Hit ABC police procedural The Rookie, starring Nathan Fillion, has its season 7 premiere date confirmed. Based on the real-life story of LAPD officer William Norcross, who, in 2015, moved to Los Angeles and became the oldest rookie at the LAPD, joining the force in his mid-40s. Fillion plays the lead role of John Nolan, and The Rookie boasts an ensemble cast, including Alyssa Diaz, Richard T. Jones, and Shawn Ashmore. The show has enjoyed a successful run since it debuted in 2018, and The Rookie season 7 was officially renewed in April 2024.
Per TV Line, the show has finally received its season 7 premiere date for ABC, revealed to be January 7, 2025. The show has been off the air since May, and will debut at 10pm on Tuesday January 7, following the Will Trent season 3 premiere at 8pm, and the High Potential midseason premiere at 9pm. Disney Television Group president Craig Erwich spoke about the importance of The Rookie to the network, and why they made the decision to renew the show – check out his comments below:
The Rookie and Will Trent are two of the cornerstones of our schedule. It felt like the best way to platform those shows for success was to launch them in January, when we have this huge promotional platform in New Years Rockin’ Eve as well as college sports and Christmas programming.
What A January Release Date Means For The Rookie Season 7
A Successful Run Could Result In A Quick Renewal
As Erwich’s comments suggest, the decision to drop The Rookie season 7 premiere on January 7, 2025 is not an accidental one. There is seemingly the belief that the show may get a ratings bump if it is a prominent fixture on the new year schedule for ABC. It could even result in The Rookie season 8 (should it be renewed) premiering in 2025 as well. This would not be the first time the show has had 2 seasons debut in the same year, as season 3 debuted in January 2021, while season 4 dropped in September 2021.
A January release, coupled with an 18-episode run, will help the show explore strong themes, and develop compelling story arcs.
January is a big month for TV schedules, as it is the calm after the frenzied festive period, and networks typically enjoy strong ratings. One of the factors that is bound to help the show pick up viewing figures is the fact that it is set to air on the same night as the other popular crime procedural, Will Trent season 3. The two shows will help one another to gain success, and will likely share viewers, particularly with a gap of an hour between them.
Our Verdict On Whether The Rookie Season 7 Will Be A Success
An Increased Episode Count & January Release Could Be A Blessing
The Rookie is one of ABC’s most popular shows, so it already has a platform for success, but I believe the increased episode count – after season 6 was reduced to 10 episodes following industry strikes – will help the show regain its strong ability to excel at long-form storytelling. A January release, coupled with an 18-episode run, will help the show explore strong themes, and develop compelling story arcs, and there is a good chance it will revisit plot points from The Rookie season 6.
