'The Rookie' Creator Gives Update on Second Spinoff Idea, Five Months After Original Announcement
Context:
The creator of 'The Rookie', Alexi Hawley, has provided an update on the progress of a second spinoff series, which has been in development since 2024 and is set to be located in Washington state, following a male cop in a new life phase. Despite feeling optimistic about the script, Hawley remains cautious due to the recent cancellation of his other show, 'The Recruit', by Netflix after two seasons. The first spinoff, 'The Rookie: Feds', was canceled after one season due to multiple Hollywood strikes. As 'The Rookie' celebrates its success with a renewal for an eighth season, an actor from the series received a promotion. Hawley acknowledges that while the core show remains successful, the fate of the spinoff lies beyond his control and depends on ABC's current needs.
Dive Deeper:
Alexi Hawley, the creator of 'The Rookie', shared that the second spinoff is set in Washington state and will explore the life of a male cop entering a new phase. He is pleased with the script but acknowledges that ABC's needs will ultimately determine the show's future.
Hawley expressed optimism about the new spinoff despite recent setbacks, such as the cancellation of his other show, 'The Recruit', by Netflix after only two seasons, which serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of television production.
The first spinoff, 'The Rookie: Feds', was canceled after its debut season, largely due to the impact of multiple strikes within the Hollywood industry, highlighting the challenges faced by spinoff productions.
While 'The Rookie' has successfully secured an eighth season, maintaining its popularity on ABC, the promotion of an actor signals continued investment in the original series amidst the uncertain future of its spinoffs.
Hawley remains pragmatic about the prospects of the new spinoff, recognizing that despite his confidence in the project, external factors and network priorities will ultimately decide its fate.
The ongoing success of 'The Rookie' stands in contrast to the challenges faced by its spinoffs, underscoring the show's strong performance and appeal to audiences.
Hawley's comments reflect both optimism and caution, as he navigates the complexities of television production and the varying fortunes of his projects.
The Rookie is one of ABC’s most popular television shows and a second spinoff has been in the works since 2024!
Now, creator Alexi Hawley is giving an update on what’s happening with the upcoming spinoff, which will be “set in Washington state and will follow a male cop who is stepping into a new phase of life in his second act,” according to TVLine.
Hawley recently spoke to TVLine about the new series.
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“I feel really good about the script,” Hawley said. “Ultimately, we’re waiting to hear what the needs are [at ABC], but I feel very positive about it.”
Hawley is not getting his hopes too high as Netflix recently canceled his other show, The Recruit, after just two seasons.
“My caveat, said with a genuine laugh, is that I also felt very positive about Season 3 of [Netflix’s] The Recruit, and it ended up not happening,” he said “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.”
The Rookie‘s first spinoff, The Rookie: Feds, was canceled after just one season because of the multiple strikes in Hollywood.
An actor on The Rookie was just promoted ahead of the upcoming eighth season.