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The Rookie showrunner reveals big change for season 9 premiere as cliffhanger to last season addressed
The squad is going to face a tricky time as it returns for new episodes later this year.
Disney
- Tilly Pearce
Published: Monday, 27 July 2026 at 3:14 pm
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The Rookie cast have revealed some major updates around season 9 – including its return schedule and what lies ahead after last season’s cliffhanger.
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The popular crime procedural, which airs on Sky Witness in the UK, upped cameras to film the upcoming episodes last week, though Nathan Fillion (the titular rookie John Nolan himself) was missing from the call sheet.
Thankfully, it didn’t take too long for the entire cast to reunite – with the main stars and creative team appearing on stage at San Diego Comic Con this weekend.
Creator Alexi Hawley was joined on stage on the Indigo Ballroom stage by Fillion, Eric Winter (who plays Tim Bradford), Melissa O’Neil (Lucy Chen), Jenna Dewan (Bailey Nune), Deric Augustine (Miles Penn), Lisseth Chavez (Celina Juarez), Richard T Jones (Wade Grey), Shawn Ashmore (Wesley Evers), Mekia Cox (Nyla Harper) and Alyssa Diaz (Angela Lopez) this Saturday.
During the panel discussion, Fillion admitted that he had not yet begun his time on set, but will be joining the team this week.
The cast of The Rookie at San Diego Comic-Con 2026. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
And season 9 will be starting with a bang, with a two-parter special that throws viewers back in the action following a jaw-dropping season finale which aired in May.
In the final scenes of the episode, Tim got down on one knee and proposed to Lucy at sunset on the beach – only for the happy couple to be kidnapped moments later.
“There’s a lot going on,” said Hawley. “I think it’s the best of what we do, it’s incredibly high stakes, dramatic. It’s a love story, it’s funny and unexpected.”
He also confirmed The Rookie will return in January, following a now steadfast release schedule for the series.
Eric Winter and Melissa O'Neil as Tim Bradford and Lucy Chen in The Rookie season 8 finale Mike Taing/Disney via Getty Images
When conversation moved towards the abduction of two fan favourites, those present in the room shared their shock and horror – including O’Neil, who had a starring role in the scene.
“Honestly, when I was reading it the first time it was like, ‘I can’t believe he’s finally giving it to them, I’m in shock,'” she said.
“And then the next moment I was like, ‘See? I knew he wasn’t going to give it to them.’”
“Also, admittedly, my heart went out to everyone who’s deeply invested because I was like, ‘This is gonna be hard,’” she added. “So thank you for being so invested. But I went on the rollercoaster with you guys. It was great.”
The Rookie airs in the UK on Sky Witness and NOW.
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Authors
Tilly PearceFreelance Writer
Tilly Pearce is a freelance TV journalist whose coverage ranges from reality shows like Love Is Blind to sci-fi shows like Fallout. She is an NCTJ Gold Standard accredited journalist, who has previously worked as Deputy TV Editor (maternity cover) at Digital Spy, and Deputy TV & Showbiz Editor at Daily Express US.
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