie Season 8? When will it premiere? What’s the latest cast change (someone’s been promoted!)? Read on for all of those details and more. When will The Rookie Season 8 premiere? An exact premiere date has yet to be announced, but we do know that it will be in 2026, in ABC’s midseason. That’s when Season 7 also aired,...

Production on The Rookie season 8 began in Prague in June, and Nathan Fillion, who plays John Nolan, opened up about filming his show overseas. The ABC series takes place in Los Angeles, which is why it was surprising to learn about the cast and crew's trip to Prague. Nevertheless, the characters start The Rookie season 8 in Europe.

Fillion appeared as a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live on July 7 to talk about his new movie, Superman, but also The Rookie season 8. During the actor's discussion with guest host Anthony Anderson, he addressed what it was like to shoot his police procedural series in the Czech Republic. Check out Fillion's quote below.

"We went off to Prague to shoot a portion of the premiere episode of season 8 ... It felt like I was shooting Casino Royale. I'm telling you, I'm in a suit, you're walking down these incredible streets. I love the history.

Two years after The Rookie: Feds, ABC is ready to give the Nathan Fillion-led The Rookie another spinoff. The proposed spinoff has just received an official title as well as a major development update.

Per Deadline, the new spinoff is currently titled The Rookie North and has "been gaining momentum for a pilot order" from ABC. However, that would only happen once the lead role, described as a male in his 40s-50s, has been cast, with Deadline noting that a handful of known actors have already been approached for the role.The Rookie North is one of several projects in serious pilot consideration at ABC for the 2025-26 season, along with the Scrubs reboot, the Rachel Bloom-led Do You Want Kids?, and the comedy Mittens.

Of those four projects, one will make it to pilot and join 9-1-1: Nashville as the only new scripted series on ABC's 2025-26 schedule.

One of ABC's biggest shows right now is the police procedural drama, The Rookie, which follows Nathan Fillion‘s John Nolan as he becomes the oldest rookie in the LAPD when he opts to change careers. A hugely successful show, all seems set for the series to expand with another spin-off potentially coming to the fore. According to Deadline, an order pilot for a spin-off titled The Rookie North from the original series’ creator, Alexi Hawley, “has been gaining momentum.” It was first reported in December 2024, that The Rookie was potentially poised for another spin-off with ABC, 20th Television, and Lionsgate Television developing.

Besides the title reveal, it was also revealed that the proposed offshoot is working towards the casting of the lead, with “a handful of known actors … approached for the role.” Other details about the spin-off were also shared as it is believed to be similar to the Fillion's original series.

Alexi Hawley’s next spinoff of The Rookie reportedly is inching closer to a pilot order at ABC.

Word of the potential offshoot — set in Washington state and following a male cop who is entering his “second act” — first spread back in November. Now, Deadline is reporting, The Rookie North (wait, is that really the title?) is “gaining momentum” and could secure a pilot order once the lead role is cast.

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The title character,...

The Rookiestar Melissa O'Neil takes fans behind-the-scenes of the series' Season 8 prep. A new video gives a glimpse of what they can expect in the upcoming season.

As seen in a video posted to O'Neil's Instagram page on Jul. 2, fans can see various cast members from The Rookie hitting the shooting range in preparation of the hit cop drama's upcoming eighth season. "Still a few days out till I'm back on set but we're getting ready," O'Neil wrote. "We’re so lucky to have access to these resources and knowledge from our team: Chic and Bob are the best and as you can imagine they have the craziest stories! It’s a wild thing to work with firearms," O'Neil added.

View this post on InstagramA post shared by Melissa O’Neil (@missoneil)

O'Neil has portrayed fan-favorite LAPD Officer Lucy Chen since The Rookie premiered back in 2018. The series follows Nathan Fillion's John Nolan,...

It sounds like the potential new spinoff from The Rookie is getting closer to becoming a reality. An order for a pilot for The Rookie North, from the original series’ creator Alexi Hawley, “has been gaining momentum,” according to Deadline. They’re waiting on the casting of the lead, with “a handful of known actors … approached for the role.” The outlet also has new details about the potential spinoff’s plot and lead character. It’s to be set in Washington state, and while it was going to be similar to Nathan Fillion‘s John Nolan becoming the oldest rookie in the LAPD when he changed careers, new casting notices for the lead reveal that the character, “tentatively named Alex [is] a former overachiever who becomes a rookie cop after his life did not go as planned.” The show would also include training officers, rookies, and a police chief. When TV...

