’The Rookie’s Second Spin-Off Officially Sets 2027 Release Date

There are very few network television franchises that have enjoyed quite as much staying power as The Rookie, with Nathan Fillion spending the better part of a decade proving that it’s never too late to start a new career in law enforcement. The ABC police procedural has built an enormously loyal audience since its 2018 debut, combining high-stakes investigations with the personal lives of its ever-expanding ensemble. And while the franchise has already experimented with expanding beyond the original series, its next chapter is taking audiences somewhere completely different. This time, the action is moving away from Los Angeles, with another familiar television star preparing to put on the uniform.

ABC has officially confirmed that The Rookie: North, the upcoming spin-off starring Jay Ellis, will premiere Wednesday, January 6, 2027, at 10 p.m. ET. The new series will debut immediately after the Season 9 premiere of The Rookie, which returns at 9 p.m., giving the franchise a two-hour block on ABC’s newly announced midseason schedule. The evening will begin with the two-episode Season 3 premiere of Tim Allen‘s Shifting Gears at 8 p.m.