ABC has renewed its hit crime drama The Rookie for a sixth season. The announcement of the renewal for the series starring Nathan Fillion (Castle, Firefly) comes two weeks ahead of the show’s season five finale which is set to air on May 2, via The Hollywood Reporter.
The Rookie is an American police procedural crime drama television series created by Alexi Hawley (The Recruit, Exorcist: The Beginning) for ABC. The series follows John Nolan, a man in his forties, who becomes the oldest rookie at the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). The series is produced by ABC Signature and Entertainment One. It is based on real-life LAPD officer William Norcross, who moved to Los Angeles in 2015 and joined the department in his mid-40s.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the show has consistently had decent ratings, but saw its numbers rise when it moved to a Tuesday night air time. Additionally, the show’s same-day audience has grown substantially by thirty-one percent compared to its fall average, when it aired on Sundays. The Tuesday episodes have improved the 8 p.m. Tuesday spot by forty percent in total viewers and seventeen percent in adults ages eighteen to forty nine over the same time frame last year. Multiplatform ratings have also risen over last season.
Along with Fillion, The Rookie stars Mekia Cox (If Not Now, When?), Alyssa Diaz (Narcos: Mexico), Richard T. Jones (A Question of Faith), Melissa O’Neil (A Simple Favor), Eric Winter (Witches of East End), Shawn Ashmore (The Following, X2), Jenna Dewan (Witches of East End, The Wedding Year) and Tru Valentino (Fast & Furious Spy Racers). Entertainment One produces the series with ABC Signature. Series creator Alexi Hawley executive produces with Fillion, Mark Gordon (Cowboy Ninja Viking), Michelle Chapman (Everything I Ever Wanted to Tell My Daughter About Men) and Jon Steinberg (Really Me).