Speaking with Deadline, The Rookie showrunner Alexi Hawley updated the status of the planned spinoff following the Season 7 finale. The spinoff, announced before the Season 7 premiere, is still in development at ABC — with Hawley “hopeful” it will move forward and reach the production stage soon enough. “I’ve been going back and there’s a script, I’ve been doing some drafts and getting some notes,” he said. “I’m a hopeful person, so I remain hopeful. It would be a great thing. So let’s see.”
Hawley’s statements echo another recent update he offered about The Rookie spinoff, admitting “the business right now is what it is” as he and ABC continue work things out creatively. Disney Television Group president Craig Erwich, was more coy when asked about the status of the spinoff series, saying, “I don’t have any news to share right now.”
“Anytime they get out of their police cars, anything can happen.”
The Rookie Eyes Second Spinoff After Feds’ Cancellation
Should the as yet untitled spinoff see the light of day, it would mark the second time The Rookie branched off after The Rookie: Feds, the short-lived show starring Niecy Nash-Betts as a Washington D.C.-based school counselor who realized her dream of joining the FBI. Though Feds was well-received critically (86% on Rotten Tomatoes), a combination of factors — including the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes — led to its cancellation after one season. However, characters from the show returned in The Rookie Season 7.
Season 7 of The Rookie proved popular with audiences (82% on Rotten Tomatoes), with one of its episodes setting a years-long viewership mark. The police procedural earned a Season 8 renewal midway through Season 7, and also made some changes to its cast, adding several new characters.
