ABC’s The Rookie has a promising future, but the latest season has been surprisingly complex. The show, which premiered in 2018 and is set in Los Angeles, will return for a midseason premiere in 2026. While Nathan Fillion as John Nolan is still a key part of the series, The Rookie has expanded its focus to include more of the supporting characters and their stories.
Police dramas are a common sight on television, and many of the longest-running scripted series, like Law & Order: SVU and NCIS, fit into this genre. However, ABC’s The Rookie stands out. Unlike those traditional shows, The Rookie gives equal attention to both the police work and the personal lives of its characters. This approach has clearly worked for ABC, making The Rookie, created by Alexi Hawley, one of the network’s biggest hits.
The Rookie Season 9 Is Expected To Have Major Budget Cuts
Disney
Given the strong ratings and positive reviews for season 8 of The Rookie, it’s not surprising that ABC is likely to renew the show for a ninth season. This is great news for the series, especially with so much competition for prime-time television slots. However, the renewal comes with some cost-cutting measures for the show’s budget.
It’s common for TV networks to cut costs, and this usually affects shows that have been on the air for a while with established actors. While details are still emerging, it appears The Rookie will likely experience similar changes as Grey’s Anatomy. This could mean the show has fewer episodes overall, or that some of the main actors appear in fewer episodes. For instance, Caterina Scorsone, who plays Amelia on Grey’s Anatomy, took a break during season 22.
The Rookie Season 9’s Budget Cut Is Confusing After Season 8’s Expensive International Premiere
ABC cleverly delayed the start of The Rookie season 8 by launching with a unique international episode. Filmed in Prague, “Czech Mate” was unusual for network television, as most shows aren’t filmed outside the US. Police dramas especially tend to stay put, as their stories are usually tied to a specific location. Plus, these shows typically rely on dramatic storylines or team-ups with other series to create special events, rather than elaborate, on-location shoots.
Given the strong viewership of The Rookie, it made sense for Disney and ABC to fund a big premiere for season eight, and the writers had a good storyline to justify an international plot. It’s surprising, then, that the network would approve that spending only to significantly reduce the budget the following year.
While the cases on The Rookie are engaging, it’s the characters and their strong interactions that really keep viewers hooked. Considering the show’s budget, it would be more beneficial to have a longer season featuring the main cast regularly, rather than a single, expensive episode filmed in another country.
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2026-02-18 21:58