Posted in: ABC, TV | Tagged: The Rookie
The Rookie Season 8 Trailer, S08E01: "Czech Mate" Overview Released
Check out the official trailer for ABC and Alexi Hawley's The Rookie Season 8 and the overview for the season opener, "Czech Mate."
Article Summary
- The Rookie Season 8 trailer drops, teasing an international mission with the team heading to Prague.
- Season premiere episode "Czech Mate" sees LAPD, FBI, and Interpol join forces for a high-stakes case.
- Cast and showrunner unveil action-packed highlights and hints at new story arcs at SDCC 2025.
- Nathan Fillion and Alexi Hawley discuss the show's global appeal and plans for the new season.
We had a chance to check out Melissa O'Neil, Nathan Fillion, Eric Winter, Lisseth Chavez, Mekia Cox, and Alyssa Diaz showing off their dance moves because they knew when the next preview for ABC and Alexi Hawley's The Rookie Season 8 would drop. Well, it looks like today's that day, with a trailer and official overview released for the show's return and S08E01: "Czech Mate." Here's a look at the overview and preview, with the series set to return on January 6th:

The Rookie Season 8 Episode 1: "Czech Mate" Preview
The Rookie Season 8 Episode 1: "Czech Mate" – The LAPD, FBI, and Interpol work with Monica Stevens in Prague to target high-value terrorists operating within and outside the United States.
In addition, we've included a look at the Season 8 cast portraits and previously released Season 8 teaser::
- ABC's "The Rookie" stars Nathan Fillion as John Nolan. (Disney/John Russo)
- ABC's "The Rookie" stars Jenna Dewan as Bailey Nune. (Disney/John Russo)
- ABC's "The Rookie" stars Eric Winter as Tim Bradford. (Disney/John Russo)
- ABC's "The Rookie" stars Melissa O'Neil as Lucy Chen. (Disney/John Russo)
- ABC's "The Rookie" stars Shawn Ashmore as Wesley Evers. (Disney/John Russo)
- ABC's "The Rookie" stars Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez. (Disney/John Russo)
- ABC's "The Rookie" stars Richard T. Jones as Wade Grey. (Disney/John Russo)
- ABC's "The Rookie" stars Lisseth Chavez as Celina Juares. (Disney/John Russo)
- ABC's "The Rookie" stars Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper. (Disney/John Russo)
- ABC's "The Rookie" stars Deric Augustine as Miles Penn. (Disney/John Russo)
The Rookie/SDCC: Fillion & Hawley Preview Season 8 & More
"I have friends who are good actors in their own right. They're calling me saying, 'Hey, man, my daughter just turned 11, and she and her friends are all crazy about 'The Rookie.' Can I please have a birthday with you?' I love that," Fillion shared about the show's success with multigenerational viewing audiences during his San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) 2025 panel earlier this summer
"I think that ultimately television, specifically television with lots of episodes with characters that you can really invest in, has become comfort food for people," added Hawley. "There's 1,000 shows on the air, but it does feel like people sort of grab lots of shows that they look forward to watching. They're an escape. I take that very seriously. It doesn't mean that bad things don't happen on our show, that there aren't stakes, that we don't go dark sometimes. People really look to us as an important storm."
After a sizzle reel was screened, spotlighting the trip to Prague in the Season 8 opener, as well as a number of new and returning cast members. "In the first episode, we go to Prague and [John] becomes James Bond in the episode. We have a lot of exciting stories for [the cast] this season," Fillion teased. Here's a look at the official image gallery that was released from this weekend's SDCC panel:
- (Disney/Frank Micelotta) ALEXI HAWLEY (CREATOR/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER), NATHAN FILLION
- (Disney/Frank Micelotta) ALEXI HAWLEY (CREATOR/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER), NATHAN FILLION
- (Disney/Frank Micelotta) ALEXI HAWLEY (CREATOR/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER), NATHAN FILLION
- (Disney/Frank Micelotta) ALEXI HAWLEY (CREATOR/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER), NATHAN FILLION
- (Disney/Frank Micelotta) ZANDER HAWLEY
- (Disney/Frank Micelotta) THE ROOKIE
- (Disney/Frank Micelotta) ZANDER HAWLEY
- (Disney/Frank Micelotta) NATHAN FILLION
- (Disney/Frank Micelotta) NATHAN FILLION, ZANDER HAWLEY
- (Disney/Frank Micelotta) ALEXI HAWLEY (CREATOR/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER), NATHAN FILLION
- (Disney/Frank Micelotta) ALEXI HAWLEY (CREATOR/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER), NATHAN FILLION
- (Disney/Frank Micelotta) THE ROOKIE
- (Disney/Frank Micelotta) ALEXI HAWLEY (CREATOR/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER), NATHAN FILLION
- (Disney/Frank Micelotta) THE ROOKIE
Here's a look at some highlights from the panel, including that moment Fillion got everyone in attendance for a huge group video for O'Neil and much more:
And here's a look at some highlights from Fillion and Hawley's time in the Variety Studio, including what the chances are of there being a new rookie during the eighth season and more:
ABC's The Rookie Season 7 starred Nathan Fillion as John Nolan, Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper, Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez, Richard T. Jones as Sergeant Wade Grey, Melissa O'Neil as Lucy Chen, Eric Winter as Tim Bradford, Shawn Ashmore as Wesley Evers, Jenna Dewan as Bailey Nune, and Lisseth Chavez as Celina Juarez. Deric Augustine (Godfather of Harlem) and television-debuting Patrick Keleher were set as the newest rookies for the season. Augustine's Miles is one of the newest rookies at the LAPD. As a Texas transfer, Miles is a 'rookie' despite being a two-year veteran of the force. Keleher's rookie Seth seems like the ideal police officer, but the job requires quick, decisive action — something that doesn't come naturally to Seth. In addition, Ivan Hernandez (Max's And Just Like That…) had joined the cast as Detective Graham and appeared in several episodes.
Alexi Hawley is the series creator, writer, and executive producer. Mark Gordon, Nathan Fillion, Michelle Chapman, Jon Steinberg, Bill Norcross, Bill Roe, and Brynn Malone are executive producers of the series. Entertainment One (eOne) is the lead studio on The Rookie, a co-production with ABC Signature.


































