ABC’s fall 2026 schedule does not include The Rookie. The network is holding the long-running drama for a midseason premiere in early 2027, along with High Potential and Will Trent. A new spinoff, The Rookie: North, will also debut on ABC in 2027.
For fans who have followed Officer John Nolan’s journey since the show debuted, the news means a longer wait than a typical fall return.
The Rookie Season 9 Premiere And What It Resolves
ABC held The Rookie back for a midseason slot rather than folding it into the fall 2026 schedule, a decision the network made alongside two other dramas, High Potential and Will Trent, according to Decider. When season 9 does arrive, it will open with a two-part premiere that does not wrap up in a single hour.
The two-part premiere will deal with the fallout from the abduction storyline involving Tim and Lucy that closed out season 8. Series creator Alexi Hawley said during the show’s Comic-Con panel in July that the premiere is “incredibly high-stakes, dramatic. It’s a love story; it’s funny and unexpected.”
The Rookie: North Premiere Details And Cast
The Rookie: North will debut on ABC sometime in 2027, though an exact date has not been set. The spinoff is also created by Hawley and relocates the franchise’s cop-drama formula to the Pacific Northwest.
Jay Ellis leads the cast as Alex Holland, a character who joins the Pierce County Police Department after surviving a violent home invasion. The supporting cast includes Janet Montgomery, Karen Fukuhara, Chris Sullivan, Froy Gutierrez, Mya Lowe and Malik Watson, according to Decider.
What’s Next
ABC has not yet announced specific premiere dates for either show. More details are expected as the network’s midseason schedule solidifies in the coming months.
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