Nathan Fillion’s The Rookie banned live guns on set despite being a hardcore police procedural — here’s the real reason behind the bold move.
The Rookie might be all about cops, but when it comes to real guns? Hard pass. Despite being a hardcore police procedural, Nathan Fillion’s hit show made a bold move — banning live firearms on set. The decision wasn’t just for show; it came after a chilling wake-up call that rocked Hollywood.
With safety now the top priority, The Rookie drew a hard line, proving that intense action doesn’t need real bullets. So, what exactly pushed the show to make this game-changing rule?
Why Nathan Fillion’s cop drama banned live guns on set after Rust tragedy
The Rookie made a game-changing decision — no more live weapons on set. The ABC police procedural, led by Nathan Fillion, banned all real firearms following the tragic shooting on the set of Rust.
Showrunner Alexi Hawley wasted no time making it official. He declared in a memo, which said (via Hollywood Reporter),
As of today, it is now policy on The Rookie that all gunfire on set will be Air Soft guns with CG muzzle flashes added in post. There will be no more “live” weapons on the show. The safety our cast and crew is too important. Any risk is too much risk.
As always, if you ever feel unsafe or witness anything that concerns you, please don’t hesitate to report it.
My door is always open.
The move came after Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot when a gun misfired during filming. Star Alec Baldwin, who handled the weapon, called the accident shock and sadness, while authorities continued investigating how a supposedly safe prop turned deadly.
While The Rookie had already leaned on CGI for muzzle flashes, it occasionally used blank-firing weapons for large outdoor scenes. That’s over now. The series joins a growing push in Hollywood to eliminate real guns on set, echoing concerns raised after Brandon Lee’s 1993 on-set death during The Crow.
Visual effects pros back the shift, calling digital muzzle flashes as good as the real deal. Emmy-winning VFX artist Nick Sinnott even argued on Twitter:
Video can’t even capture them correctly. … [There’s] zero reason to use live rounds.
It remains to be seen if more productions will follow suit, but The Rookie isn’t waiting. The policy is locked in — safety first, action second.
Nathan Fillion marks The Rookie‘s record-breaking success with heartfelt tribute
Nathan Fillion had reason to celebrate, and he made sure to share the love. The John Nolan star took to Instagram to mark a huge milestone for The Rookie — its seventh season delivered the best ratings among adults 18-49 in five years. Even better? The show hit an all-time high in episode views on Hulu and Disney+.
Nathan gave a heartfelt shoutout to the entire Rookie team. He wrote, praising the cast, crew, and showrunner Alexi Hawley (via HelloMagazine),
I know, I say it all the time. I couldn’t be more proud of what this show has accomplished…It honestly couldn’t happen to a more talented, kind, and deserving group of people.
Cast, crew, writers, staff, and of course, [showrunner] Alexi [Hawley]. My thanks go out to all the fans, too. You keep this show going by continuing to tune in, and for that, I am truly grateful.
He also thanked fans for keeping the show alive. Co-stars Jenna Dewan and Shawn Ashmore chimed in with their own excitement. Meanwhile, Jenna teased major developments for Nolan and Bailey, promising “stabilizing” moments ahead.
With ratings soaring, an eighth season seems inevitable — The Rookie isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
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