The eighth season of “The Rookie” is moving beyond Los Angeles, with the premiere set for a high-stakes operation in Prague, Czech Republic. This marks the first time the long-running ABC police drama has filmed outside the United States. The new season will start on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, on ABC, with episodes streaming the next day on Hulu.
The international storyline was confirmed by star Jenna Dewan, who shared photos and videos from the Prague set in June. “Prague is absolutely stunning,” she wrote on social media. “Starting season 8 off in the most amazing big way”.
Why The Rookie’s Cast Went to Prague
The trip to Europe is a direct continuation of the Season 7 finale. The story picks up just days after the events of the last season, with John Nolan (Nathan Fillion), Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox), and Bailey Nune (Jenna Dewan) teaming up with the FBI. Their mission is to track down a notorious international arms dealer.
They are not alone on this operation. They are joined by Monica Stevens (Bridget Regan), the corrupt lawyer who secured an immunity deal with the U.S. government. Monica’s knowledge is essential for the sting, forcing the LAPD officers into an uneasy partnership. Meanwhile, the rest of the Mid-Wilshire team stays in Los Angeles to handle the domestic side of the same case.
Showrunner Alexi Hawley explained that the choice of Prague was both creative and practical. “Once I was like, ‘I want to go somewhere for the premiere,’ it became a conversation about where, which is both a story and a budgetary conversation,” he said. “Prague immediately jumped out as such a cinematic city. It obviously feels very different from Los Angeles”.
For star Nathan Fillion, the experience felt like stepping into a different kind of movie. “It felt like I was shooting Casino Royale,” he said in an interview. “I’m in a suit, you’re walking down these incredible streets. I love the history”.
What the Season 8 Trailer Reveals
The official trailer, released in mid-December, gives fans a first look at the Prague mission and the major storylines awaiting the team back home.
The core of the premiere involves Nolan, Bailey, and Monica attempting to set a trap for the weapons trafficker in the Czech capital. The trailer suggests Monica’s loyalties are as unreliable as ever, hinting she might try to escape justice once again.
Back in Los Angeles, the LAPD is working with FBI Agent Matthew Garza (Felix Solis) to neutralize terrorist threats on home soil. The trailer also confirms that villain Oscar Hutchinson (Matthew Glave), who escaped in a helicopter at the end of last season, will return.
On the personal front, the characters face significant decisions and challenges:
- Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) is finally trying to move his relationship with Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil) forward, having asked her to move in with him.
- Wesley Evers (Shawn Ashmore) is making a major career shift and running for District Attorney.
- Bailey receives a surprising job offer that could take her to Washington, D.C..
- The marriage of Lieutenant Wade Grey (Richard T. Jones) hits serious trouble.
Hawley has confirmed that this season will challenge many of the show’s couples, both personally and professionally. He also revealed that fans will finally meet Tim Bradford’s mother for the first time in the show’s history.
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Cast Updates and Returning Faces
The main cast from Season 7 is returning. This includes Nathan Fillion, Mekia Cox, Alyssa Diaz, Richard T. Jones, Melissa O’Neil, Eric Winter, Jenna Dewan, Shawn Ashmore, and Lisseth Chavez. Deric Augustine, who plays rookie Miles Penn, has been promoted to series regular.
Aaron Thorsen (Tru Valentino), who transferred divisions, will make a return this season, though his number of episodes is not specified. There are no immediate plans to introduce a new rookie to replace the character of Seth Ridley.
A New Release Schedule for the Series
For the third year in a row, The Rookie will premiere in the winter instead of the traditional fall season. This scheduling shift is partly due to the development of a new spin-off series, The Rookie: North, which creator Alexi Hawley is also overseeing.
The upcoming season will consist of 18 episodes. It will air on ABC on Tuesday nights, following new episodes of Will Trent and High Potential, creating a block of procedural dramas.
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