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‘The Rookie' season 8 cast changes: See who's returning and who's not
During the season 7 finale of 'The Rookie,' notorious villain Oscar Hutchinson (Matthew Glave) escaped yet again. But will viewers be seeing more of him next season?
'The Rookie' showrunner Alexi Hawley teased during a May interview with Us Weekly that Glave will reprise his role as Oscar in season 8. He also acknowledged that 'The Rookie' writers 'can't keep going back to the well of [Oscar] escaping,' and therefore the 'end of a chapter' is coming for the character soon.
Oscar won't be the only villain in season 8 of 'The Rookie,' which is scheduled to premiere on ABC in early 2026. Bridget Regan, who plays Monica Stevens, the corrupt lawyer who helped Oscar escape from prison, will also be back.
Hawley teased that Monica will 'stir up more drama' within the LAPD during the show's next chapter after securing an immunity deal last season.
Keep scrolling to see who else from 'The Rookie' cast is returning for season 8 — and who isn't.
Shawn Ashmore
Ashmore will be back as attorney Wesley Evers. In April, Hawley told TVLine that Wesley's season 8 arc might include him running for District Attorney.
Deric Augustine
Augustine, who joined the cast as Officer Miles Penn during season 7, has been promoted to a series regular for season 8, although his character is still a rookie.
Lisseth Chavez
Chavez joined 'The Rookie' as Celina Juarez during season 5, and she's not going anywhere. Celina finished her rookie training during season 7 and also struck up a romance with musician Rodge Bronson, who is played by showrunner Alexi Hawley's son, Zander Hawley.
Hawley told Us Weekly in May that he wasn't '100 percent sure' whether Celina's romance with Zander would continue in season 8.
Mekia Cox and Arjay Smith
Cox will return as detective Nyla Harper as will Smith, who plays Nyla's husband, James Murray. The couple had their ups and downs during season 7, but Hawley told Us Weekly that he thinks Nyla and James are 'in a stronger place' going into season 8.
Jenna Dewan
Dewan was one of several cast members who flew to Prague to film the season 8 'Rookie' premiere. She will reprise her role as firefighter Bailey Nune.
Alyssa Diaz
Diaz will be back as Detective Angela Lopez.
Nathan Fillion
It wouldn't be 'The Rookie' without Fillion, who plays Officer John Nolan. Season 8 of the ABC series will kick off in Prague as Nolan travels across the Atlantic to track down Monica.
Richard T. Jones
Jones is expected to appear in season 8 as Lieutenant Wade Grey.
Patrick Keleher
Like Augustine, Keleher made his 'Rookie' debut during season 7. However, his character's arc has come to an end for now. Keleher played Seth Ridley, a police officer who lied about having cancer. He later got shot and needed to have his leg amputated.
While Keleher isn't returning for season 8, Hawley teased that it's possible Seth will be back in the future.
'Something shocking deserved to happen [to the character], and then we'll see where it goes,' he told TVLine in May.
Melissa O'Neil and Eric Winter
Good news for Chenford stans, O'Neil and Winter will reprise their respective roles as Lucy Chen and Tim Bradford on season 8.
As for whether Lucy and Tim's on-again, off-again relationship will flourish in season 8, Hawley told Collider, 'They're happy when they're together. That's a pretty simple thing.'
Seasons 1-7 of 'The Rookie' are available to stream on Hulu.
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