The Rookie filmed a backup finale ending in case ABC cancelled the series

Eric Winter told People at Comic-Con 2026 that The Rookie's cast shot an alternate season-eight finale — a standard hedge when renewal is unconfirmed. ABC renewed the series for season nine in April. The aired May finale ended with Tim Bradford proposing to Lucy Chen before both are kidnapped. Winter declined to describe the unused ending, calling it a spoiler, per The Hollywood Reporter.