Although The Rookie won’t return until 2027 following its explosive Season 8 finale, excitement is already building as production on Season 9 gets underway. At the same time, ABC is expanding the franchise with its newest spinoff, The Rookie: North, led by Jay Ellis. While fans have been wondering just how connected the two series will be, creator Alexi Hawley has now confirmed that major crossover events are already in the works—and Nathan Fillion’s John Nolan is only the beginning.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Hawley revealed that bringing together the worlds of The Rookie and The Rookie: North has always been part of the long-term vision. Even though the original series is set in Los Angeles while the new spinoff takes place in Washington state and is filmed in Vancouver, Hawley believes the distance won’t stop the characters from crossing paths.

“There is nothing more exciting than having another child, so to speak, another spinoff,” Hawley said. “They’re wonderful together, and I hope we get to see them together much more in the future.”

Nathan Fillion has already been confirmed to appear in The Rookie: North, where his veteran officer John Nolan will meet Jay Ellis’ new lead character, Alex Holland. While plot details remain under wraps, Hawley admitted he’s especially excited to see the chemistry between the two officers once they finally share the screen.

But Nolan may not be the only familiar face heading north.

Hawley surprised fans by revealing another crossover idea that is already high on his wishlist—and it involves one of the franchise’s most beloved couples.

“I think we need to get Chenford up north at some point during Season 1. Yes, I said it!”

The comment immediately sparked speculation that Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil) and Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) could appear in the new series sooner rather than later.

The timing is particularly interesting given the dramatic ending of The Rookie Season 8. Moments after Tim proposed to Lucy on the beach, the newly engaged couple was suddenly kidnapped, leaving viewers with one of the biggest cliffhangers in the show’s history. Their fate remains unknown heading into Season 9.

However, Hawley’s enthusiasm about bringing Chenford into the spinoff has given many fans hope that both characters will survive whatever danger awaits them when the series returns.

If they do make it out safely, a trip to Washington could provide a fresh start after what promises to be an emotionally exhausting beginning to the new season.

Still, Hawley acknowledged that organizing crossovers between the two series won’t be nearly as simple as it was with The Rookie: Feds. Since that short-lived spinoff was also based in Los Angeles, characters could easily move between the two shows. With The Rookie: North, the logistics are much more complicated.

“It’s definitely harder,” Hawley admitted. “With The Rookie: Feds, we were all in Los Angeles on the same lot, so crossovers happened naturally. This time it’s just a short flight away, but it’s still not something we can do every episode.”

Instead, the creative team plans to make every crossover feel like a special television event rather than a routine occurrence.

“We want the crossovers to have real impact because we can’t do them all the time,” Hawley explained. “But we absolutely intend to connect these two worlds whenever it makes sense.”

For now, fans will have to wait a little longer before seeing those plans unfold. Both The Rookie Season 9 and The Rookie: North are currently expected to premiere during ABC’s midseason schedule in early 2027.

While the wait may be a long one, Hawley’s latest comments suggest that the franchise is preparing its most ambitious interconnected storytelling yet—with John Nolan, Alex Holland, and perhaps even Chenford sharing the spotlight across two different series.