The Rookie is a franchise again. Spinoff pilot The Rookie: North , starring Jay Ellis , has been picked up to series by ABC just hours before the network is set to unveil its 2026-27 schedule on Tuesday, May 11. I hear the order is for 10 episodes, with the series, from The Rookie creator Alexi Hawley and lead studio Lionsgate Television, expected to premiere in midseason. That will set up crossover opportunities with the mothership series, starring Nathan Fillion, which has a full-season order and will once again premiere in January, I hear. As Deadline revealed last week , that will kick off right off the bat as The Rookie: North pilot features an appearance by Fillion as his Rookie character John Nolan. Fillion also executive produces both series. While the deal between ABC and indie studio Lionsgate TV did not close until Sunday night, a series order for The Rookie: North had looked likely for weeks .…