Jenna Dewan Teases New Rookie Storyline
The Rookie star previewed an unexpected development for Bailey Nune in Season 9 while filming Dancing With the Stars Season 35.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Dance
Jenna Dewan, who plays firefighter Bailey Nune on The Rookie, teased an unexpected new storyline for the character in Season 9. Dewan described a new character added to the storyline as very interesting and said it includes one of her most thrilling scenes of the season.
Why it matters
The tease comes as Dewan balances two productions at once, filming The Rookie and Dancing With the Stars Season 35 simultaneously. The preview offers fans a first look at how Bailey's arc continues after her long-distance stretch in Season 8.
Dewan's remarks came from an Entertainment Weekly interview, and the details of the new storyline remain undisclosed. The Rookie Season 9 is slated to return early next year, while Dancing With the Stars Season 35 is also in production.
The players
Jenna Dewan
Jenna Dewan is an American actress and dancer known for her work on film and television, and she is currently starring in Dancing With the Stars Season 35.
Bailey Nune
Bailey Nune is the firefighter character Dewan plays on The Rookie, a series centered on a Los Angeles Fire Department recruit's career.
The details
Dewan said the upcoming storyline is very interesting and includes one of her most thrilling scenes this season. Earlier, she told TV Insider that the drama between Bailey and John Nolan stems from external pressures rather than from within their relationship.
Timeline
Season 8: Bailey took a job in Washington, D.C., and went long-distance from Nolan before returning to Los Angeles.
Earlier this year (2026): The cast appeared at San Diego Comic-Con.
Early next year (2027): The Rookie Season 9 returns.
Industry Dynamics
Dewan's simultaneous filming of The Rookie and Dancing With the Stars Season 35 reflects a common pattern in which television performers split time between scripted drama and live competition programming. Both productions are based in Los Angeles, which keeps the schedule workable for a cast member balancing two series.
Viewers can follow Bailey's storyline when The Rookie Season 9 returns early next year on the network's schedule. Fans who watch Dancing With the Stars Season 35 will also see Dewan on the competition series during the same period.
The takeaway
Dewan's preview suggests Bailey's story is moving into a more dramatic phase after her time apart from John Nolan. Readers following the series can watch for the Season 9 premiere to see how the new storyline develops.
What happens next
The Rookie Season 9 is scheduled to return early next year.
Further reading
Explore more in Dance coverage of performers crossing between competition series and scripted television.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TV Insider.
