By Gavin Boyle
A new spinoff for THE ROOKIE has received a positive update as showrunner Alexi Hawley revealed that the show has a strong script to work with.
“I feel really good about the script. Ultimately, we’re waiting to hear what the needs are [at ABC], but I feel very positive about it,” Hawley said. “My caveat is that I also felt very positive about Season 3 of THE RECRUIT, and it ended up not happening. But look, it’s apples and oranges. We just got a Season 8 on ROOKIE, the show works really well for them…Beyond that, it’s out of my hands.”
This is an encouraging update for fans who first learned about the show last December. Assuming it gets produced, it will serve as the second spinoff to the main show, succeeding THE ROOKIE: THE FEDS which was canceled in 2023 after just one season due to the summer’s dual strikes. A very brief synopsis about the new spinoff has been revealed, but little information beyond that has been shared.
The upcoming show “follows a male cop who is stepping into a new phase of life in his second act,” the teaser reads.
When the show was first announced, it was also revealed that Hawley would write and executive produce along with Nathan Fillion, and Bill Norcross and Michelle Chapman would also serve as executive producers.
Related: ABC Greenlights New THE ROOKIE Spinoff, Set in Washington State
As Fillion continues to find success through both the flagship series and the production of spinoffs, he remains humble, keeping in mind that he got where he is today through luck, along with hard work. He writes this humility into his own stories, as he ensures that his characters never have too much pride either.
“I never enjoy it when characters look extremely cool because it’s not something I can relate to,” Fillion told Mike Rowe. “So anytime I’m doing something on TV where my character looks really, really cool, I’ll do something that kicks him.”
Nonetheless, Fillion’s shows remain respectful of those they are representing in real life. THE ROOKIE, for example, is very pro-police and highlights how much first responders sacrifice for the sake of others. A portion of Movieguide®’s review reads:
THE ROOKIE is an intense and compelling show, and the opening to Season 6 does not shy away from large action set pieces. The series maintains its positive outlook on law enforcement and John’s insistence on protecting and serving his community, even at the risk of his own life. There is no foul language or objectionable sexual content. However, the crime scenes and intense shootouts between the police and the criminals are graphic and bloody, especially for a TV-14 series. Despite these elements, this episode is still a largely moral and positive display of the first responder’s sacrifice and hard work.
Hopefully ABC decides to greenlight another positive show and provide audiences with more of the moral content they desire.
Read Next: Nathan Fillion Launches Production Company: ‘Tell Meaningful Stories’
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