At a Glance
- Creator Alexi Hawley is actively trying to book Pete Davidson for a return to The Rookie
- Davidson last appeared in 2020 as Pete Nolan, half-brother to Nathan Fillion’s John Nolan
- Fillion calls Davidson “a joy” and says the comedian wants to come back but is hard to pin down
- Why it matters: Fans have waited four years for the comedic spark Davidson brought to the ABC drama
Pete Davidson’s schedule is the only thing standing between The Rookie and the return of Pete Nolan. Creator Alexi Hawley tells News Of Losangeles he is still “ever-chasing” the 32-year-old comedian more than four years after Davidson’s last appearance on the ABC procedural.
The Chase Continues
Davidson first slipped into uniform during seasons 2 and 4, playing the irreverent half-brother of Officer John Nolan. Since then, his calendar has filled with films, stand-up dates, and Saturday Night Live hosting gigs. Hawley remains undeterred.
“We are ever-chasing Pete Davidson and his incredibly busy schedule, but we are always hopeful to work, and he’s really into coming back,” Hawley says.
The showrunner adds that season 8 already has a packed roster of returning faces:
- Career criminal Oscar Hutchinson (Matthew Glave) will escape prison again
- Flula Borg is hoped to reprise his scene-stealing role
- A mystery guest will expose “the true dynamic” of a strained relationship, teases Deric Augustine
Fillion’s Campaign
Nathan Fillion, who has anchored the series since its 2018 debut, used a July 2025 Comic-Con panel to join the recruitment effort. He told attendees that Davidson “wants to come back” but is “hard to get a hold of.”
The actor did not hold back his praise:
> “He vibrates on a different plane, and no two takes are alike. He’s feeling his way through stuff, and he’s very sensitive, very concerned about doing a great job, and he really loves his work. He’s so kind.”
Fillion finished with a simple plea: “He’s a joy to work with.”
Cast Clues
Officers Miles Penn and Celina Juarez-played by Deric Augustine and Lisseth Chavez-hint that season 8 will lean into unresolved history.
“There’s a certain episode that someone comes back, and you really see the true dynamic of their relationship,” Augustine says. “You’re going to see them come together and really air it out.”
Chavez promises lighter fare as well, including a storyline involving “Secret Service and reincarnation” tailored to her character.
Why Now?
Hawley credits the show’s longevity for attracting talent. “One of the joys of having a beloved and long-running series that’s doing well is that people actually want to be on our show, which makes the phone calls easy to make,” he says.
Whether those calls land Davidson remains uncertain. Production schedules, film shoots, and stand-up tours collide with The Rookie‘s Tuesday-night shoot schedule. Still, Hawley insists the door stays open.
New episodes air Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC and stream the next day on Hulu.
