“Chicago P.D. ”boss on Voight's mental state and plans for a Burzek wedding
"The wedding is certainly in their plans."
It takes more than a near-death experience to keep Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) from the job.
When season 12 of Chicago P.D. picks up a month after the events of the season 11 finale, "Voight is back at work full time, physically recovered from his injuries and really pouring everything he has into the job," showrunner Gwen Sigan tells Entertainment Weekly.
Related: Chicago P.D. couple Burgess and Ruzek are engaged (again)
But that's not to say that he has mentally recovered from the experience of losing Hayley Upton (Tracy Spiridakos) and nearly losing his own life. "Voight's definitely in a strange head space," Sigan says. "He's trying to get back to baseline, but that baseline for him has changed. Voight's in a place where he's more introspective than we've seen him in a while — his unit has changed, he has changed, and whether or not he consciously knows it, when we find him at the start of this season, he's taking stock of his life."
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As for the empty spot in the Intelligence Unit left behind by Upton's exit, Sigan says they will be filling it, and hopefully doing it "in a way that feels a bit unexpected and fun for the audience." She elaborates, adding, "It's given us a cool opportunity to cast some great guest stars and see new policing dynamics within the unit."
Sigan continues, "All the chemistry that's been forged through our seasons is of course there, but anytime you add in some new characters, you have the opportunity for closer bonds, new bonds, and discoveries about new and past characters that we haven't learned yet. I've really loved the idea this year of surprising our characters [and] shaking things up a bit for them in a good way."
Related: Chicago P.D. stars on the difficulties of filming the 200th episode
One of the bonds at the core of the team belongs to Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati) and Adam Ruzek (Patrick Flueger), the will-they-won't-they couple whose love story has dragged out for years (and years). But last season, the couple decided to get engaged... again. So, are we finally going to get a Burzek wedding?
"It's the plan as of now," Sigan says. "Burgess and Ruzek have been through quite a lot for their relationship, they've earned some happiness. I think they're in a really solid, steady place as a couple — where they can face challenges as a team — so the wedding is certainly in their plans."
Let's just hope those plans don't change.
Chicago P.D. returns Wednesday, Sept. 25, on NBC.
Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.