The Rookie will add two new rookie characters ahead of season 7

The Rookie has an interesting dilemma. The hook of the show is that John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) was the oldest rookie to join the Los Angeles Police Department. The further the show goes on, though, the less applicable the term rookie becomes.

Nolan is a veteran at this point, which is why the show saw fit to bring it newcomer Celina (Lisseth Chavez) so that Nolan could serve as a mentor to another rookie. The dilemma, though, then gets kicked down the line when Celina sticks around for too long.

The Rookie will bring in new cops for Nolan to mentor

One can only be a rookie so long before the terms ceases to apply. Which is why showrunner Alexi Hawley has found a new solution. He told TV Line that he plans to bring in two new characters in the upcoming season, so that Celina can move on and the show's premise can continue to hold up.

"We’re looking at the end of Celina’s 13 months, so to speak," Hawley told the outlet. He then went on to explain that multiple rookies are being considered, which is something that the show has never attempted before:

"At some point in the [coming] season... I think it’s fair to say that there might be a new rookie or two showing up at some point."

The Rookie will return in January 2025

The Rookie has already been renewed for a seventh season, unlike its spinoff, The Rookie: Feds, which was canceled after only one season. The show will feature 18 episodes, which means it will be back on track after the strike-shortened season 6.

The only thing is, we don't know when it's coming back. NBC has already released its fall lineup, but The Rookie, along with Will Trent, were nowhere to be found. According to Craig Erwich the president of Disney Television Group, both shows are going to be help up for midseason, which means they will likely premiere some time in January 2025.