The ABC police drama The Rookie is expanding its universe with a new spin-off, and the show’s creator is sharing all the details. On the same day the flagship series premiered its eighth season, Alexi Hawley traveled to Vancouver to begin final preparations for The Rookie: North pilot. The new series has Jay Ellis set as the lead and is designed to stand apart by moving the action from the big city to a more varied American landscape.
The New Rookie: Jay Ellis as Alex Holland
The spin-off will center on a brand new character, Alex Holland, played by Jay Ellis. Hawley described casting Ellis as “a dream,” noting the actor’s ability to handle both comedy and serious emotion is crucial for the show’s tone. The character comes to policing from a very different place than John Nolan, the original rookie played by Nathan Fillion.
“He’s been bouncing. He went the law school route, and then something happened, and he sort of abandoned that,” Hawley said of Alex Holland’s background.
The official description says Alex believed his mid-life wasn’t worthy of a crisis until a violent home invasion sparks a new purpose. He then joins the Pierce County Police Department as its oldest rookie, battling a history of failed commitments. Hawley explained that while Nolan was a successful professional who felt lost after a divorce, Alex Holland is “a guy who’s a little more lost” and has never before found something he is truly passionate about.
A Setting That Changes Everything
The most important factor that will make The Rookie: North feel different is its location. Hawley pointed out that most police patrol shows are set in huge metropolitan areas like New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles. This new show aims to explore a “bigger slice of America” by setting its story in Pierce County, Washington.
“The county that they’re policing does include Tacoma, so there is some urban but at the same time, it’s also the suburbs and the exurbs, and it’s also the meth lab in the woods, and a National Park, and there’s a military base. That sort of county is really interesting,” Hawley said.
This diverse setting leads to practical differences in police work. In Los Angeles, massive backup can arrive quickly. In this new environment, it might take 15 minutes or more for help to get there, creating higher stakes and a different kind of tension. Hawley believes this will set the show apart visually and thematically right from the start.
Production Timeline and Connection to the Original Show
The project is moving forward quickly. The pilot was officially greenlit by ABC in November. Hawley, who will write and direct the pilot, is currently in Vancouver for final preparations, with casting underway. Filming for the pilot is scheduled to begin at the end of February.
Also Read:
Unlike the previous spin-off, The Rookie: Feds, this new show will not be introduced with an episode embedded in the original series. It is being developed as a completely standalone pilot. Because The Rookie: North is targeting a potential spot on next season’s schedule and films in Vancouver while the main show films in Los Angeles, there are currently no plans for Jay Ellis to appear on The Rookie this season. However, Hawley left the door open for future crossovers, saying, “But down the road, in success, definitely. It’s a little harder if it’s Vancouver and LA but it’s not impossible”.
Also Read: Heated Rivalry Cast Next Projects: What Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie Are Doing Now
