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Television

ABC Developing Second 'The Rookie' Spinoff in Cop Show Genre

2024-12-05

The hit procedural series "The Rookie" by ABC might be gearing up for a second spinoff, and this time, it will remain within the cop show realm. Sources reveal that Lionsgate Television, 20th Television, and the show's creator Alexi Hawley are in the early stages of development. Set in Washington state, this potential spinoff follows a male cop as he enters a new phase of life in his second act, similar to the original series which began with Nathan Fillion's John Nolan switching careers. The Rookie executive producer/showrunner Hawley, along with stars like Fillion and other executive producers, is at the helm of this new project. Lionsgate Television will co-produce with 20th Television.

Staying Power and Popularity

Heading into its seventh season and set to premiere on Jan. 7, "The Rookie" remains one of ABC's most watched series. It has also become a top performer on streamer Hulu, especially among young viewers. Disney Television Group President Craig Erwich revealed in February that the show was the #2 drama on Hulu and had generated over 500 million hours viewed since its 2018 launch, with nearly half of them in the most recent year. This shows the staying power of a good drama.

Blind Script Commitment

ABC gave Hawley a blind script commitment earlier this year with the intention of a potential new "The Rookie" spinoff, which led to the current project in development. This is a different approach compared to the first spinoff, which started with a two-episode backdoor pilot on "The Rookie" during the 2021-22 season, introducing characters like Emmy winner Niecy Nash-Betts as Simone Clark. The offshoot, titled "The Rookie: Feds", was picked up but its run was cut short due to the 2023 Hollywood strikes.

Lionsgate's Acquisition and Expansion

Lionsgate completed the acquisition of "The Rookie" producer eOne at the end of 2023, just two months after "The Rookie: Feds" was canceled after one season. The indie studio took over Hawley's eOne overall deal and extended it this past summer, with expanding the "The Rookie" franchise being one of the goals. Hawley is also the creator/executive producer of Lionsgate TV's Netflix series "The Recruit", starring Noah Centineo, which is returning for a second season on Jan. 30. He is represented by the Shuman Company and attorney Adam Kaller.