ABC’s “The Rookie” returns in January 2027, maintaining its mid-season network reign. While Season 9 will welcome at least one new rookie—maybe more—we can’t help but wonder what it takes to join the ranks. Inspired by a true story, the procedural proves it’s never too late for a second act. Want to get in on the action? Here’s everything we know about getting cast on “The Rookie.”
JUMP TO
- What is “The Rookie” about?
- Who is in the cast of “The Rookie”?
- Who are the casting directors for “The Rookie”?
- How does the casting process work for “The Rookie”?
- When does filming for “The Rookie” Season 9 start?
- Where can you find “The Rookie” casting calls and auditions?
- What are the best audition tips for landing a role on “The Rookie”?
John Nolan (Fillion), once the LAPD’s oldest rookie, now draws on his experience, determination, and sense of humor to guide the next generation of officers through the challenges of police work. Like other police procedurals, “The Rookie” also follows the characters’ personal and professional lives.
Spoiler alert: The Season 8 finale blurred those lines in dramatic fashion as longtime duo Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil) and Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) were abducted moments after their romantic sunset engagement. With their lives on the line, this situation will test the couple and their colleagues as they race toward happily ever after in Season 9.
Season 8 of “The Rookie” featured:
- Nathan Fillion as John Nolan
- Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper
- Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez
- Richard T. Jones as Wade Grey
- Melissa O’Neil as Lucy Chen
- Eric Winter as Tim Bradford
- Shawn Ashmore as Wesley Evers
- Lisseth Chavez as Celina Juarez
- Deric Augustine as Miles Penn
- Felix Solis as Matthew Garza
- Jenna Dewan as Bailey Nune
Dewan’s future with the series was called into question when she joined the Season 35 cast of “Dancing With the Stars,” but ABC is allowing her to work on both shows. “I’m doing both at the same time. They’re being amazing. They’re all so excited for this opportunity,” she said. “I’m gonna be slightly insane going in between filming ‘The Rookie’ and coming here and doing the shows, but it’s all exciting. I’m here for the challenge, and the best people in the world are working it out.”
We can also confirm Bridget Regan won’t be returning as Monica Stevens. Spoiler alert: She met an unfortunate fate at the end of Season 8. And while no official casting news has been announced, at least one new rookie will join the mix in Season 9, as Augustine’s character officially graduated, leaving a void.
Casting for the series is led by Robert J. Ulrich (“9-1-1,” “Grey’s Anatomy”), Carol Kritzer (“All Rise,” “Station 19”), and Rory Schleifstein (“Big Sky,” “Generation”) of Ulrich/Dawson/Kritzer Casting.
Disney/Mike Taing
Fresh off his run in the titular role of “Castle,” Fillion joined ABC’s new series, “The Rookie,” sight unseen. “It was the pitch,” he told the Hollywood Reporter ahead of the series premiere. “You want a character you feel you can serve—you can serve the character, serve the story. Being in the business as long as I have, I’ve broadened my scope. And the core idea of the show, it has to be something strong enough to carry it a number of years. You want the potential for more. You don’t want to hit a roadblock where you’ve run out of stories because our engine isn’t built that way.”
“This one has an engine,” Fillion added. “[John Nolan] is literally starting his life over, from scratch. He has an incredible history behind him, but he’s starting everything brand new. It’s a very attractive prospect that people can relate to.”
Fillion also became involved in casting the show from the start. “I was there for all of it. I’ve been involved in casting before, but I’ve never seen it go so smoothly. We had our ability to pick and choose from everybody because we were the first pilot to start casting. We had a head start, which worked in our favor. We were very particular in what we wanted,” he added. “The worst problem we encountered was we had two people we thought were phenomenal, but they weren’t right for the role,” Fillion noted, though he refused to specify which parts. “So we simply changed the roles so they would fit the people we had. Just a little flip.”
Winter revealed he had to prove he was right for the role of Tim Bradford “I was told by a lot of people that I wasn’t right for it. Too nice. Not enough edge,” he told 26 Magazine. Instead, he used those critiques to his advantage. “I just thought, all right—then I’m going to show you something completely different.” Winter returned with an entirely different demeanor, walking into the room without greeting anyone. Winter simply performed the scene, threw the sides in the garbage when he was through, and left the room. “They came out after me like, ‘Are you okay?’ I was like, Yeah guys… It’s acting. It felt bigger than me,” he explained. “Like I wasn’t even myself anymore.” Winter’s approach worked, as he’s entering his ninth season with the series.
Filming for Season 9 began in July 2026, with an expected mid-season two-part premiere in January 2027.
The series also has a spinoff, “The Rookie: North,” in the works. Production began in Vancouver in August 2026, with an expected wrap date of November 2026. The new show will also premiere on ABC in January. Jay Ellis stars as Alex Holland, a middle-aged man inspired to join the Pierce County Police Department in Washington State after a home invasion awakens a new purpose within him.
Because the show’s regular and recurring roles typically start through an actor’s representation, you’ll want someone who can advocate for your talent. Here’s how to get an acting agent if you don’t have one yet.
Another way to get your foot in the door is with background work. “The Rookie” regularly casts extras via Central Casting. New to background work? These guides will help you prepare:
- How to Audition for Background Work
- Background Acting 101: What It Takes to Be an Extra
- How to Become an Extra in a Movie or TV Show
Don’t let the show’s name fool you: Its actors are anything but newcomers to the business. And their experience comes with great advice:
Develop relationships for long-term success. Not landing a role you auditioned for might feel like failure, but as Fillion told us, each interaction lets you cultivate relationships that can become fruitful over time. That consistency could be your key to success.
“You understand your job as an actor is to audition. Your job is to go out there and look for work,” Fillion explained. “…I’ve auditioned more times than I can possibly remember, I’ve done more scenes in more offices and shed so many tears, it’s ridiculous. But I know now that it’s not about that one role or that one audition. The chances of you getting a part are slim to none. Then you get one. It’s a game of numbers. In the meantime, you’re developing relationships. You’re showing a casting director that if he or she pulls me into an office to audition, I can deliver, I will be pleasant, and I can take direction. So when another thing comes up, they know they can count on me.”
Allow yourself to embrace each moment. While Solis recognizes his perspective isn’t conventional, he believes there’s no greater way to study or prepare for your next chance than to enroll in the school of life.
“I believe that acting cannot be taught in any scholastic education setting. I’m a firm believer that life is the most important instructor for actors,” Solis told Digital Journal. “If we allow ourselves to be open and receptive, observant, and studious as we move through life, we will amass all the necessary references we need to portray a character honestly and truthfully. If one does not have a reference for any given moment in a scene, one must find one in their own experience and use it to make the moment as real as possible.”
Don’t let doubt derail your progress. Believe it or not, Winter almost gave up on his acting career. In fact, he admitted to stepping away from the business in his early/mid-20s. However, he regrets letting doubt and rejection distract him from opportunities to expand his résumé, even if only briefly.
“The early rejection and struggles were tough. It took me time to realize that not every job is meant for me and you need a lot of patience in this business. I became better for it, but I did miss out on some potential early pivotal career moments,” Winter told GMARO Magazine. “I would tell [my younger self] to be patient and be in the moment. Celebrate the small wins just as much as the big ones. Get out of your comfort zone and believe in yourself,” he added. “A no will eventually lead to a yes if you just put your head down with confidence and continue doing the work.”