The next spinoff of The Rookiegets a big update from creator and showrunner Alexi Hawley. It was reported this past December that a new spinoff of The Rookie was being developed by ABC, 20th Television, and Lionsgate Television. The second spinoff of the police procedural, after the cancellation of The Rookie: Feds, is from franchise creator Alexi Hawley.

Deadlinereports that the spinoff's title is The Rookie North. The reporting comes in the context of breaking down ABC's pilots, which includes the upcoming Scrubs revival. In the case of The Rookie North, it's noted that “a handful of known actors” in their 40s-50s have been approached for the lead role.

What To Know About The Rookie Spinoff It Will Follow The Original

The Rookie North is described as a “formidable prospect” to get picked up. It hails from Hawley, who executive produces alongside The Rookie's Nathan Fillion, Bill Norcross,...

It’s pilot season at ABC. The broadcast network, which has been leaning into its “second cycle” strategy involving off-cycle pilot orders targeting midseason, picked up its first 2025 pilot, Rj Decker, in May, with Scott Speedman recently cast as the lead. It may soon be joined by another crime drama pilot led by a TV star in his 40s-50s, The Rookie North.

The spinoff, from The Rookie creator Alexi Hawley, has been gaining momentum for a pilot order, which would come once the lead is cast. A handful of known actors have already been approached for the role, I hear.

The Rookie North is one of several projects in serious pilot consideration at ABC, along with the long-gestating Scrubs reboot, and two family comedies, the Rachel Bloom starrer Do You Want Kids?, which features a couple with and without a baby, and Mittens, which revolves around a neighborhood cat.

The Rookieseason 8 gets an exciting update from creator and showrunner Alexi Hawley, who teases positive news for its most exciting couple. The police procedural won't be back on ABC until next year. But the cast and crew are hard at work, prepping new episodes, including that The Rookie season 8 has been filming overseas.

While there are several questions about what the new season will mean for the fan-favorite pairing of Tim (Eric Winter) and Lucy (Melissa O'Neil), another on-screen duo has been building support. Rodge, played by Hawley's son, Zander Hawley, and Celina (Lissbeth Chavez) could be in store for a big year ahead.

In an update from TVLine, Hawley addressed the future of Celina and Rodge. Although he acknowledged that happy couples don't always result in the most dramatic plots, he did note that the chemistry between the actors is strong and there will be an effort to keep it going:

“We’ll see.

ABC's hit police procedural drama, The Rookie, is currently in production and filming its eighth season has begun. Showrunner Alexi Hawley is currently crafting new stories that will have us hooked on the officers in the Mid-Wilshire division. One of the recurring and captivating stories for several seasons now has been the romance between Lucy Chen, played by Melissa O'Neil, and her long-term love interest, Tim Bradford (Eric Winter), in the romantic union we've come to affectionately know as Chenford. Despite their clear appeal, Hawley has been able to craft other love dynamics throughout the show, including one between Officer Celina Juarez (Lisseth Chavez) and her musician boyfriend, Rodge (Zander Hawley).

Zander is the son of series showrunner Alexei, and his character became somewhat of a nuisance to Nathan Fillion's John Nolan, after the musician wrote and recorded a song about him called "Daddy Cop" with his band. Despite John's disapproval of the musician,...

Romance is never far away from the uniformed men and women of The Rookie's Mid-Wilshire division. While the on-and-off-again Chenford dynamic has served well as a long-running romantic subplot, audiences are always sniffing for more potential pairings. Lately, that has led to the perception that Season 7's rookie Miles Penn (Deric Augustine) and Officer Celina Juarez (Lisseth Chavez) have the potential to become the next slow-burn couple, perhaps a somewhat replacement for Chenford, who might finally be on the verge of being official again. Now, showrunner Alexi Hawley has addressed the chances of Milina ever becoming a thing in future seasons.

Miles was introduced in Season 7 as a transfer from Houston, Texas, and quickly became the season's standout newcomer. He soon bonded with Celina, and gradually, the two became good friends. However, fans think there's room to develop their dynamic into something more, despite Celina already being in a...

ABC’s The Rookie ain’t just another cop show; it’s a character-driven procedural built around real-life inspiration. Created by Alexi Hawley and starring Castle alum Nathan Fillion, the series follows John Nolan, a man in his 40s who joins the LAPD after a life reset. Loosely based on officer William Norcross’s true story, The Rookie blends action, heart, and a second-chance narrative.

