The Rookie to release extended cut on Hulu July 20

Fans of the ABC police drama "The Rookie" will soon have new content to watch ahead of the show's ninth season. An extended cut of a pivotal season eight episode will be released on Hulu on Monday, July 20, 2026. The special release features approximately five and a half minutes of previously unseen footage from the episode titled "His Name Was Martin."

The extended version will be available in the "Extras" section on the show's Hulu landing page. This marks a rare move for a current network television series, as extended cuts are typically reserved for DVD releases and are uncommon in the streaming era. The additional content includes extended action sequences and a key scene that provides deeper context for a character-driven moment.

The episode in question, the tenth of season eight, centers on officers from the Mid-Wilshire division responding to a crisis at Westview Psychiatric Hospital. A cleaning crew exposed to a dangerous chemical begins exhibiting violent, zombie-like behavior. During the chaotic response, Officer Lucy Chen, played by Melissa O'Neil, is separated from her partner and violently attacked by a worker named Martin. Forced to defend herself, Chen uses...