Will Alan Tudyk Return to ‘The Rookie’? The Actor Finally Speaks Out

While fan dreams of a Firefly reboot might never come to reality, occasional cast reunions on newer projects offer a welcome tribute to the show’s legacy. The beloved science fiction series brought us a fun dynamic between Alan Tudyk‘s wisecracking pilot Wash and Nathan Fillion’s fearless captain Mal aboard the Serenity. Since their time in the ‘verse, the pair have teamed up now and then on several projects, including Fillion’s current ABC gig, The Rookie, as well as Tudyk’s fan-favorite science fiction comedy, Resident Alien, which recently premiered its fourth season. If you’ve been wondering if Tudyk will ever return for another stint beside Fillion on the former, the actor has got an answer for you.

Tudyk’s first appearance on The Rookie came in Season 2, Episode 8, “Clean Cut”, as Ellroy Basso. The episode plays out on John Nolan’s (Fillion) birthday, which starts out with him off duty. However, an emergency pulls him back to work when he’s required to babysit a crime scene before detectives arrive. Their characters meet at the crime scene when Ellroy arrives as a crime scene cleaner assigned to handle the mess. From brainstorming clues at the crime scene to getting shot at by criminals and reuniting for Nolan’s birthday party in the episode’s final moments, Ellroy and Nolan’s encounter was as thrilling as it was emotional. Nolan even served as a matchmaker of sorts, introducing Ellroy to dispatcher Nell Forrester, and upon his second appearance in the Season 4 finale, “Day in the Hole,” we’re shown their relationship has been thriving.

Tudyk’s last appearance as Ellroy did leave the door open for a potential return and, while several seasons have since aired, Tudyk has shared that he’s open to returning should the right idea be presented to him. The actor made the revelation while fielding questions on the black carpet premiere of Resident Alien Season 4. “If they come up with an idea, I’ll be there,” he told a correspondent from the outlet. Bringing back past characters is a television tradition actively practiced on The Rookie, and given Tudyk’s interest and his longstanding relationship with Fillion, the possibility of a return is as high as it gets. Perhaps his character, Ellroy has begun a family with Nell, but remains dedicated to the crime scene cleaning job that was inspired by his sister’s suicide. The options with which to reintroduce him are endless.

Alan Tudyk and Nathan Fillion Are A Part of A Major Studio Project Coming Soon

Tudyk and Fillion’s creative partnership has blossomed over the years. After Firefly, the duo reunited for Con Man, a comedy web series that playfully parodied their experiences on sci-fi sets. The show, which featured several Firefly cast members, is available to stream on Prime Video. Recently, in 2024, both attempted to create a Firefly podcast, as revealed by Fillion via Instagram, but it seems those plans have been overshadowed by their ever-busy schedules. The pair are set to reunite soon on a much bigger stage with roles in the upcoming DC Studios film, Superman. Tudyk will voice Robot 4, one of the 12 robotic caretakers housed in Superman’s Fortress of Solitude, while Fillion steps into the emerald boots of Green Lantern.

Superman lands in theaters on July 11, 2025, and, as for The Rookie, Season 8 has just begun production and, with Tudyk indicating interest in returning, who knows? he may be among the next set of surprise guests. As always, stick around for future updates.