Stars of the hit ABC series The Rookie have disclosed a serious medical incident that disrupted filming for the show's upcoming eighth season while the cast was on location in Prague. Actor Bridget Regan, who portrays the cunning defence lawyer Monica Stevens, required hospital treatment after contracting a severe case of food poisoning.
An Overseas Production Interrupted by Illness
Nathan Fillion and Jenna Dewan, who play the on-screen couple John Nolan and Bailey Nune, shared the news in a recent interview. The cast had travelled to the Czech capital last year to film pivotal scenes for the new season, which premieres on Tuesday, 6 January 2026. The storyline sees their characters accompany Regan's Monica Stevens abroad to pursue terrorists.
While Fillion, 54, and Dewan described having "a blast" filming in the historic city, the experience was far less enjoyable for their 43-year-old co-star. "Bridget got food poisoning," Fillion revealed to People magazine in an interview published on Monday. "So she spent a little time in the hospital."
Recovery Thanks to Swift Medical Care
In a statement provided to Entertainment Weekly, Bridget Regan elaborated on the frightening ordeal. She confirmed that working in Prague was "extraordinary," but admitted her luck turned when she "got hit with some truly nasty food poisoning."
Regan was full of praise for the medical teams who assisted her, crediting her recovery to the incredible care of the hospital staff in Prague and the show's own phenomenal on-set medic. A regimen of fluids and medication eventually patched her up sufficiently to return to work.
"I'll never forget being able to walk through those gorgeous Prague streets in Monica’s heels," Regan reflected. "I felt so deeply looked after. Huge gratitude to Jenna and Nathan for being so kind, generous, and supportive. The Rookie family is a family in every sense."
Monica Stevens' Expanding Role in Season Eight
The incident occurred as Regan's character is poised for a more significant role in the new season. Having joined the police procedural in its fifth season, her corrupt attorney struck an immunity deal with Nolan and Nune in the season seven finale. This arrangement forces an uneasy alliance in the upcoming episodes.
Nathan Fillion hinted at the friction this will cause for his character, describing the partnership as a "stick in the craw." He explained to People, "I think it just frustrates Nolan to no end that someone so criminal and so terrible and so smug about it can get away with it. She's not doing hard time."
Beyond The Rookie, Bridget Regan is recognised for her roles as Kahlan Amnell in Legend of the Seeker and as Poison Ivy in Batwoman, with recurring parts in series like Jane The Virgin and The Last Ship.
Season eight of The Rookie premieres on ABC on Tuesday, 6 January, at 10 p.m. ET (3 a.m. GMT on 7 January). New episodes will be available for streaming on Hulu the following day.
