According to sources from Deadline, ABC is working on a second spinoff of its hit procedural drama The Rookie, this time staying within the cop show genre. The project, currently in early development, is being written by The Rookie creator and showrunner Alexi Hawley (The Recruit, The Following) in partnership with Lionsgate Television and 20th Television.

Set in Washington state, the new series will follow a male officer navigating a significant life transition in his “second act.” The concept aligns with the original series, which features Nathan Fillion (Castle) as John Nolan, the LAPD’s oldest rookie, undergoing a major career change. Hawley will serve as an executive producer alongside Fillion, Bill Norcross (The Rookie: Feds)—whose real-life experiences inspired The Rookie—and Michelle Chapman (Everything I Ever Wanted to Tell My Daughter About Men). Lionsgate Television and 20th Television will co-produce the spinoff.

The timing for the expansion is particularly favorable as The Rookie heads into its seventh season on January 7. The series remains a top performer on both ABC and Hulu, where its viewership among younger audiences has surged. Earlier this year, Disney Television Group President Craig Erwich revealed that The Rookie had generated over 500 million streaming hours on Hulu since its 2018 debut, with nearly half of that viewership occurring in the past year. “Fans are still discovering that show and will continue for years to come,” Erwich noted, highlighting its lasting appeal.

This new project originated from a blind script commitment ABC gave Hawley earlier this year. The approach differs from The Rookie: Feds, the franchise’s first spinoff, which launched via a backdoor pilot during The Rookie’s 2021-22 season. Starring Emmy winner Niecy Nash-Betts (Monsters, Reno 911!) as Simone Clark, the FBI Academy’s oldest rookie, The Rookie: Feds was canceled after one season, partly due to the 2023 Hollywood strikes.

Lionsgate, which acquired The Rookie producer eOne in late 2023, has since extended Hawley’s overall deal, prioritizing the growth of The Rookie franchise. Hawley is also the creator and executive producer of Netflix’s The Recruit, which returns for its second season on January 30.