‘The Rookie’ Season 8 Gets Major Schedule Change: When Will It Air?
There’s a major change for The Rookie Season 8, which picked up with the LAPD working a case in Prague alongside Monica (Bridget Regan) as part of her immunity deal, which will continue throughout the season, as showrunner Alexi Hawley told TV Insider. On Wednesday, January 14, ABC announced a big shift in the schedule.
After airing Tuesdays at 10/9c for its first three episodes (through January 19), it will move nights starting with the fourth episode. Beginning on January 26, it will air Mondays at 10/9c, following the season premiere of American Idol. With that, the remaining 15 episodes of the season will air without any interruptions. (New drama RJ Decker will be airing in that Tuesday slot starting in March.)
What else do we know about The Rookie Season 8? What’s the latest cast change (someone’s been promoted!)? Read on for all of those details and more.
When does The Rookie Season 8 episodes air?
The Rookie returned with its Season 8 premiere on Tuesday, January 6, at 10/9c. Starting with Episode 4 on January 26, it will air Mondays at 10/9c.
Who is in The Rookie Season 8 cast?
The Season 8 cast consists of Nathan Fillion as John Nolan, Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper, Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez, Richard T. Jones as Sergeant Wade Grey, Melissa O’Neil as Lucy Chen, Eric Winter as Tim Bradford, Jenna Dewan as Bailey Nune, Shawn Ashmore as Wesley Evers, Lisseth Chavez as Celina Juarez, and Deric Augustine as Miles Penn.
How did The Rookie Season 7 end?
The Season 7 finale ended with the shocking reveal that Monica made a deal in exchange for immunity after she got her hands on classified intel.
Meanwhile, Oscar (Matthew Glave) remains at large, having escaped after kidnapping Nolan. But the good news: Tim and Lucy are so close to getting back together. He started talking to her about moving in together, only to realize the new sergeant had fallen asleep after working the night shift.
What is The Rookie Season 8 about?
With her deal in place, Monica “will definitely play a part in Season 8,” Hawley told TV Insider after the finale. We’re seeing how they’re playing with that in Season 8 with the new task force that Grey is now part of, following The Rookie Feds‘ Garza (Felix Solis) recruiting him.
As for Chenford, Lucy and Tim not only got back together in the premiere but they also moved in together as well. As we saw in Episode 2, they’ve figured out a way to balance their home and work lives.
Is The Rookie Season 8 filming?
Yes! On July 2, Melissa O’Neil shared a behind-the-scenes look as they were “ramping for season 8,” adding, “Still a few days out till I’m back on set but we’re getting ready.” Then, on Monday, July 7, Deric Augustine revealed that filming on Season 8 has started, sharing photos and a video. See them below.
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Day one darling 👮🏾♂️🤠 #TheRookie pic.twitter.com/uSkPjhJwc2
— Deric Augustine (@DericAugustine) July 7, 2025
Howdy 👋🏾 👮🏾♂️🤠 @therookie pic.twitter.com/O0Af6lkGws
— Deric Augustine (@DericAugustine) July 7, 2025
The dynamic duo is back @brenthuff11 @therookie #TheRookie #Miles #Smitty pic.twitter.com/vlcZf4WGPQ
— Deric Augustine (@DericAugustine) July 7, 2025
Is there a The Rookie Season 8 trailer?
Yes, and you can watch it above. It offers a look at the dangers coming up this season back in Los Angeles, including moments that have us worried for Nyla and Angela. And then there’s the matter of Nolan asking about transferring after Bailey is offered a job in D.C. If he did, he’d have to start at the bottom.
#TheRookie takes on a world of new challenges in this Official Trailer! 🌍 Tuesday, January 6 on ABC, get ready for a season premiere with explosive action, unexpected alliances, and cases that stretch across continents. Stream on Hulu. pic.twitter.com/8Vz0PQjZvf
— The Rookie (@therookie) December 16, 2025
Is there going to be another Rookie spinoff?
Possibly! In December 2024, there was one announced to be in the works, and in November 2025, Jay Ellis was cast in the lead role. It has yet to be ordered to series.
All Alexi Hawley would share when TV Insider asked for an update ahead of the Season 7 finale was, “Just that there’s a script that I’ve been going back and forth with ABC about. They give notes and I do the work and I’m an ever-hopeful human being. And so I would love nothing more than to expand the universe and go make it. So we’ll see. I don’t know. I mean the business right now is a little what it is, but I mean, I remain hopeful. We’ll see what happens.”
In December 2024, this potential new spinoff was described as being set in the state of Washington and following “a male cop who is stepping into a new phase of life in his second act.”
In Hawley’s May 2025 update to TV Insider, he confirmed the plan is for it to be “another patrol show set somewhere else. All I can really say is, I think the magic of Rookie does live in the fact that anytime they get out of their police cars, anything can happen. And I think that that’s something that I would try and replicate in a spinoff.”
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