After news of its straight-to-series order some time back, ABC has officially picked up the Nathan Fillion series, The Rookie and has also released the first teaser for the show.
The Rookie is inspired by a true story. Fillion plays John Nolan, the oldest rookie in the LAPD. Starting over isn’t easy, especially for small-town guy John Nolan who, after a life-altering incident, is pursuing his dream of being an LAPD officer. As the force’s oldest rookie, he’s met with skepticism from some higher-ups who see him as just a walking midlife crisis. If he can’t keep up with the young cops and the criminals, he’ll be risking lives including his own. But if he can use his life experience, determination and sense of humor to give him an edge, he may just become a success in this new chapter of his life.
The series also stars Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez, Richard T. Jones as Sergeant Wade Grey, Titus Makin as Jackson West, Mercedes Mason as Captain Zoe Andersen, Melissa O’Neil as Lucy Chen, Afton Williamson as Talia Bishop and Eric Winter as Tim Bradford.
ABC nabbed the pitch for the series in October from the Mark Gordon Company with a straight-to-series order. (The MGC has since been fully acquired by eOne, with Gordon becoming eOne’s President and CCO). But like the previous star-driven Mark Gordon project with a straight-to-series commitment, drama Designated Survivor, toplined by Kiefer Sutherland, ABC still had the right to make a final decision after seeing the pilot. Apparently, the pilot has franchise potential, which is something ABC and many networks are seeking because they sell well into syndication.
