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The Rookie showrunner explains why Rookie: Feds was canceled

Alexi Hawley sheds light on why the spinoff was scrapped.

By Danilo Castro

THE ROOKIE: FEDS - ÒThe OfferÓ Ð When a billionaireÕs daughter goes missing, he publicly announces a hefty reward for her safe return, sparking concern for the FBI. Meanwhile, GarzaÕs ex-wife makes a surprise appearance and shakes things up with the team, TUESDAY, JAN. 31 (9:00-10:00 p.m. EST), on ABC. (ABC/Raymond Liu) NIECY NASH-BETTS
THE ROOKIE: FEDS - ÒThe OfferÓ Ð When a billionaireÕs daughter goes missing, he publicly announces a hefty reward for her safe return, sparking concern for the FBI. Meanwhile, GarzaÕs ex-wife makes a surprise appearance and shakes things up with the team, TUESDAY, JAN. 31 (9:00-10:00 p.m. EST), on ABC. (ABC/Raymond Liu) NIECY NASH-BETTS /
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The Rookie is still going strong, but The Rookie: Feds was not able to make the grade. The anticipated spinoff was canceled by ABC after only one season, despite drawing increasingly higher viewership during its last run of episodes.

Alexi Hawley, the showrunner for the original show, recently talked about the cancelation with Deadline, and he revealed that the decision was two-fold on ABC's part. In one sense, it was due to the writers and actors strike that occurred in 2023, but in another, it was a business decision that may have been carried out independent of the strike.

The Rookie: Feds cancelation was a 'business decision'

NIECY NASH-BETTS, JAMES LESURE
THE ROOKIE: FEDS - ÒRed OneÓ - After an internal investigation unit agent is drugged and buried alive in a desert outside of Vegas, the Feds director enlists GarzaÕs unit to discreetly investigate. Meanwhile, SimoneÕs plans for her 49th birthday bash are sidelined. TUESDAY, MAY 2 (9:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC. (ABC/Christopher Willard) NIECY NASH-BETTS, JAMES LESURE /

"It's a bigger conversation than that," Hawley noted, when asked about the impact that the strikes had on The Rookie: Feds. He asserted that the decision to cancel the show was not made on the grounds of artistry, or lack of creative storytelling, but rather bad timing:

"I do feel it was not a creative decision. It was a business decision. I can’t argue with that. I’m not running anything."

The Rookie: Feds was one of several shows that were canceled in the aftermath of the strike, and Hawley looks upon the show as a "casualty" of the negotiations and strides that had to be made between the writers, actors and the studios.

The Rookie: Feds was impacted by Hollywood strikes

JUANI FELIZ, NIECY NASH-BETTS
THE ROOKIE: FEDS - ÒSeeing RedÓ - After a group of robbers steal a diplomatic pouch, Naomi and the Feds work to prevent an international counterfeit scandal. While Garza reconnects with an old friend, BrendonÕs sponsor relapses, and he rethinks his relationship with Antoinette. TUESDAY, MARCH 21 (9:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC. (ABC/Raymond Liu) JUANI FELIZ, NIECY NASH-BETTS /

That being said, Hawley is optimistic about the future of the franchise. He made a point of noting that The Rookie managed to avoid cancelation, despite running into the same rough patch of production delays as its spinoff, and that ABC has been very helpful in getting the show back on track:

"ABC has been nothing but supportive about The Rookie. Again, The Rookie: Feds was an unfortunate casualty, more of a casualty of the whole process."

Nathan Fillion, the star of The Rookie, also talked about the cancelation of Rookie: Feds during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. Like Hawley, Fillion was disappointed by the cancelation, but also saw it as a reminder of how difficult the TV world can be, and how thankful he is to still be going strong with the main show:

"I think if anything, it made us all more grateful to see how fragile this industry is. It was sobering knowing it could’ve been any of us."

The Rookie is currently airing its seventh season on ABC.

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