The RookieandWill Trentcome in a package deal at this point, but what’s good for one doesn’t mean it’s good for the other. ABC is pushing back the premieres of its two successful police procedural series. On the surface, this seems like bad news forThe RookieandWill Trent. Down deeper, though,The Rookiecan benefit from this delay (whileWill Trentcan’t).
It’s not unusual for a network to suspend the premieres of its TV shows. There’s only so much that a broadcast company like ABC can fit into its 2025–2026 schedule. Consequently, some series will debut in the fall of 2025. Meanwhile,others (likeThe RookieandWill Trent) are being held back,set to premiere at a later date, elongating their hiatuses.
ABC Is Holding The Rookie Season 8 & Will Trent Season 4 For Midseason
The 2 Shows Won’t Premiere Until Next Year
According toTVLine,The RookieandWill Trentaren’t returning with their respective new seasons this year. Instead, ABC is holding them for midseason.The Rookieseason 8 andWill Trentseason 4aren’t expected to premiere until early 2026. If their upcoming schedules are similar to their previous ones,fans can assume that the new episodes will debut in January.
So, from the time thefinales ofThe Rookieseason 7andWill Trentseason 3 aired in May 2025 to their next seasons' premieres,it will have been about eight months (assuming they return in January 2026).The hiatus is similar to the one between seasons 6 and 7 ofThe Rookieand between seasons 2 and 3 ofWill Trent.
The only things that could interruptThe Rookieseason 8 andWill Trentseason 4’s runs are “presidential addresses” and any other “unavoidable preemption.” For example, ABC didn’t release new episodes of the two TV shows on July 13, 2025, because of President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress and the nation.
On the bright side, ABC ordered 18episodes forThe Rookieseason 8 andWill Trentseason 4. Just like their previous seasons,they’ll have 18 episodes.Plus, the upcoming episodes of both police procedural series will reportedly air weekly with little to no interruptions, meaning fans won’t have to wait for new installments ofThe RookieandWill Trent.
The Rookie Needs Time To Get Back On Track, While Will Trent Is Thriving
The Rookie Season 7 Was Rather Disappointing
ABC’s approach toThe Rookieseason 8 andWill Trentseason 4’s releaseschedules is thanks to how well the delayed premieres worked during the 2024–2025 TV season. PerTVLine,The Rookie’s viewership was up 13% from its previous season,averaging 5.4 million viewers. Meanwhile,Will Trent’s ratings increased 21%, averaging 6.8 million viewers.
Quality also plays a significant role in how well a TV series can perform, and while prolonging the hiatus might helpThe Rookie, it’ll only hurtWill Trent.
Due to the two shows' achievements, ABC is doing the same thing for their upcoming seasons. However, just because they had good ratings, that doesn’t mean the network can replicate their past successes. Quality also plays a significant role in how well a TV series can perform, and while prolonging the hiatus might helpThe Rookie, it’ll only hurtWill Trent.
Deric Augustine
Miles Penn
If I’m honest,The Rookieseason 7 was disappointing and frustrating as a whole. Yes, it produced some great moments (like the entirety ofThe Rookieseason 7, episode 8), but its negatives outweigh its positives. As a result,the writers need time to regroup and get back on track following the finale— a longer break accomplishes that.
As forWill Trent, the police procedural series is at its peak,and ABC should capitalize on its momentum by releasing more episodes as soon as possible. It needs to ride the high afterthe thrillingWill Trentseason 3 finale. Therefore, an eight-month hiatus between seasons is not the way to go.
Will Trent Season 3 Ended On A Devastating Cliffhanger That Needs To Be Addressed ASAP
Amanda & Ormewood’s Lives Are In Danger
BothThe RookieandWill Trent’s previous finales ended on cliffhangers. Whilethe newer show’s questions heading into its next season are a matter of life and death,themysteries surroundingThe Rookieseason 8after the season 7 finale are less dire. So, the audience should be more eager to learn what happens next inWill Trentcompared toThe Rookie.
Will Trentseason 3 endedwith bothOrmewood collapsing and Amanda in a coma.Doctors had previously discovered a tumor in Ormewood’s brain, which is likely what caused his seizure in the finale, and terrorists shot Amanda in the chest, leaving her unconscious in a hospital bed.
Hype for what’s to come could fade fast, decreasing fans' interest inWill Trentseason 4.
Given that Ormewood and Amanda are two ofWill Trent’s main characters,the idea of waiting eight months to learn their fates is agony.Not only will viewers be disappointed with the delay, but they might also forget the exciting events of the season 3 finale. Hype for what’s to come could fade fast, decreasing fans' interest inWill Trentseason 4.
