ABC expands 'The Rookie' franchise with major new series order

ABC has officially ordered The Rookie: North to series, expanding the successful The Rookie franchise with a new spinoff led by Jay Ellis, according to Deadline.

The network has given a 10-episode order to the series, which is expected to premiere during the midseason window. The project comes from The Rookie creator Alexi Hawley and studio Lionsgate Television.

The new series will run alongside the flagship drama starring Nathan Fillion, which is also set to return with a full-season order and a January premiere. The expansion of the franchise will allow for planned crossover episodes between the two shows, with Fillion reprising his role as John Nolan in the spinoff pilot.

The Rookie: North follows Alex Holland, played by Jay Ellis, a man who joins the Pierce County Police Department after a violent home invasion pushes him toward a new purpose. The series will explore policing in a challenging environment spanning urban and rural regions of the Pacific Northwest.

The cast also includes Chris Sullivan, Karen Fukuhara, Froy Gutierrez, Janet Montgomery, Mya Lowe and Malik Watson.

Producer and showrunner Alexi Hawley has confirmed plans for multiple crossover episodes per season, despite logistical challenges between filming locations in Los Angeles and Vancouver.

The series continues ABC’s investment in expanding established procedural franchises, following the success of earlier crossover events across shows like 9-1-1 and Grey’s Anatomy.

Production is expected to begin soon, with The Rookie: North positioned as one of ABC’s key new scripted entries for the 2026–27 season.