Chris Sullivan Heads North: This Is Us Favorite Joins ABC’s The Rookie: North Pilot
- Je-Ree
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
This Is Us alum Chris Sullivan has officially been cast in ABC’s upcoming pilot The Rookie: North and yes TV fans are already emotionally preparing themselves. Because if Sullivan shows up on your screen, you know things are about to get complicated, heartfelt and probably a little messy in the best possible way.
Sullivan, best known for his Emmy-nominated turn as Toby Damon on NBC’s This Is Us, joins the growing Rookie franchise in a key role. In The Rookie: North, a spinoff of ABC’s long-running police drama The Rookie, Sullivan will play Sgt. Nix, a newly promoted Watch Commander who would much rather be on the streets than behind a desk. If the pilot moves forward to series, Sullivan is set to become a regular and frankly, that’s exactly the kind of steady presence this franchise thrives on.
Set in Pierce County, Washington, The Rookie: North shifts the formula slightly while keeping its core DNA intact: an experienced adult navigating the challenges of law enforcement later in life. Jay Ellis leads the pilot as Alex Holland, the titular “rookie,” with Sullivan’s Sgt. Nix positioned as both authority figure and wildcard. It’s a dynamic that already feels primed for tension, dry humor and the kind of character-driven storytelling ABC leans into hard.
For us, this casting makes a lot of sense. Sullivan excels at grounding heightened drama with lived-in realism and his ability to balance humor with emotional weight should fit neatly into The Rookie’s tone. He’s the kind of actor who elevates scenes without stealing them, though let’s be honest, he often steals them anyway.
ABC has been aggressively expanding its procedural universe and The Rookie: North feels like a calculated but promising move. With a recognizable star like Chris Sullivan anchoring the ensemble, the pilot already has a leg up in a competitive development season.
If The Rookie: North gets the green light, expect Sullivan to bring the same layered performance that made Toby Damon a fan favorite minus the Crock-Pot trauma, hopefully. One thing’s certain: heading north just got a whole lot more interesting.