Nathan Fillion Has The Perfect Way To Solve The Rookie’s Most Glaring Issue In Recent Years

Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for The Rookie Season 7.ScreenRant’s own Rachel Foertsch was in attendance at the panel during the 2025 San Diego Comic-Con when The Rookie star Nathan Fillion name-dropped Neil Patrick Harris as his wish to play a new villain on his cop drama. It’s a great idea, as the arrival of a new adversary could actually fix a pressing issue that has plagued the most recent seasons of the police procedural.

Like other cop shows, the ABC series utilized guest stars to play a villain for longer arcs. Bridget Regan has popped in previous seasons as Monica Stevens, a corrupt lawyer who has served as the defense attorney for mob boss Elijah Stone (Brandon Jay McLaren). The late Anne Marie Wersching reappeared as serial killer Rosalind Dyer, who nearly drowned Nolan’s wife, Bailey (Jenna Dewan), in a tank full of water.

During the Q&A session of the panel, a fan asked Fillion and The Rookie showrunner Alexi Hawley how they would feel if Harris were to appear as a villain on the ABC drama, just like he did on Doctor Who as The Toymaker. Fillion jokingly called out the How I Met Your Mother actor, who supposedly still owes him money. Nonetheless, the pair would love to have Harris on the program as John’s enemy.

Nathan Fillion Wants Neil Patrick Harris To Play A Villain In The Rookie

The Rookie Bringing A High-Profile Actor To Play A Villain Can Stop Its Recycling Of Bad Guys

If Harris were to appear on The Rookie as an antagonist, he would join a lineup of actors that includes Regan, McLaren, Wersching, and Matthew Glave, who has recurred as Oscar Hutchinson. Oscar has managed to break out of prison in each season.

During The Rookie season 7 finale, titled “The Good, the Bad, and the Oscar,” Hutchinson escaped the confines of his prison cell to find the stolen jewels from a heist-gone-awry. As if part of a long-running joke, viewers can expect Oscar to be apprehended and escape from prison sometime in season 8.

In the closing moments, Monica made her 14th appearance on the procedural. The shady lawyer found a loophole in the legal system and finessed her way into striking an immunity deal with the United States. Because she is no longer a fugitive from the law, Monica is expected to continue her crime spree and become the antagonist again in another storyline in The Rookie season 8.

Regardless Of The Actor, The Rookie Needs To Stop Overusing Their Villain

Let’s All Move On From Monica

While the villains are great, they’re getting old. Introducing fresh antagonists can prevent the previous villains from being overused and overstaying their welcome with viewers. After seven seasons, viewers have questioned the show’s logic. How many times can Oscar somehow wiggle out of his jail cell and escape from prison? How long can Monica keep evading justice and not face any consequences for her criminal actions?

Since these questions highlight the glaring issues of the cop show, a new villain could top the exploits of Rosalind. What made Rosalind stand out among The Rookie‘s villains is how she raised the stakes and made John’s life so vulnerable. Ultimately, John needs a worthy opponent who can question his morals and make him fear that the lives of his loved ones are in absolute danger.

Currently, the way to do that is to bring someone, like Neil Patrick Harris, onto the show to create an equally memorable but brand-new antagonist. Considering how often Fillion and Harris have worked together in the past, they have chemistry, especially in the villain-hero dynamic. Transferring that chemistry to The Rookie seems like a no-brainer, with the added bonus of solving the villain problem.

Created by

Alexi Hawley

First Episode Air Date

October 16, 2018

Cast

Nathan Fillion, Alyssa Diaz, Richard T. Jones, Melissa O’Neil, Eric Winter, Mekia Cox, Shawn Ashmore, Jenna Dewan, Lisseth Chavez, Tru Valentino, Afton Williamson, mercedes mason, Titus Makin Jr.

Current Series

The Rookie