The season finale of The Rookie (Season 8, Episode 18: “The Bandit”) aired nearly five months ago, and you know what? We’re still not over it.

The eighth season concluded (spoilers ahead) on a cliffhanger as Tim (Eric Winter) and Lucy (Melissa O’Neil) were abducted moments after their romantic beach engagement.

“Heath Everett says ‘Payback is a bitch.’”

“We’re so sorry for that,” O’Neil said during the show’s Comic-Con panel back in July, “but also thank you for going along for the ride.”

Back in May, series creator Alexi Hawley told Deadline that Season 9 will begin with the aftermath of the Tim/Lucy abduction.

“We’re definitely gonna start that way, figure out where they are, and figure out how to get them back, and whatever obstacles we can put in their way on that,” Hawley said. “And then seeing Tim and Lucy wherever they are, I don’t think they’re going to sit idly by and wait to be rescued. What does that look like? I don’t know yet, but I’m excited to find out.”

We. Can’t. Wait.

When does the new season of The Rookie start? Here’s when The Rookie Season 9 premieres on ABC and Hulu.

Will There Be a Season 9 of The Rookie?

Yes! Not only will The Rookie be back for Season 9, but a new spinoff, The Rookie: North, will also debut on ABC in 2027.

Starring Jay Ellis and also featuring Janet Montgomery, Karen Fukuhara, Chris Sullivan, Froy Gutierrez, Mya Lowe, and Malik Watson, The Rookie: North centers on Alex Holland (Ellis), a man who joins the Pierce County Police Department after a “violent home invasion ignites a dormant purpose.”

“I knew North being up in the Pacific Northwest was gonna feel inherently different, but I didn’t really know how different it would feel,” series creator Alexi Hawley told Entertainment Weekly. “It makes the show feel familiar, but it’s really its own thing. Obviously the cast is very different, but the place of it all… And it was designed that way on purpose.”

When Does The New Season of The Rookie Come Out?

Unfortunately, ABC’s fall schedule doesn’t include The Rookie.

ABC previously announced that The Rookie, High Potential, and Will Trent are all being held for midseason premieres. Official release dates have yet to be announced, but all three shows are slated to return in early 2027, with our best guess being early January.

Back in July, Hawley revealed that the ninth season premiere would be a “supersized two-parter” that “won’t be resolved in one episode.”

 “I think it’s the best of what we do,” Hawley said. “It’s incredibly high-stakes, dramatic. It’s a love story; it’s funny and unexpected.”

Where To Watch The Rookie Online:

Every episode of The Rookie is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

If you’re new to Hulu, the basic (with ads) price is $11.99/month. If you want to upgrade to Hulu ad-free, it costs $18.99/month.

If you want to stream even more and save a few bucks a month while you’re at it, we recommend subscribing to one of the Disney+ Bundles, all of which include Hulu. These bundles start at $12.99/month for ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu and goes up to $32.99/month for Disney+, Hulu, and Max, all ad-free.

The Rookie Season 9 premieres in early 2027 on ABC.