By Armando

“The Rookie”: Nathan Fillion at Comic-Con 2025
© aipimaging.com

“The Rookie”: Nathan Fillion and Alexi Hawley Reveal Season 8 Surprises at Comic-Con 2025

Nathan Fillion and showrunner Alexi Hawley appeared at San Diego Comic-Con on July 26, 2025, to discuss The Rookie Season 8. Early in the panel, Zander Hawley surprised the crowd with a playful serenade, setting a lighthearted tone before the big reveal: the season premiere was filmed in Prague.

Fillion likened the shoot to Casino Royale, saying, “It felt like we were making Casino Royale,” and joked that John Nolan “becomes James Bond for a day.”

Hawley acknowledged it was unusual for a network drama to film overseas but said the team embraced the challenge. Fillion also shared that shooting in Los Angeles has become tricky as fans often interrupt takes with shouts of support, something he called both a challenge and a gift.

Looking ahead, Hawley teased an undercover storyline for Lucy Chen, while Fillion expressed hopes that Pete Davidson might return as Peter Nolan. With a grin, Fillion closed by saying, “Let’s Grey’s Anatomy this b**ch.”

The Rookie Season 8 will premiere in 2026 on ABC.