ABC’s The Rookie returns for its ninth season, with a premiere that will lead into the new spinoff series, The Rookie: North. According to Deadline, ABC shared the premiere date, a teaser, and guest stars featured on both series at a New York Comic Con panel last week.
The crime drama will premiere its ninth season, in a new time slot, on Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 9 p.m. The series premiere of The Rookie: North starring Jay Ellis (Insecure, Somebody I Used to Know) will directly follow at 10 p.m.
Season nine of The Rookie will continue from the shocking twist at the end of the season eight finale. John Nolan, played by Nathan Fillion (Castle, Superman), was sent on a rescue effort after LAPD officers Tim, played by Eric Winter (The Ugly Truth, The Mentalist), and Lucy, played by Melissa O’Neil (Darker Matter, A Simple Favor), had been kidnapped.
Show creator Alexi Hawley (The Recruit, State of Affairs) also shared numerous guest stars that will appear on both The Rookie and The Rookie: North.
Troian Bellisario (On Call, Clara) will guest star on the ninth season of The Rookie as recurring character Stephania Monroe, a single mother in her thirties who decides to start over by pursuing a career in law enforcement.
Dulé Hill (Psych, The West Wing) will guest star as Lt. Hughes. Hughes is a veteran officer with 30 years on the job who struggles to adjust to his new role as Watch Commander due to issues in his personal life. He may step in for Watch Commander Tim Bradford during Bradford’s abduction.
Molly Kunz (The Wolf and the Lion, The Wise Kids) will star as Quinn, an ambitious young woman from a small town who has her mind set on becoming an EMT in Los Angeles.
Additionally, Andy Allo (Upload, Assassin) will guest star on The Rookie: North as Brook, an intelligent and charismatic first-year ER resident who quickly bonds with Ellis’ character, a rookie police officer. An intelligent and charismatic first-year ER resident who quickly bonds with Ellis’ character, a rookie police officer.
Fillian, Winter, and O’Neil are confirmed to appear in The Rookie: North. Multiple crossover episodes are also planned for both series throughout their seasons.
