How The Rookie’s Next Spinoff Is Different From The Franchise’s Other Shows Explained By Showrunner

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The creator of the show The Rookie recently discussed how the new spinoff, The Rookie: North, will be different from the original series. The Rookie, which premiered in 2018, follows a man who changes careers to become a police officer with the LAPD. The show stars Nathan Fillion, Alyssa Diaz, Richard T. Jones, and Eric Winter.

I’m so excited! “The Rookie” has already given us seven amazing seasons, and it’s coming back for an eighth! The premiere is next week, January 6th, and that’s huge! Plus, they’re working on a spinoff called “The Rookie: North,” which is set to come out sometime in 2026. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Speaking with ScreenRant’s Tatiana Hullender about the upcoming season 8 premiere of The Rookie, showrunner Alexi Hawley explained the key differences between The Rookie and The Rookie: North. He emphasized that the biggest change is the location, stating that filming in the Pacific Northwest will give The Rookie: North a distinctly different look and feel.

Noah Hawley noticed that many police dramas are set in big cities like Boston, Los Angeles, and Chicago. However, he aimed for The Rookie: North to represent the everyday lives and locations most Americans actually experience. He explained his vision for this setting in more detail, as quoted below:

ScreenRant asked about the new show, The Rookie: North, and how it will be different from the original The Rookie. They also wondered if we can expect to see characters from both shows appearing in each other’s storylines.

Alexi Hawley explains the new show will have its own unique feel. He believes filming in the Pacific Northwest will contribute to this, making it visually distinct from other police dramas which are typically set in major cities like Boston, Los Angeles, or Chicago. He realized most cop shows don’t reflect where most Americans actually live—the mix of urban, suburban, and rural areas.

Pierce County in Washington State stood out as a location with a lot to offer. It includes the city of Tacoma, a large military base, both upscale neighborhoods and typical shopping areas, and access to a national park and mountains. Filming there promised a visually unique experience compared to a big city, which was really appealing.

Even though the show evolves, it’s fundamentally about officers on patrol and the unpredictable nature of their jobs. Unlike many police shows, The Rookie doesn’t focus on solving a new crime each week. Instead, the excitement comes from not knowing what challenges the officers will face, which is what makes it so engaging.

ABC (via MoviesStillsDb)

Hawley stressed that, fundamentally, The Rookie: North will retain the core elements of the original The Rookie and remain a show focused on police patrols. He also explained how The Rookie distinguishes itself from typical procedural dramas and other shows in the genre, and he intends to maintain this unique approach with North.

This isn’t the first time the show has tried a spin-off. Previously, The Rookie: Feds aired for one season, from 2022 to 2023, and followed Simone Clark, an FBI agent who started her career later in life.

Unlike The Rookie: North, Feds continued the tradition of being set in the same city as the original The Rookie, utilizing an LA field office. This choice gave Feds a more conventional police procedural vibe, as it was located in one of the major cities featured in the series.

With its unique location, The Rookie: North has a great opportunity to stand out from other shows in The Rookie franchise. It will be fascinating to see how much the new series utilizes its Pacific Northwest setting, as the show’s creator has suggested. If it works, the scenery could create some truly memorable and different moments compared to the original series.

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2026-01-01 03:18