The Rookie universe is officially expanding again — and this time, Jay Ellis is stepping into the badge.
ABC has given a pilot order to The Rookie: North, the newest spinoff from creator Alexi Hawley. The project has been quietly developing since late 2024, and with Ellis now locked in for the lead role, the network is moving full speed ahead.
Ellis will star as Alex Holland, a man who never expected a mid-life crisis… until one found him. After a violent home invasion shakes his sense of purpose, Alex decides to stop running from his own potential. He joins the Pierce County Police Department in Washington State as its oldest rookie — policing everything from coastal towns to deep forest terrain where backup isn’t always minutes away. The series follows his struggle and determination to prove himself to his training officer, fellow recruits, and, most importantly, himself.
The setup mirrors the original series’ premise but shifts the action from Los Angeles to the Pacific Northwest, trading city beats for rural isolation and high-stakes unpredictability.
Hawley — who created, writes, and showruns The Rookie — will write and direct the pilot. He also executive produces alongside Rookie star Nathan Fillion, Mark Gordon, Bill Norcross, and Michelle Chapman. Ellis will produce in addition to leading the cast. The drama is co-produced by Lionsgate Television, Hulu, and 20th Television.
Scheduling Ellis was a puzzle piece on its own. The in-demand actor is juggling multiple roles, including Hulu’s upcoming comedy Not Suitable For Work, where he’s a series regular, and Netflix’s Running Point, where he recurs. Should The Rookie: North get ordered to series, Ellis is expected to continue working across both projects.
This marks ABC’s second drama pilot this season, following RJ Decker starring Scott Speedman. The network also ordered comedy pilot Do You Want Kids? starring Rachel Bloom and Rory Scovel.
Ellis — an NAACP Image Award winner for Insecure — is coming off strong turns in Peacock’s All Her Fault and Netflix’s Running Point. His film credits include Top Gun: Maverick and Freaky Tales.
Meanwhile, Hawley continues to expand the franchise he built. The Rookie returns for its eighth season on Jan. 6, 2026. If The Rookie: North moves forward, it would become the second official spinoff, following The Rookie: Feds starring Niecy Nash-Betts, which aired for one season in 2023.
The franchise may be heading north, but the ambition behind it remains the same — building grounded, character-driven police dramas that explore what it means to start over when life forces your hand.