John Nolan and his fellow LAPD officers will return for another year, as ABC has renewed the police drama The Rookie for an eighth season. The show remains a steady part of the network’s programming.
Here’s the Lowdown: ABC announced the renewal for the 2025-26 season via social media. The current seventh season, comprising 18 episodes, will finish its run next month. The series stars Nathan Fillion as John Nolan, who joined the LAPD later in life, alongside Mekia Cox, Alyssa Diaz, Richard T. Jones, Melissa O’Neil, Eric Winter, Jenna Dewan, Shawn Ashmore, and Lisseth Chavez.
What This Means Now: The renewal confirms The Rookie’s status as a dependable drama for ABC. Despite a slight dip in ratings compared to the previous season (down 8% in the 18-49 demo, 4% in total viewers based on Live+Same Day figures including DVR playback), the show continues to draw a consistent audience, ensuring its continuation.
The Bigger Picture: Led by Nathan Fillion, The Rookie has successfully evolved beyond its initial fish-out-of-water premise into a solid ensemble police procedural. Its ability to maintain viewership levels contributes to its longevity on the network schedule. ABC is anticipated to release its full fall schedule in the coming weeks.