Since premiering in 2018, it’s grown into an ensemble drama across seven seasons, with season 8 on the way. But lately, one character’s stirred major backlash, pulling focus and draining fan goodwill with every appearance—Bailey.

How Jenna Dewan’s Bailey Hijacked The Rookie and Left the Plot Gasping for Air

Okay, now this isn’t about Jenna Dewan the person. It’s about Bailey Nune, the fictional multitool of a character who somehow manages to suck all the narrative oxygen out of The Rookie.

The Rookie aired its season 7 finale, "The Good, The Bad, and The Oscar", on May 13, leaving a handful of questions for the series to answer when it returns to ABC. On par with recent years, the Nathan-Fillion-led police procedural will be held until mid-season, reportedly premiering in early 2026 (TVLine). There will be plenty to explore with Chenford now that the exes appear to have turned a corner, but there's another romance fans are hoping to see when The Rookie returns.

When catching up with showrunner, creator, and executive producer, Alexi Hawley, ScreenRant asked if he would be open to exploring a relationship between Celina Juarez (Lisseth Chavez) and Miles Penn (Deric Augustine) in the future. While Celina is currently dating musician and "Daddy Cop" singer, Rodge, the showrunner would consider pairing up the officers if the story felt organic. Check out Hawley's full response below:

ScreenRant: I don't know if you've seen it,...

The Rookie star Arjay Smith has revealed a trailer for his new short film. The ABC procedural, created by Alexi Hawley of The Recruit, continues following John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and his LAPD career, after becoming the oldest rookie on staff. Since The Rookie season 3,Smith has portrayed James Murray, an advocate for his local community who is dedicated to reforming the criminal justice system. His romance with Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox) has also become a significant storyline as the series progresses.

Outside The Rookie, Arjay Smith has many credits and recently shared the trailer for his upcoming short film Halfway. The video, posted on his Instagram, begins with Smith’s character being questioned about potential nerves ahead of meeting someone. It then focuses on a touching first encounter between him and another character portrayed by Tarik Lowe. Check out the trailer below:

View this post on InstagramA post shared...

Images and video from the set of The Rookieseason 8reveal that the cast is filming abroad for the first time. Although it won't return until next year, The Rookie season 8 is well underway in terms of filming. The new installment promises major developments for the fan-favorite couple known as Chenford. However, it will also feature a big milestone for the popular police procedural, exemplified by a major change in location.

Jenna Dewan (via The Rookie BTS) has posted to her Instagram Stories and shared that The Rookie season 8 is filming in Prague, Czech Republic. The actress, who plays Bailey Nune, shared her excitement about filming in the new city. One of Dewan's posts, in which she showcases Prague, is seen below:

View this post on InstagramA post shared by The Rookie Updates (@therookiebts) What This Means For The Rookie Season 8 A Big Change In Scenery

The popular dramedy, created by Alexi Hawley,...

ABC’s The Rookie is not your average police procedural. First airing in 2018, the show follows John Nolan (Nathan Fillion), a 40-year-old man who becomes the oldest rookie in the LAPD. Inspired by a real-life story, the series mixes crime-solving drama with the challenges of late-in-life career reinvention. Over the course of seven seasons, The Rookie has evolved from Nolan’s rookie journey into a wider ensemble-driven narrative, diving into partnerships, department politics, and personal lives across the LAPD.

Created by Alexi Hawley (Castle), the series has been consistent with its blend of character-driven drama and procedural beats. From standoffs and stakeouts to romantic entanglements and internal affairs investigations, each season builds on the last, expanding the emotional depth and range of its characters. With Season 8 officially greenlit, there’s renewed interest in where the story is headed and who’s returning.

In this article, we’ll explore the show’s plot evolution,...

The Rookieshowrunner finally gives fans a definitive update on the status of the show's hottest couple.

Per Swooon, creator and showrunner Alexi Hawley noted that the final scene from the series' Season7 finale was "a corner [that] has been turned" for the fan-favorite couple of Lucy Chen and Tim Bradford, portrayed by Melissa O'Neil and Eric Winter, respectively. Hawley went on to confirm that the couple will be getting back together at some point in Season 8, although he couldn't provide any firm details as to when or how that would happen.

"Beyond that, I'm not 100% sure yet," Hawley added. He also discussed whether both characters are on the same page regarding potentially moving in with one another, noting that "That'll be the question rolling into Season 8." Regarding the wider scope of the relationship between Chen and Bradford over the course of The Rookie's past couple of seasons, Hawley said, "I...

