Following the cancellation ofThe Rookie: Feds, Alexi Hawley has another spinoff ofThe Rookiein development (titledThe Rookie North), andABC is currently casting the upcoming show’s lead actor.I would be over the moon if the network picked one of eight specific actors. Of course, many talented TV actors would be good for the job, but some would work better than others.
ABC is holdingThe Rookieseason 8 for midseason, meaning it won’t premiere until early 2026. As forThe Rookie North, the offshoot is still in the early stages of development. If ABC orders it to series, it probably won’t air until late 2026 at the earliest.
The good news is that we already have an idea of what ABC is looking for. According toTVLine, ABC is describing the upcomingRookiespinoff’s protagonist as someone (potentially) named Alex, who isin his 40s or 50s and “a former overachiever who becomes a rookie cop after his life did not go as planned.“Many actors could fit that mold, but only a few could thrive in it.
8Joshua Jackson
Date Of Birth: June 02, 2025
In the wake ofDoctor Odyssey’s “cancellation,“Joshua Jackson is a free agent.His medical drama series (which was more akin to a soap opera) has tentatively ended after one season, as ABC didn’t decide its status before the cast’s options expired. As such, Jackson, who is 47 years old, could realistically joinThe Rookiespinoff in the lead role as a middle-aged rookie.
From Dr. Max Bankman inDoctor Odysseyto Peter Bishop inFringeand Pacey Witter inDawson’s Creek, Jackson has played numerous iconic and diverse characters on memorable shows.
Jackson is a TV actor through and through. From Dr. Max Bankman inDoctor Odysseyto Peter Bishop inFringeandPacey Witter inDawson’s Creek, Jackson has played numerous iconic and diverse characters on memorable shows. He would undoubtedly bethe perfect fit to serve as the face ofThe Rookie North.And the timing couldn’t be more perfect, givenDoctor Odyssey’s cancellation.
7Peter Krause
Date Of Birth: August 11, 2025
Similar to Joshua Jackson,Peter Krause is also no longer tied to a network TV series(spoilers forBobby Nash’s fate in9-1-1season 8ahead). Krause exited the ABC procedural drama9-1-1in 2025 after being a part of the cast since its first season. His character, Bobby, tragically died. Now, Krause is free to work on any other project, includingThe Rookie North.
Krause, who is 59 years old, has a history with ABC,having worked on multiple TV shows for the network. So, he already has an in regarding the upcomingRookiespinoff. Krause is also no stranger to procedurals and is a fantastic actor.The Rookie Northwould be lucky to have Krause as their leading man.
6Jesse L. Martin
Date Of Birth: June 26, 2025
Jesse L. Martin is another veteran TV actor who has recently joined the free agents club,opening the door for him to get cast on the newRookiespinoff.NBC canceled Martin’s crime dramaThe Irrationalin May 2025 after two seasons. Although the show’s ending is disappointing, it could also be a great opportunity for Martin to join a different TV series.
The Irrational
Alec Mercer
Martin is 56 years old and known for his roles onLaw & Order,The Flash, andThe Irrational. All these characters were in law enforcement or tied to law enforcement in some way, meaningMartin has a lot of experience working on police procedurals.Plus, he’s a renowned actor whose expertise could helpThe Rookieuniversecontinue to flourish.
5Mark-Paul Gosselaar
Date Of Birth: July 19, 2025
Mark-Paul Gosselaar first rose to prominence via his starring role asZack Morris inSaved by the Bell. In recent years, though, Gosselaar (who is 51) has been making a bit of a comeback. He’s starred in shows such asThe Passage,Mixed-ish,Will Trent, andFound. Now thatNBC has canceledFound,perhaps he can make the jump to ABC and play the leading role in theRookiespinoff.
Like many other actors on this list, Gosselaar is a recent free agent. His schedule is seemingly open, andit’s time for him to reclaim his rightful role as one of TV’s leading men.Aside from his talent, Gosselaar would be a great pick forThe Rookie Northbecause of his name alone. The offshoot would likely gain more viewers if Gosselaar were attached to it.
4Omar Epps
Date Of Birth: June 12, 2025
It’s hard to believe, butOmar Epps (who is 51) has never been the face of a network TV series.Sure, he has been a part of the main cast in various noteworthy shows, but Epps has never been the one to lead one. Many will recognize Epps asDr. Eric Foreman inHouse. Or more recently, some might know the actor as Detective Malcolm Howard inPower Book III: Raising Kanan.
The Rookie Northis set to take place in Washington state.
Whatever the case, Epps' talent is clear, but it’s never been showcased in a leading role. That could change if he gets cast as thenew rookie inThe Rookie North. Given his talent and the fact that he has experience working on both police procedurals and network TV series,ABC would be wise to consider Epps for theRookiespinoff.
3Randall Park
Date Of Birth: July 30, 2025
If ABC is looking for an actor with comedic undertones, Randall Park should be considered to portray “Alex” inThe Rookie North.Park, who is 51 years old, is actually more known for his comedic roles.However, that doesn’t mean that he can’t play serious characters. ABC could get the best of both worlds with Park.
Ant-Man and the Wasp
Peter “Pete” Doheny (voice)
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
The Residence
Edwin Park
IfThe Rookie Northis anything likeThe Rookie, it will infuse some comedy into its storylines. Consequently,Park’s iconic performance as Asian Jim inThe Office, as Agent Jimmy Woo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and so much more would make himthe perfect fit for the upcomingRookieoffshoot.The only downside is that his role as James Moriarty inWatsonmight conflict with the spinoff.
2Walton Goggins
Date Of Birth: June 04, 2025
In the wake of hisperformance inThe White Lotusseason 3,Walton Goggins is a hot commodity as of late.So, perhaps wishing for him to play the protagonist inThe Rookie Northis asking for too much, but it’s certainly not impossible. Goggins is a TV actor, after all, and he could very well make the jump to network TV viaThe Rookiespinoff.
Goggins, who is 53 years old, is also known for his roles in FX series such asThe ShieldandJustified. Meanwhile, some might recognize him fromthe HBO showsVice PrincipalsandThe Righteous Gemstonesor the Amazon Prime Video post-apocalyptic dramaFallout. As anyone can see,Goggins has range.So, what’s stopping him from joining the cast ofThe Rookie North?
1Milo Ventimiglia
Date Of Birth: July 10, 2025
AfterThis Is Usendedin 2022, Milo Ventimiglia (who is currently 47 years old) played the leading role in the ABC dramaThe Company You Keep. Unfortunately, the network canceled the series after only one season. So, since then,Ventimiglia has yet to return to network TV.However, maybe that could change if ABC brings him back forThe Rookie North.
Ventimiglia has the talent, experience, and range that would make him the ideal choiceto leadthe cast ofThe Rookieoffshoot. The fact that he isn’t already back on TV is a shame. The good news is that Alexi Hawley and co. could change that if they hire Ventimiglia to star as the new rookie in the upcomingRookies spinoff.
