The Creator of ‘The Rookie’ Hints at Potential Crossover Episodes in New Spinoff ‘North’ – First One Already Filmed
With ABC’s upfront presentation just ten days away, the network is poised to make a decision regarding its drama pilot The Rookie: North within the week. The spinoff remains a strong candidate following ABC’s recent decision to pass on another pilot, the comedy Do You Want Kids? earlier this week, a common practice among broadcast networks before finalizing pickups.
A significant aspect of The Rookie: North is its potential for crossover episodes with the original series, The Rookie, which stars Nathan Fillion and has been renewed for a ninth season. Crossover events have proven effective in driving viewership, evident from ABC’s successful engagements with Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19, as well as the crossover between The Rookie and its former spinoff, The Rookie: Feds. Additionally, 9-1-1 and 9-1-1: Nashville executed a crossover this season.
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If The Rookie: North receives the green light, viewers can anticipate crossover storylines, according to the show’s creator, executive producer, and showrunner Alexi Hawley. The pilot already features Fillion reprising his role as John Nolan, from the original series, as he also serves as one of the spinoff’s executive producers.
While The Rookie is filmed in Los Angeles, The Rookie: North is set in the Pacific Northwest and will be filmed in Vancouver. The previous spinoff, The Rookie: Feds, also took place in Los Angeles.
“I think ultimately it was less important for the network that that be a factor in, like a certain number a season which I think freezes up to a certain extent, we don’t have to do that, but I’m looking for ways to cross over in both directions; honestly, I think you have to do that,” Hawley remarked. “I don’t think it’ll be a multitude a season, but I think maybe a couple episodes, or two or three episodes a season. You find a storyline that crosses over, it would be kind of fun.”
The Rookie: North follows the story of Alex Holland (Ellis), who initially dismisses his mid-life as crisis-free. However, a violent home invasion prompts him to confront a lifetime of unfulfilled commitments by joining the Pierce County Police Department as its oldest rookie.
Ellis has also expressed support for the pilot, granting it his endorsement.