Netflix subscribers cannot get enough of The Rookie. Despite not being available in the States, the ABC drama series has nevertheless managed to find itself on the streamer's "Top 10 This Week" list in several countries.

Per FlixPatrol, The Rookie has an average global ranking of 4.5, meaning that the ABC series is cracking the Top 5 in the majority of the countries that have access to the program through Netflix. Created by Alexi Hawley, The Rookie premiered in October 2018 on ABC, following Nathan Fillion's John Nolan, a 45-year-old from Pennsylvania, as he moves to Los Angeles to pursue a new career as a police officer in the Los Angeles Police Department. After graduating from the Police Academy as the oldest rookie on the force, Nolan navigates the dangerous, unpredictable nature of his job.

The Rookie is just the latest fan-favorite series that Fillion has found himself a part of over the years.

The Rookie showrunner Alexi Hawley officially confirms Chenford's The Rookie season 8 relationship status. The fan-favorite couple Tim Bradford and Lucy Chen, affectionately known as Chenford, have been a prominent part of The Rookie since Tim became Lucy's training officer in season 1. A romance blossomed between the two, and their coupling has been one of the most popular in the show. Chenford's split in The Rookie season 6 came as a shock to viewers, but there have been indicators the former couple might get back together.

Per Swooon, Hawley discussed the possible reunion between Tim and Lucy in the upcoming new season, and whilst he refused to go into details, his update appears to be a positive one. Hawley revealed that the last scene between the two shows that progress has been made, and “a corner has been turned.” He didn't go into details, but confirmed that the couple will get back...

The Rookie has been a successful hit for ABC for seven seasons now and the character of officer Lucy Chen, played by Melissa O'Neil, has been one of the show's most successful. While Season 7 wasn't the perfect one for Lucy, it did see the character change for the better in several areas of her life. The police procedural drama is headed into its eighth season, which means new and evolving storylines for the individuals who make up the LAPD. Chen had a busy seventh season, earning her promotion to Sergeant and moving on to the night shift. She also seems on the pathway to reunification with her long-term love interest, Tim Bradford (Eric Winter). So, what might we expect from Lucy in Season 8?

Lucy's career took a massive step forward as she earned some new stripes. Her career advancement suggests some very intense action sequences involving our newly minted sergeant are likely on the way.

Warning: the following contains mention of sexual assault.

Unfortunately, it's not a rarity these days that we lose great TV characters portrayed by immensely talented actors because of their gross mistreatments during production. Just to recall a few: Charisma Carpenter getting fired from "Angel" by Joss Whedon for basically being pregnant (after the director passive-aggressively threatened her multiple times and called her "fat"). Nicollette Sheridan getting written off of "Desperate Housewives" after five years, claiming she was a victim of assault and battery by the creator of the show that she reported and eventually got retaliated against. Or Ruby Rose leaving "Batwoman" after one season because of the toxic and dangerous work environment she had to perform in.

African-American actress Afton Williamson's case for departing Alexi Hawley's police procedural, "The Rookie," is perhaps an even more upsetting and maddening example (but sadly not uncommon in Hollywood). After playing...

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Fubar is a spy action comedy-drama created by Nick Santora. The Netflix series follows Luke Brenner, a top CIA operative who’s about to retire from the field, but when he discovers that his daughter is also in the CIA and is currently in a dangerous situation, he is forced to return to the field. Fubar stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Monica Barbaro, Milan Carter, Gabriel Luna, Fortune Feimster, Travis Van Winkle, Fabiana Udenio, Jay Baruchel, Barbara Eve Harris, Aparna Brielle, Andy Buckley, Guy Burnet, and Carrie-Anne Moss. So, if you loved the explosive action, hilarious comedy, and entertaining characters in Fubar, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

True Lies (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – CBS

True Lies is a short-lived spy action comedy-drama series created by Matt Nix. Based on the 1994 film of the same name,...

The Rookie star Melissa O'Neil has confirmed one huge development in Tim and Lucy's season 8 relationship. O'Neil has played the character of Lucy Chen since The Rookie season 1, and her on-screen relationship with Tim Bradford has been one of the highlights of the show. After years of tension, the pair finally became a couple in The Rookie season 5 before breaking up in The Rookie season 6. Despite teasing a reconciliation in The Rookie season 7 finale, nothing materialized, but season 8 could finally see Chenford reunited.

