ABC Expands Scripted Lineup for 2026: What to Expect in Pilot Buzz
In a positive turn for the broadcasting sector amid ongoing concerns of industry contraction, ABC is set to expand its original scripted programming for the second consecutive year.
The network is anticipated to move forward with at least one of its two pilot projects, alongside renewing all existing scripted series.
A favorable contender for a series order is the spinoff pilot The Rookie: North, featuring Jay Ellis. This project diverges from the path taken with The Rookie: Feds, which started as a two-episode arc in the original series. Instead, The Rookie: North presents a standalone pilot filmed in February, set in the rural forests of Pierce County, focusing on a middle-aged rookie cop.
Insiders have reported a positive reception for the pilot during network screenings, and discussions regarding its future are underway.
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“It came out great,” said a source involved with the project. “The network seems super-happy with it. You never know until you know, but we have a really amazing cast led by Jay Ellis. It was a joy to make that with him and the rest of the team. I’m hopeful and optimistic that we could be discussing this soon.”
While The Rookie: North shows promise, the response to ABC’s comedy pilot, the Sliding Doors-style Do You Want Kids?, co-written by and starring Rachel Bloom, has been more mixed. The potential for this single-camera project, which depicts a married couple (Bloom and Rory Scovel) navigating parallel realities of parenthood, stands at an uncertain 50-50.
Co-created and executive produced by Bloom and Dan Gregor, Do You Want Kids? hails from 20th Television, while The Rookie: North is produced by Lionsgate Television in association with 20th TV.
Even if only one pilot secures a series order, ABC is positioned to add at least one scripted series to its 2026-27 lineup, enhancing its programming beyond the previous year’s slate.
Last year, ABC introduced three new scripted series for the 2025-26 season, including the already renewed 9-1-1: Nashville, alongside R.J. Decker and a revival of Scrubs. The network did not return two series: Doctor Odyssey and The Conners, resulting in a net gain of one drama.
The Rookie: North could similarly serve as a net addition to the coming year’s schedule. However, as the broadcast industry does not operate at the levels of the 1990s and 2000s when revenue was high, ABC may need to reduce episode orders for some returning shows to accommodate any new series. Nevertheless, the potential benefits of a new show could outweigh the impacts of these reductions, offering employment to a full cast, writers, and crew.
Amid the ongoing turmoil surrounding the Bachelor franchise, the landscape may allow for additional opportunities, which could further free up resources within the programming budget for the upcoming season.
