Rookie Season 9 is filming for a 2027 return, and Jenna Dewan says she is staying as Bailey Nune while competing on Dancing With the Stars. Both ABC shows are coordinating her schedule. A new rookie is expected to join Mid-Wilshire, while an exact premiere date has not been announced.
What Is the Latest The Rookie Season 9 Cast Update?
Image © 2026 ABC
Rookie Season 9 is already in production for a 2027 return, with Jenna Dewan expected to remain part of the main cast as Bailey Nune. Her Dancing With the Stars schedule overlaps with filming, but Dewan says both ABC productions are working together so she can do both. The new season is also expected to introduce another rookie at Mid-Wilshire, giving the procedural a fresh angle without replacing John Nolan.
Is Jenna Dewan Returning as Bailey in The Rookie Season 9?
Yes. Dewan directly addressed the concern after joining Dancing With the Stars Season 35. She told TV Insider, as quoted by ScreenRant and CBR, “I’m doing both at the same time.” She also said the teams are “really working it out between the two productions.” That makes a Bailey exit unlikely, although her exact episode count is still unknown.
- Bailey stays: Dewan plans to continue playing Bailey while competing on Dancing With the Stars.
- Filming overlap: CBR reports Season 9 production started in summer 2026, while the dance competition begins in September.
- Location helps: Both programs film in Los Angeles, making the schedule easier to manage.
- Release window: ScreenRant and CBR place the ninth season in early-to-mid 2027, but ABC has not announced an exact release date.
- Nolan connection: Bailey remains married to John Nolan, played by Nathan Fillion, so her future is tied closely to one of the series’ central stories.
What Else Is Changing in The Rookie Season 9?
The biggest reported story change is the arrival of a new rookie at the LAPD’s Mid-Wilshire Division. Collider’s says showrunner Alexi Hawley confirmed the addition. That could bring the series back toward its original premise, when John Nolan was learning the job from the beginning. It does not mean Nathan Fillion is leaving or being recast.
- New rookie: The character’s name, actor, and first episode have not been revealed.
- Main cast context: Nathan Fillion, Eric Winter, Mekia Cox, Alyssa Diaz, Richard T. Jones, Melissa O’Neil, Shawn Ashmore, Lisseth Chavez, and Deric Augustine.
- Lucy Chen: Melissa O’Neil remains one of the established ensemble names mentioned in the Season 9 reporting.
- Streaming: CBR notes that the first eight seasons are available on Hulu.
- What fans are waiting for: ABC has not yet revealed the exact premiere date, full cast changes, trailer, episode count, or how much screen time Bailey will have during the new season.
Final Thoughts
The Rookie Season 9 is moving forward with production underway and Jenna Dewan still part of the story. ABC officially renewed the series, and the network is expected to bring it back in 2027. Fans can watch for the next trailer, premiere date, and cast updates as this new chapter gets closer.
FAQs
Yes, ABC officially renewed The Rookie for a ninth season, with filming already underway for a 2027 return.
The exact premiere date is not locked, but current reports point to an early-to-mid 2027 debut.
Nathan Fillion is not leaving, so John Nolan remains expected to continue as a major part of the series.
No, Dewan says she is doing both The Rookie and Dancing With the Stars, with the productions working around her schedule.
Yes, a new rookie is reportedly joining Mid-Wilshire, though the actor, character name, and first episode have not yet been revealed.