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The Rookie will be down a series regular when it finally does return in 2025. The show, which is not set to premiere its new season in the Fall, but return midseason, has just announced a shocking departure going into Season 7. But why is Tru Valentino’s Aaron Thorsen leaving The Rookie?
Why Is Tru Valentino Leaving The Rookie?
TVLine confirms that Tru Valentino has departed the role of Aaron Thorsen for the show’s upcoming Season 7. The actor originally joined the procedural as a recurring character in Season 4 and got promoted to series regular in Season 5.
Valentino posted a message on Instagram stories regarding his exit, saying: “I will always cherish my time on The Rookie, but couldn’t be more excited for what the future has in store. I adore the friends and relationships made while being there. It was such an amazing opportunity and feel so lucky to have had the last 3 seasons. Thank you to the best fans in the world, I know I don’t talk much, but I appreciate you all so much. You never know who may pop back up in the Mid-Wilshire Precinct. Until then, 7 Adam 19, this is Office Thorsen, over and out!”
Fans had already been speculating about the possibility on the heels of the actor’s absence from the show’s San Diego Comic-Con panel. Valentino had also been conspicuously absent from any BTS video shared by the cast from the filming of Season 7. But hope is never lost, so fans were holding on to the fact that there was no official confirmation of his exit. Now, there is.
But The Rookie won’t be suffering for people when it does return, as the show has added two new characters for Season 7. Deric Augustine, better known for All American, Godfather of Harlem, and Shameless is set to play Miles, a Texas transfer who “despite having two years under his belt, will be a rookie at the LAPD.”
Patrick Keleher, better known for Funny or Die’s The Egos, on the other hand, is set to play Seth. Now, Seth may look on the outside like he’s got everything to be the perfect police officer, but he’s not very good with decisive action, which is exactly what the job needs.
The Rookie has seen some cast turnover, but not as much considering the show is going on Season 7. Mercedes Masohn’s Captain Zoe Andersen was killed off in Season 1, and Afton Williamson’s Officer Talia Bishop parted ways with the show ahead of Season 2, but other than those two the only other big departure was Titus Makin’s Jackson West dying following the events of the Season 3 finale. Now, however, they’ll have to say goodbye to another one of their own.
ABC’s crime drama follows John Nolan (Nathan Fillion), a 45-year-old newly divorced man from Pennsylvania, who, after helping police officers during a bank robbery in his hometown, moves to Los Angeles to pursue a new career as a police officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. The series, which premiered in 2018, follows the personal and professional lives of Nolan and other officers, detectives, and sergeants with the LAPD. Rounding out the cast is Jenna Dewan as Bailey Nune, Eric Winter as Tim Bradford, Melissa O’Neill as Lucy Chen, Lisseth Chavez as Celina Juarez, Richard T. Jones as Wade Grey, Shawn Ashmore as Wesley Evers, Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper and Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez.
