Nathan Fillion was the only choice for The Rookie, and even without a script, he was ready to play the leading role in the show.
The Rookie has risen to the ranks of being one of the most sought-after police procedural shows out there. While the thrill and suspense of the series are highly appreciated, it also boasts a stellar ensemble with actor Nathan Fillion leading the way.
He plays John Nolan in The Rookie, and his name was being considered for this role when the show was in its earliest stages of development.
While he may be the oldest rookie in the LAPD, choosing the actor to play the part was a no-brainer for showrunner Alexi Hawley. Also, given his decades-long acting career and projects, he did complete justice to the role, gaining a huge fan following.
For Alexi Hawley, Nathan Fillion was the perfect choice for The Rookie
Only a few police procedural dramas have what it takes to completely captivate the viewers. Not surprisingly, The Rookie did just that with its thrilling storylines and great characters. The most famous of the lot would definitely be Nathan Fillion as the oldest LAPD rookie, John Nolan.
Adding to this, how the actor actually got on board with the project also deserves an episode of its own. Despite not having a finished script, a full cast, or even a clear roadmap, Alexi Hawley was sure of one thing—Nathan Fillion had to be at the center of The Rookie universe.
At the time, he was already a well-known face in the industry, all thanks to his roles in Castle and Firefly. He also had a unique presence that immediately made him stand out from the typical TV leading man. So, for Hawley, there was no other actor who could play Nolan, who’s a forty-something rookie cop navigating a new career change. In an interview via Assignment X, Alexi Hawley mentioned,
I would always work with Nathan if I could. I mean, he is not only a phenomenal actor, but he’s a great guy, and he’s a real partner. When I got the phone call about the show, he was the first name that jumped into my mind and Mark Gordon’s mind.
But there was one major question in everyone’s mind: would the actor be interested in taking another full-time network role so soon after wrapping Castle? Despite these reservations, the showrunner took a leap of faith and decided to pitch the idea to Fillion even before the script was ready. To his surprise, the actor agreed to play the part.
In the same conversation, Hawley also detailed just how much he loved working with Fillion and praised his professionalism and skill set. And that he understood what it means to lead a show. Hawley’s trust obviously paid off, and The Rookie quickly found its loyal audience and also proved that Nathan Fillion’s ability to lead a series was as strong as ever.
Nathan Fillion takes a hilarious jab at his Rookie co-star, Eric Winter
Nathan Fillion is notorious for bringing humor to every set he steps onto, and The Rookie was no exception. In a video shared by The Rookie’s official Instagram account, the actor gave fans a sneak peek behind the scenes while still in the roll call room.
He was dressed in his John Nolan costume and answered some fan questions. One question was, what exactly is John Nolan writing in that notepad during roll call?
With a smile on his face, Fillion opened the same notebook and revealed its contents.
The pages were filled with scribbled notes and doodles, which helped him to keep track of which episode they were filming. But just as he flipped the last page, it was written, “Have Eric Winter fired for making that joke about my hair.”
This statement was full of his dry wit and comedic timing, and he playfully looked at the camera again and added, “Maybe don’t tell Eric you saw that.” The joke was, of course, all in good faith, and both Fillion and Winter share a good friendship.
The Rookie is available to stream on Hulu.
