ABC just made a decision on two of their top crime dramas that will make fans happy!
Tuesdays have quickly become “crime procedural night” for ABC. The Rookie had anchored the evening, preceded by Will Trent, and the sophomore hit High Potential. The Rookie moved to Mondays in January of 2026 and was replaced on Tuesdays by the freshman crime drama RJ Decker.
Per Deadline, ABC has confirmed that both Will Trent and The Rookie will return for new seasons in 2026-27. This will be the 9th season for Rookie and the fifth for Trent. Potential had already been renewed for a third season and had ended season 2 in early April (due to star Kaitlin Olson’s busy schedule filming It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia).
We still need to wait for a decision on Decker, but the renewals of these two shows are wonderful for their fans, as it seems likely each of their current seasons will be ending on some sort of cliffhanger.
There had been some worries about the future of The Rookie, as any show that’s run eight seasons is going to be costly in terms of production. That’s not to mention the huge ensemble cast means a lot more contracts to negotiate with, raises and such. Thankfully, the show’s good ratings have continued to help it succeed, as well as its format.
Speaking to Deadline, creator Alexi Hawley credited how fans enjoy the show for how every episode can be different: “Is it going to be a big fun event in the episode? Is it going to be more comedic or romantic or scary? I like switching things up; I like that sort of energy of it.”
Hawley also pointed out how the series benefits from a California state tax credit, which aids the budget. ABC clearly sees the potential in the show continuing with plans for a spinoff called The Rookie: North, which could lead to a “Rookie night” for the network.
As for Will Trent, its renewal is no surprise either, with Deadline noting that the show is the first ABC drama since Scandal to grow its audience with each of its four seasons. It’s ABC’s top linear draw, ranking as the most-watched ABC scripted series in Live+Same Day viewership, and season 4 has been hailed by critics as well for its compelling storylines with Ramon Rodriguez in the title role of the troubled investigator.
As with The Rookie, Will Trent benefits from tax credits by filming in Atlanta, thus keeping the budgets down. That made it a no-brainer for a renewal, even if it took a bit longer than expected. That could simply be ABC making final negotiations with the cast on contracts.
So fans of ABC’s crime dramas can be relieved that two of the best are coming back for new seasons to continue the network’s unique run!
The Rookie season 8 airs Mondays at 10/9c on ABC. Will Trent season 4 airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on ABC.