In an interview with CTV News to discuss The Rookie season 8, O'Neil discussed developments for the show going into the new season, and how the seventh season of the show ended for the former couple. She talks about some strides that were made, and how Tim is open to the idea of rekindling things, as well as stating that they have heard from showrunnner Alexi Hawley that...

Resident Alien — “Prisoners” Episode 401 — Pictured: Alan Tudyk as Harry Vanderspeigle — (Photo by: James Dittiger/USA Network) Fans of the dynamic duo Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk have reason to get excited! Tudyk, known for his role as Hoban “Wash” Washburne alongside Fillion’s Captain Mal Reynolds in the beloved series Firefly, recently discussed the possibility of reprising his guest role on Fillion’s current hit show, The Rookie. As reported by Screen Rant, Alan Tudyk—who played the eccentric cleaner Ellroy Basso on The Rookie—is open to returning. At a Resident Alien Season 4 event, he said, “If they come up with an idea, I’ll be there.” Making it clear he’d gladly team up with Nathan Fillion again. Fans still love the bond between Alan Tudyk and Nathan Fillion, a friendship that goes back to their Firefly days and its follow-up, Serenity. Their on-screen chemistry has popped up in several projects since,...

Nathan Fillion’s former Firefly co-star, Alan Tudyk, has opened up about his potential return to The Rookie. First joining Fillion as Hoban "Wash" Washburne, the pilot of the spaceship Serenity, Tudyk would regularly reunite with his co-star for several projects following Firefly’s cancellation. In 2019, Tudyk appeared as the socially inept crime scene cleaner Ellroy Basso in The Rookie season 1, a role that he would later reprise for 2022’s climactic season 4 finale, which saw Basso pulled into a dramatic shootout at the hybrid rural police station and diner at the border town of Frontera.

Speaking with Screen Rant at the black carpet event for Resident Alien season 4, Tudyk revealed whether he might be likely to return as Ellroy for a future appearance alongside Fillion's Nolan in The Rookie. Enthusiastic about the prospect of returning as Ellroy, Tudyk suggested that he would happily return if the show’s writers can...

Ahead of the Season 7 finale in May, ABC announced that the Nathan Fillion-led police drama, The Rookie, will not be returning till 2026 for its eighth season. While this means the wait time will be longer, there is some exciting news to warm the heart. Deric Augustine, who joined the show in Season 7 and plays Miles Penn on the ABC procedural, has dropped a BTS image confirming that Season 8 is officially in production. Augustine's Penn found himself attached to series regular Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) as he trained under him. While he might have gotten off to a bumpy start with the team, things smoothened out as the season wore on.

Augustine's post, shared on his X account, pretty much confirms that Officer Miles Penn will be returning for The Rookie Season 8. The post shared is a captionless image showing the script for The Rookie Season 8, Episode 1, complete with a highlighter pen,...

The Rookie actor Deric Augustine, who plays Miles Penn on the ABC procedural, has dropped a BTS image confirming season 8 is officially in production. Augustine joined the cast of The Rookie in season 7, when his character Miles trained under series regular Tim Bradford. Though Miles got off to a rocky start with both Tim and his love interest Lucy Chen, he eventually earns the respect of both. With The Rookie season 8 renewed, Miles is set to return, with Augustine revealing that the season is now in production.

Per his X account, Augustine posted a captionless image showing the script for The Rookie season 8, episode 1, complete with a highlighter pen, indicating that the season has now officially entered production. The episode title has yet to be confirmed and is presented on the script's title page as "Tbd," while the image cuts off before the writer of the episode is revealed.

What...

I read Alexi Hawley’s Variety piece this week, and while the timing was new, the sentiment wasn’t.

He writes about the value of broadcast TV — the kind that offers 22 episodes a season, time to develop characters, explore relationships, and build a world that feels lived-in.

He calls out the myth that limited series are the pinnacle of storytelling, and he reminds us that consistency, longevity, and connection still matter.

(Carissa’s Corner)

If you’ve been around TV Fanatic for a while, you know we’ve been saying this for years.

We’ve watched streaming strip away the things that made television special: time, rhythm, and space to breathe.

Duster Season 1 Episode 3 Review: Jim’s Got Whiplash, and Nina’s Got Jimby Carissa Pavlica Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 Episode 8 Delivers A Solid, If Typical, Case, But Please Tell Us This Character Isn’t Dying Soonby Jack Ori...

