Fans of the ABC drama will want to pay attention to this news.
The Rookie is still airing season 7 episodes, but the show already has some incredible news to share about its future.
The hit ABC drama premiered back in October 2018, and fans haven’t stopped tuning in every week. Following the lives of the police force working at the LAPD Mid-Wilshire station in Los Angeles, the show touches on all the elements of being a working first responder. In between new cases being investigated every week, viewers also can’t help but get immersed in the personal lives of the fictional officers.
Ahead of the season 7 finale airing on May 13, fans may be wondering whether we’ll get to see more from The Rookie. Well, ABC decided to do us a solid and deliver key information about the show’s future.
Will there be a season 8 of The Rookie?
There certainly will! ABC announced in April 2025 that The Rookie would return for season 8. If that wasn’t enough, Nathan Fillion (who portrays John Nolan) later shared his thoughts about the show’s future.
“I’ve been around long enough to know how truly challenging and rare it is to have a long running show,” he penned in an emotional caption on Instagram. “Thank you all for sticking around for these 7 seasons — it’s because of you that we are announcing season 8!! Congratulations to @alexihawley and the wonderful team that puts this show together. I am so very proud to work alongside all of you. Let’s do this!”
Nathan wasn’t the only one excited about returning for another season of The Rookie. Mekia Cox (who plays Nyla Harper) also expressed her feelings about the season 8 renewal on Instagram.
“Guess who’s comin back for a Season 8!!!!! 🙌🏾❤️🙌🏾❤️🙌🏾❤️🙌🏾❤️🙌🏾❤️🙌🏾❤️
@therookieabc,” she added in the caption.
Naturally, seeing the cast give their thoughts on The Rookie season 8 renewal caused a frenzy online. “SO HAPPY!!!! And proud of all the hard work you guys put in to deliver this show for us!!! can’t wait for season 8!!!! 🤍,” one person wrote in Mekia’s comments. “My favorite family is coming back to us 🥳🥳,” another declared. “BEST NEWS!!!! LETSSSS GOOO 🔥🔥,” a different follower added.
When will The Rookie season 8 premiere on ABC?
According to an April 2025 report from Deadline, the release date for The Rookie season 8 is currently up in the air.
Ever since The Rookie aired on ABC, the show has oscillated between airing in the fall and airing in the winter. Given how season 7 premiered in early January 2025, it’s hard to tell when the network will drop an all-new installment. What’s more, the timeframe of when The Rookie season 8 will premiere may have to do with the number of episodes the season will have.
We’ll be keeping an eye out, and you can be sure we’ll update this story as soon as we know when The Rookie will come back for season 8.
Who is in the cast of The Rookie season 8?
Based on the current events of The Rookie, here’s who fans may expect to return for season 8:
- Nathan Fillion as John Nolan
- Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez
- Richard T. Jones as Wade Grey
- Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper
- Melissa O’Neil as Lucy Chen
- Eric Winter as Tim Bradford
- Jenna Dewan as Bailey Nune
- Shawn Ashmore as Wesley Evers
- Lisseth Chavez as Celina Juarez
- Deric Augustine as Miles Penn
While viewers first met Patrick Keleher as Seth Ridley in the first half of The Rookie season 7, he eventually left LAPD Mid-Wilshire after being caught in lies about his girlfriend’s death and a cancer diagnosis. Given how his sendoff wasn’t necessarily under the friendliest of circumstances, folks should keep an eye out on whether he’ll make an appearance once again.
