ABC has given a series order to The Rookie spinoff, The Rookie: Feds, starring Niecy Nash-Betts. Nash-Betts’ character, Simone Clark, was introduced in The Rookie season four over a two-episode arc (episodes 19 and 20). Simone’s described as the oldest rookie in the FBI Academy.
ABC confirmed the series order in a tweet: “This trainee was born to make an impact. The Rookie: Feds is a new drama starring @NiecyNash, coming to ABC. #TheRookieFeds”
In addition to Niecy Nash-Betts, the season one cast features Frankie Faison and Felix Solis.
ABC also gave series orders to Alaska starring Oscar winner Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby, Boys Don’t Cry) and Not Dead Yet with Gina Rodriguez (Jane The Virgin).
Alaska was created by writer/director Tom McCarthy (Stillwater, Spotlight) and will star Swank as a reporter who leaves New York behind and joins the staff of an Anchorage, Alaska newspaper. The cast also includes Jeff Perry, Matt Malloy, Meredith Holzman, Grace Dove, Pablo Castelblanco, Ami Park, and Craig Frank.
Gina Rodriguez leads the cast of Not Dead Yet based on Confessions of a 40-something F**k Up by Alexandra Potter. Rodriguez will play Nell Stevens, a newly single woman who enters the workforce after a 10-year absence and lands a job as an obituary writer. The series was created by This Is Us producers David Windsor and Casey Johnson.
“Restarting one’s life is never easy. Gina Rodriguez stars in the new comedy Not Dead Yet, coming to ABC. #NotDeadYet” – @NotDeadYetABC
In other ABC news, the L.A. Law reboot is currently dead in the water. There’s much better news for Big Sky which was renewed for three. A Million Little Things earned a fifth season and Home Economics will return for season three. Additional renewals include The Conners, The Wonder Years, American Idol, America’s Funniest Home Videos, The Bachelor, Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, and Shark Tank.
