Firefly Alum Breaks Silence on Possible Return to Nathan Fillion’s The Rookie

Nathan Fillion’s former Firefly co-star, Alan Tudyk, has opened up about his potential return to The Rookie. First joining Fillion as Hoban “Wash” Washburne, the pilot of the spaceship Serenity, Tudyk would regularly reunite with his co-star for several projects following Firefly’s cancellation. In 2019, Tudyk appeared as the socially inept crime scene cleaner Ellroy Basso on The Rookie season 1, a role that he would later reprise for 2022’s climactic season 4 finale, which saw Basso pulled into a dramatic shootout at the hybrid rural police station and diner at the border town of Frontera.

Speaking with Screen Rant on the black carpet event for Resident Alien season 4, Tudyk revealed whether he might be likely to return as Ellroy for a future appearance alongside Fillion’s Nolan in The Rookie. Enthusiastic about the prospect of returning as Ellroy, Tudyk suggested that he would happily return if the show’s writers can come up with a suitable idea. Check out his response below:

If they come up with an idea, I’ll be there.

What Alan Tudyk’s Comments Mean For The Rookie

The Pair’s Time On Firefly Still Overshadows Their More Recent Projects

Despite its all-too-brief run, the time Tudyk and Fillion spent together on Firefly and its movie spinoff, Serenity, continues to cast an enormous shadow on the careers of both actors. Not only do eager fans continue to cry for a possible Firefly revival decades after its original cancellation, but Tudyk would even use the sci-fi show’s enduring place in pop culture as inspiration for his 2015 series Con Man. The reminders of their time spent together in the beloved early 2000’s space western only seem to strengthen with each collaboration the two engage in.

Given Tudyk’s admitted willingness to return as Ellroy in The Rookie, it is probably more a matter of when, not if, that fans can expect to see his character worked into another future storyline. Given that Fillion is already regularly featured in Resident Alien as the voice of Octopus, a reciprocal offer would be a fitting continuation of the pair’s friendship and ongoing professional relationship. Moreover, the pair’s ongoing collaborative efforts will also be brought into much sharper relief as both are set to appear in this year’s Superman.

Our Take On Ellroy Basko’s Potential Rookie Return

Tudyk’s Next Cameo Should Bring Back Another Firefly Star

Continuing the pair’s unique comedic chemistry with each collaborative effort, Tudyk’s return as Ellroy on The Rookie can probably not come fast enough. However, if showrunner Alexi Hawley really wishes to maximize Tudyk’s next appearance alongside Fillion, perhaps it would be a fitting time for him to finally make good on a promise he once made to fellow Firefly star Gina Torres.

Back in 2020 during the Comic-Con@Home event, Hawley suggested that he would write Torres into Fillion’s story should she ever make an appearance on the show. There would perhaps be no better way to accomplish this if he were to somehow team her with her former Firefly husband in an episode that could potentially reunite all three stars in a future episode of The Rookie.