- The Rookie is returning to ABC for season 8 in midseason 2026.
- At the San Diego Comic Con, star Nathan Fillion revealed if Pete Davidson wants to come back to the show as Pete Nolan.
- Fans got to see the Saturday Night Live star recur on the ABC series for the first few seasons.
Is there a chance we can see a famous face pop up on The Rookie? If Nathan Fillion has his way, it's definitely possible!
Fans of the ABC drama may remember seeing Pete Davidson appear in earlier seasons as John Nolan (portrayed by Nathan)'s half-brother, Pete. While he only showed up in a few episodes over the years, the Saturday Night Live star's acting skills have led fans to want to see more from him on the show in the future.
While we never know who may appear on The Rookie as the series moves into season 8, Nathan spoke out on the chance of Pete coming back for a future cameo. As he and creator/executive producer Alexi Hawley shared their thoughts about this during a panel at San Diego Comic Con on July 26, it turns out a cameo from Pete may be inevitable.
"He wants to come back," Nathan stated in a video posted on Instagram. "He's such a joy to have. He's such a favorite amongst our crew and our cast. He vibrates on a different plane, and no two takes are alike. He's feeling his way through stuff. He's very sensitive, very concerned about doing a great job and he really loves his work. And he's so kind. He's welcome any time."
When fans realized they may get the chance to see Pete back on The Rookie, they immediately voiced their excitement online for what may come in season 8.
"Such an icon 💕💕💕💕," one person wrote in the comments. "I'm so ready for season 8!! Time to go binge the rookie!!! 🫶🏻🫶🏻," another chimed in. "I’M SO LOOKING FORWARD TO JANUARY 2026," a different follower added.
Consider this something for us Rookie fans to pay attention to in the next few months! And given how the show is taking some new directions heading into season 8, we honestly wouldn't be surprised to see new and familiar faces pop up every now and again ...
Now, could The Rookie please return to our TV screens?
As the entertainment and news associate editor for Good Housekeeping, Adrianna (she/her) writes about everything TV, movies, music and pop culture. She graduated from Yeshiva University with a B.A. in journalism and a minor in business management. She covers shows like The Rookie, 9-1-1 and Grey's Anatomy, though when she’s not watching the latest show on Netflix, she’s taking martial arts or drinking way too much coffee.