While the broadcast TV space is shrinking with every passing season, something surprising has been happening over the last few years. It has been commonly accepted that broadcast television, colloquially known as Network TV, is perceived as appealing to older people. With ever-increasing options on streaming and cable, young people's attention has been diverted away from culture-defining shows available on networks like ABC, CBS, and NBC.

However, there has been a shift. More and more young people are turning to Network TV as the TV boom ends and streaming platforms tighten their belts accordingly. Viewers as young as 10 are seeking out broadcast shows, and this trend has been evident in the current popularity of shows like 9-1-1, High Potential, and The Rookie. "Network television has become comfort food for the anxiety generation," Alexi Hawley, The Rookie's creator and showrunner, wrote in a Variety article while dissecting this phenomenon.

The...

911 fans are in for a long hiatus, but we’re already picturing different things that could happen on the show’s return. One thing fans have always wanted to see is a crossover between 911 and other series, and at least one of the show’s main actors feels the same way!

Over the course of the show’s eight-season run so far, 9-1-1 has had a crossover with 911: Lone Star when it was still on Fox. One character, Athena Grant (Angela Bassett), made an appearance on Doctor Odyssey after an early season 8 episode ended with her boarding a cruise ship just months after surviving a sinking with her husband, Bobby Nash (Peter Krause).

Now heading into season 9, is there a chance for more crossovers? With 911: Nashville coming as the third show in the franchise, there are no concrete plans as of yet to send the Og characters over to Tennessee,...

The Rookie season 8 is well underway, and showrunner Alexi Hawley is teasing huge developments for Wesley Evers, making his return all the more exciting. Wesley joined the show as a sharp defense attorney and love interest to LAPD cop Angela Lopez, evolving into an assistant district attorney, navigating moral dilemmas and fatherhood. Through it all, he’s remained a steady presence, and Wesley’s story arc on The Rookie is far from over. Whether it’s career growth or personal challenges, Wesley’s season 8 return promises to be exciting.

During an interview with TVLine, Hawley was asked about what viewers can expect from The Rookie season 8 in 2026 without giving too much away. Hawley was asked about what viewers can expect from Wesley next season and if he'll be running for Da (district attorney) now that Sean Del Monte has stepped down from the role. Judging by what Hawley had to say,...

The Rookie Season 8 could be huge for Ada Wesley Evers (Shawn Ashmore). The legal powerhouse has seen a steady career growth throughout the series, starting as legal counsel and advocate to an assistant district attorney. Season 7 introduced a new arc where the district attorney race began, and some parties threw their names in. However, Wesley was left with a huge opportunity where he could be the next Da, giving him more power and control to make the changes that he's been fighting for. The Rookie's showrunnner Alexi Hawley told TVLine that the writer's room is actively working on charting a course for that arc. "The writers room literally started yesterday [April 14], but we’re sniffing around a bit of where to take that story," Hawley said, adding:

"It would certainly make sense for Wesley, who was a defense attorney and believes very strongly in righting the wrongs of an injust justice system.

The Chenford romance is one of, if not, the most beloved relationships in the long-running police procedural, The Rookie. While Bailey (Jenna Dewan) and John Nolan's (Nathan Fillion) marriage has its own appeal, the dynamic between Lucy Chen (Melissa O'Neil) and Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) has seen fans of the show embark on a roller-coaster ride for a number of seasons now. By the time Season 7 ended, the couple had reunited romantically after their breakup in Season 6, and Richard T. Jones, who plays Sergeant Grey, has teased how this might affect the couple's relationship with their superior.

Grey had always been on the side of Chen, and the glee and pride were exceedingly evident when he presented Chen with news of her promotion. The officer had also cultivated a close relationship with Bradford, so when he received word the pair were casually seeing each other again, it threw him off.

Nathan Fillion’s The Rookie has been renewed for an eighth season, giving us more adventures from John Nolan and the cops at LAPD Mid-Wilshire. However, ABC’s new update is upsetting for fans who were hoping to see the series back soon. The network won’t air the new season until mid-season 2026.

Fans expressed their disappointment with this decision on social media. The new season is expected to follow a schedule similar to that of the current season, which aired from January 2025 to May 2025. The finale of Season 7 aired on May 13, with a bit of a disappointing reaction from fans.

The Rookie Season 8 update does not make fans happy Nathan Fillion as John Nolan in The Rookie | Credits: ABC

Nathan Fillion’s The Rookie saw his character, John Nolan, join the LAPD as the oldest rookie. The premise of the show was interesting as it dealt with Nolan’s...