“Been bouncing”: The Rookie showrunner Alexi Hawley shares exciting new details about the upcoming spin-off of the ABC procedural

The Rookie is once more in the process of expanding, and the development update has triggered new interest in the television world!

ABC has already taken the initiative to produce a pilot for a new spin-off, and creator and showrunner Alexi Hawley has given some background on how the project is getting together, relying on the words of Hawley. In an Interview with Deadline, Alexi said,

"I think Nathan’s character was a successful professional, obviously blue collar or whatever, he was just a little lost after his divorce and everything. But this is just a little different.”

He added,

"He’s been bouncing. He went the law school route, and then something happened, and he sort of abandoned that,”

The Rookie has been recognized for its procedural identity for many years, and with the announcement of The Rookie: North, the network remains keen to tell more stories in that realm.

The project, however, is at its inception stage, and Hawley's words give an idea of what is above board, what is still in the works, and where the spin-off is in ABC's development chain.

The Rookie: North is an ABC pilot without question

The Rookie: North is one of the pilots ABC has confirmed, and it is not a series yet. There has been consensus among entertainment news sources that ABC granted a pilot order in late 2025 as part of the network's ongoing assessment of franchise extensions for The Rookie.

As with many broadcast projects, the fate of The Rookie: North will be determined by the internal network review after the pilot is completed. It’s a critical point since the pilot status means exploring the possibility rather than confirming the continuation.

Alexi Hawley keeps his footing in the project

The man behind The Rookie, creator and showrunner Alexi Hawley, will also be the one to write The Rookie: North. His oversight of the project ensures there will be no gaps in the storyline between the original series and the spin-off, while the latter also adopts its own character.

Hawley has characterized the spin-off's creation as "bouncing," a term that implies iterative, gradual creative work.

“He’s been bouncing. He went the law school route, and then something happened, and he sort of abandoned that,”

Jay Ellis confirmed as the lead of The Rookie spin-off

The most undeniable confirmation is that Jay Ellis will play the leading role in The Rookie: North. Ellis will portray Alex Holland, the main character on whom the pilot is based.

There is an official report that Alex Holland is an old rookie cop, a story idea similar to The Rookie, which is about Nolan’s decision to become a police officer later than most recruits. There is still no official information on specific personal motivations or backstory details apart from this basic idea, and primary reporting has not confirmed them.

How The Rookie: North relates to The Rookie

Thematically, The Rookie: North parallels the core theme that made The Rookie successful: a character joining the police force when most officers of that age are already established. This thematic continuity helps position the spin-off within the same narrative framework without directly repeating characters or storylines.

Nevertheless, The Rookie: North is not intended to be a direct sequel to the original series. Instead, it presents itself as a parallel narrative in the same universe, allowing both productions to thrive independently while maintaining a close conceptual relationship.

A new setting for the franchise

One of the changes that stands out most is the setting in The Rookie: North. The spin-off is set in the Pacific Northwest, unlike The Rookie, which is set in Los Angeles. This change in location opens up a new law enforcement world, one that is regionally defined rather than centered on the metropolitan area of a major city.

Although no detailed storylines have been revealed, the setting itself already makes the spin-off different from The Rookie. Policing in less populated or rural areas usually provides different working conditions, which can have an impact on how the stories in the pilot are told through the procedures.

Production plans and filming timeline

It has been reported that The Rookie: North pilot is scheduled to be shot in January 2026, with Vancouver as the shooting location. This aligns with standard production practices for that kind of series shot in the Pacific Northwest.

No further production commitments beyond the pilot shoot have been made public. ABC has neither confirmed that it will order more episodes nor provided a broadcast calendar schedule for the show.

The Rookie franchise and prior spin-off experience

The Rookie once again broadened its universe with The Rookie: Feds, which aired for a single season. That venture looked into federal law enforcement rather than local policing and was eventually canceled.

The Rookie: North is different because it still concentrates on police work rather than changing agencies. This closer connection with the original series might give ABC a new perspective on the feasibility of franchises, although nothing has been announced yet.

No crossovers or long-term plans confirmed

At this time, there has been no official announcement that The Rookie would crossover with The Rookie: North. While coherent universe storytelling remains a possibility, neither the ABC network nor Alexi Hawley has made any declarations regarding character participation or the sinking of plot lines.

Also, there is no assurance of the long-term story arcs, chapter counts, or seasons that have been planned. All such matters are still dependent on how the pilot is going to be received.

The Rookie: North, currently in development, does not end The Rookie, which remains an active, ongoing procedural at ABC. The original series remains the foundation of the franchise, while the network is exploring expansion possibilities.

What do you think about the new spin-off? Let us know in the comments below!