New Spinoff from ‘The Rookie’ in Early Development at ABC

As a seasoned gamer of police dramas, I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement and nostalgia at the news of ABC’s upcoming spinoff of ‘The Rookie.’ Having followed the adventures of John Nolan from his debut as the oldest rookie in the LAPD, it’s heartening to see the franchise expanding while staying true to its roots.

According to Deadline, ABC is developing another spinoff based on their successful show ‘The Rookie.’ Unlike its predecessor delving into FBI matters, this upcoming series will maintain a focus on the original’s police drama foundation.

In the series ‘The Rookie,’ Nathan Fillion portrays John Nolan, an individual who embarks on a fresh career path by joining the LAPD at an advanced age. This show explores the concept of midlife change, a theme that the upcoming spinoff is set to continue.

Alexi Hawley, the mind behind ‘The Rookie’, is penning the scripts for this prospective television show, which takes place in Washington state.

The narrative focuses on a male police officer undergoing a major life transition, similar to Nolan, during what’s referred to as his later stage or second phase of life.

Hawley teams up once more with Fillion, who not only stars in the initial production but also takes on the role of an executive producer for the upcoming project along with other executive producers Bill Norcross and Michelle Chapman from ‘The Rookie’. The concept for the original series was sparked by Norcross’s real-life experiences.

Collaboration on production involves Lionsgate Television and 20th Television. Notably, Lionsgate has enlarged its collection with the acquisition of eOne, the producer of ‘The Rookie’, signifying an astute decision aimed at expanding ‘The Rookie’ series.

In preparation for its seventh season debuting on January 7, ‘The Rookie’ continues to be a reliable hit on ABC, and has experienced an increase in viewers on Hulu, placing among the most-watched dramas.

Earlier this year, it was pointed out by the head of Disney Television Group, Craig Erwich, that the show has been watched for more than 500 million hours on Hulu since its premiere in 2018, and there’s been a significant jump in viewership during the past year.

This new development strategy signifies a change from ABC’s method used in the initial spin-off, ‘The Rookie: Feds,’ as compared to their original approach.

The show starring Niecy Nash-Betts, initially introduced as a two-episode spinoff within ‘The Rookie’s’ 2021-22 season, was cut short due to the 2023 Hollywood writers’ strike.

In other updates, Hawley – known for directing ‘The Recruit’ on Netflix with Noah Centineo – will be back for another season on January 30th. He is affiliated with The Shuman Company and lawyer Adam Kaller.

Read More

2024-12-05 21:14