The Rookie Season 8 production gets a really amusing confirmation from one of its stars

In one of her Instagram posts, The Rookie star Jenna Dewan posted a playful video of her dancing on the set where she is filming. The caption of the post reads,

"Dancing to set > walking to set"

This reassures fans that the production of The Rookie Season 8 is underway, and the cast is excited to be back. The video doesn't have any spoilers, but only fun and a lot of new energy. After the season 7 finale suffered a mixed response with fans calling it out for being underwhelming, season 8 might return the much-needed spark of The Rookie.

Season 8 of the ABC procedural drama is expected to premiere in January 2026, and Dewan will be returning as Bailey Nune. Read on for more details.

Jenna Dewan confirms The Rookie is in production via Instagram post

The Rookie has a unique narrative that follows John Nolan, who keeps his construction business aside to pursue his dream of becoming a police officer at the age of 40. He becomes the oldest Rookie at the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). The Rookie was renewed for season 8, and recently, Jenna Dewan hinted that the show is under production.

In the video shared by Jenna, she can be seen dancing from her vanity van to the set, and her energy fuels the excitement among the fans for the future episodes. In the video, the actor teases her involvement in the upcoming season and keeps the plot details under wraps.

As the core cast—Lucy Chen, John Nolan, Nyla Harper, Tim Bradford, and Wade Grey—also gears up for their returns, it’s safe to say season 8 is being positioned as a strong comeback, especially after some of the criticism surrounding the last two finales. And with Dewan leading the hype train, it looks like The Rookie is ready to recapture its spark.

How did season 7 of The Rookie end? Fans' reaction explored

In the finale episode 18 of season 7 of the ABC show, John Nolan and Nyla Harper work together to apprehend serial killer Oscar Hutchinson, only to discover that he has escaped, knocking Nolan out and fleeing in his car.

On the other hand, Monica, who had stolen sensitive NSA files, reemerges after cutting a deal for immunity. This sets up her ongoing storyline. Along with this, Tim Bradford pours his heart out when he apologises for his past mistakes and invites Lucy Chen to move in with him. However, she falls asleep in the middle of the confession, leaving this without a conclusion.

The season 7 finale faced some backlash from the fans as they had mixed feelings about the episode. While some enjoyed character moments, some found the cliffhanger underwhelming for a season end. Some comments on Reddit.com read,

“That just didn't feel... Big enough? For a season finale?”

Season 8 will hopefully answer the fans' questions. Dewan’s video at this time is more than just promotion—it’s a reminder of why viewers fell in love with The Rookie in the first place: its heart, its cast, and the human moments that exist even behind the camera.

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Edited by Nimisha