The brilliant Nathan Fillion returns to television after his role in Castle with The Rookie, a new ABC series about his character becoming an LAPD officer.
Starting over isn’t easy, especially for small-town guy John Nolan who, after a life-altering incident, is pursuing his dream of being an LAPD officer. As the force’s oldest rookie, he’s met with skepticism from some higher-ups who see him as just a walking midlife crisis. If he can’t keep up with the young cops and the criminals, he’ll be risking lives including his own. But if he can use his life experience, determination and sense of humour to give him an edge, he may just become a success in this new chapter of his life.
At the Television Critics Association summer press tour, Fillion said he could empathise with his 40-year-old character, especially with scenes that required his character to climb fences and chase after people.
“Six pounds of Epsom salts after a typical day of shooting and bruises up and down my thighs. I’m at the point in my life where if I could have a stunt guy running down the street for me, these knees will appreciate it.”
Executive producer Alexi Hawley spoke about how the series is based on the true story of a middle-age rookie officer at the LAPD, where there isn’t an upper age limit to join.
Richard T. Jones plays Sergeant Wade Grey who oversees Fillion’s character and he is one of the many new colleagues that gives the new officer a hard time.
“When you’re older, you might be set in your ways. He might could cause a problem for the unit as a whole and put people’s lives in danger. The LAPD is such a hard job. You have to be willing to learn and the (sergeant) feels that maybe he’s at the age where he wouldn’t be willing to learn the process,” he said.
Alexi Hawley is writer and executive producer; Mark Gordon, Nathan Fillion, Michelle Chapman and Jon Steinberg are executive producers on the series. Liz Friedlander directed and executive produced the first episode. Entertainment One (eOne) is the lead studio on “The Rookie,” a co-production with ABC Studios.
The series stars Nathan Fillion (Castle) as John Nolan, Alyssa Diaz (Ray Donovan) as Angela Lopez, Richard T. Jones (Santa Clarita Diet) as Sergeant Wade Grey, Titus Makin (The Path) as Jackson West, Mercedes Mason (Fear The Walking Dead) as Captain Zoe Andersen, Melissa O’Neil (Dark Matter) as Lucy Chen, Afton Williamson (Banshee) as Talia Bishop and Eric Winter (Witches of East End) as Tim Bradford.
The Rookie premieres Tuesday, October 16 at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.
