Will Niecy Nash return to The Rookie? Here's what the showrunner had said

In an interview with ScreenRant in January 2025, The Rookie showrunner, Alexi Hawley, openly confirmed that he "would obviously love to have Niecy Nash back" in the franchise. Nash, guest-starring as Simone Clark in the spinoff series, The Rookie: Feds, left an unforgettable impression with her work.

Nevertheless, even with the interest in her return, the scenario was unlikely to happen in the immediate future because of her hectic life working on other projects.

During an interview with Screenrant, Hawley had said:

"We would obviously love to have Niecy [Nash] back in our universe. Niecy is a very busy woman, and so I guess I can say that we're not necessarily going to see her again in the near term, but hold out hope that she's got a window for us."

Although The Rookie borrowed some aspects of the spin-off, introducing Simone Clark into the mix was still complicated. Hawley's eagerness for her return is in contrast to that of Nash's stance, as she has shown no intention of returning to her character.

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The role of Niecy Nash in The Rookie Universe

Niecy Nash played Simone Clark, a retired guidance counselor who was the oldest rookie in the FBI Academy. She was introduced on the show before spearheading the spinoff series, The Rookie: Feds. The series followed her career in law enforcement and offered a new take on mid-career changes and diversity in the profession.

Whereas The Rookie: Feds initially found viewership, it floundered in that regard and was also disrupted by industry-wide strikes. ABC ultimately ended the series after Season 1, leaving fans wondering about its characters' future.

Also Read: Grotesquerie release schedule: All episodes of Ryan Murphy's latest horror show on FX and how to watch them

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The cancellation of The Rookie: Feds and its effect

The cancellation of The Rookie: Feds resulted from various factors, including poor ratings and production challenges occasioned by strikes. Even though the show was canceled, it had incorporated aspects of its spinoff, e.g., the return of Felix Solis' character, Garza, in Season 7. These created speculation for the return of other central characters like Simone Clark.

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About Niecy Nash's current projects

Niecy Nash is currently occupied with major projects lined up in her schedule. She received critical acclaim for her performance in Grotesquerie (2024) and is set to lead All’s Fair, a law drama series by Ryan Murphy. These projects pull strongly against returning to the show. As reported by Hello magazine in 2024:

"It was one of my favorite casts and jobs, but there are no plans for it, I am living in the moment - I don't go back," Nash had commented about her return to The Rookie universe.

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Is Simone Clark coming back to The Rookie?

Even with the showrunner's evident enthusiasm, Niecy Nash's own words indicated that she was preoccupied with her then-existing projects and had no intention of returning to her Simone Clark role. Though the show continued to grow and integrate elements of its spinoff, Nash's return was doubtful at best

At the moment, fans clamoring for the return of Simone Clark will have to wait and observe whether things change in the future.

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Also read: Is The Rookie reportedly getting a Spin-off? Creator Alexi Hawley shares updates