Two veteran ABC shows have locked in their places on the 2026-27 schedule.
The network has renewed dramas The Rookie and Will Trent for next season. The pickups ensure a ninth season for The Rookie, starring Nathan Fillion, and a fifth season for Will Trent, which stars Ramón Rodriguez.
The renewals don’t come as a big surprise, as both shows have performed well for ABC. With a week of cross-platform viewing (primarily on Hulu), The Rookie and Will Trent each average more than 8 million viewers per episode, and both shows rank in the top 15 network entertainment series among adults 18-49. The Rookie in particular gets a huge boost to its 18-49 rating from streaming, often seeing a sixfold increase over its initial on-air total.
The Rookie is produced by Lionsgate Television in association with 20th TV. Fillion stars with Mekia Cox, Alyssa Diaz, Richard T. Jones, Melissa O’Neil, Eric Winter, Jenna Dewan, Shawn Ashmore, Lisseth Chavez and Deric Augustine. Series creator Alexi Hawley executive produces with Mark Gordon, Fillion, Michelle Chapman, Bill Norcross, Brynn Malone, Moira Kirland, Bill Roe and Jon Steinberg.
ABC has also ordered a pilot for a spinoff of The Rookie. Titled The Rookie: North, it stars Jay Ellis as the oldest rookie in a Washington state police department.
Along with Rodriguez, Will Trent stars Erika Christensen, Iantha Richardson, Jake McLaughlin, Kevin Daniels and Sonja Sohn. The series from 20th is based on novels by Karin Slaughter. Showrunners Liz Heldens, Daniel Thomsen and Karine Rosenthal executive produce with Karin Slaughter, Oly Obst, Jason Ensler, Ellen Marie Blum and Rodriguez.
The Rookie and Will Trent join 911, 911: Nashville, Abbott Elementary, Grey’s Anatomy and High Potential on ABC’s scripted roster for 2026-27. Keep track of all the network renewals, cancellations and new series orders with THR’s 2026 broadcast scorecard.
