Will Taylor Kinney Be Back for 'Chicago Fire' Season 12?
Chicago Fire has been a staple of NBC's fall TV lineup since the late Battalion Chief Wallace Boden and his heroic crew of firefighters, rescue personnel and paramedics introduced themselves to audiences in 2012. But this year, NBC announced shakeups to its slate due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and noticeably missing from the schedule were all three One Chicago shows, including Chicago Fire.
Chicago Fire fans were already bracing themselves for potential changes in Season 12. Taylor Kinney, who's portrayed Lieutenant Kelly Severide since the show's premiere, took a leave of absence to tend to a personal matter during Season 11 and his status for Season 12 (and beyond) remains a question mark. Also up in the air was the fate of Christian Stolte's character, Mouch, who was the subject of a life-and-death cliffhanger at the end of Season 11.
Here is everything we know about the future of the show so far.
Related: Taylor Kinney's Chicago Fire Exit Shocks Fans
Will there be a Season 12 of Chicago Fire?
Yes. NBC renewed Chicago Fire in April 2023 and Season 12 was expected to air in September. However, NBC pushed the show to midseason because of the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA writers’ strikes.
Related: See NBC's Revised Fall TV Schedule
Will Chicago Fire return in 2023?
No. In June, NBC announced a new fall lineup that did not include Chicago Fire. The show was initially slated to return for Season 12 in September, but there won't be any more new episodes in 2023 because of the Hollywood strikes. If the AMPTP reaches an agreement with the writers' and actors' unions soon, the show could still realistically return in January.
Related: How Taylor Kinney's Character Severide Is Leaving Chicago Fire
What is the release date for Chicago Fire Season 12?
It's unclear when Chicago Fire will return for its twelfth season. Midseason seems like a reasonable bet, but if the strikes aren't resolved soon, Chicago Fire may not air during the 2023-24 primetime season at all.
What happened at the end of Chicago Fire Season 11?
Spoilers ahead! The Chicago Fire Season 11 finale was full of cliffhangers, making the premiere of Season 12 a hotly anticipated one. Lieutenant Matthew Casey (Jesse Spencer) returned to propose to paramedic Sylvie Brett (Kara Killmer), and we don't know yet whether she accepted (viewers also learned that Sylvie was adopting a baby girl). Meanwhile, Mouch was injured by shrapnel and taken to the hospital, where he was at first ruled stable, but then started bleeding out and coding.
Related: Jesse Spencer on Why His Return to Chicago Fire Is 'a Bit Mean'
Who is cast in Chicago Fire Season 12?
NBC hasn't made any official casting announcements for Chicago Fire Season 12, so for now let's assume the following actors will be back.
David Eigenberg as Lieutenant Christopher Herrmann
Adrian S Burrows Sr/NBC
Lieutenant Christopher Hermann was last seen at Mouch's hospital bedside, calling for help as his friend began to code.
Joe Minoso as Firefighter Joe Cruz
Adrian S Burrows Sr/NBC
Squad 3 firefighter Joe Cruz adopted a son in Season 11. He also surprised Lieutenant Stella Kidd when he revealed that her husband, Severide (Kinney), had completed arson training, which was news to her.
Miranda Rae Mayo as Lieutenant Stella Kidd
Adrian S Burrows Sr/NBC
In the Season 11 finale, Lieutenant Stella Kidd got vague information about her husband Severide's whereabouts. To be continued.
Kara Killmer as Paramedic Sylvie Brett
Adrian S Burrows Sr/NBC
The final episode of Season 11 was a big one for this beloved paramedic: Casey returned to propose to her and she shared that she was adopting a baby.
Alberto Rosende as Firefighter Blake Gallo
Adrian S Burrows Sr/NBC
Firefighter Blake Gallo has worked his way up the ranks after joining the team in Season 8. His family died in a fire.
Daniel Kyri as Darren Ritter
Adrian S Burrows Sr/NBC
Firefighter Darren Ritter was recurring in Seasons 7-8 and has been part of the main cast since Season 9.
Hanako Greensmith as Paramedic Violet Mikami
Adrian S Burrows Sr/NBC)
Paramedic Violet Mikami experienced heartbreak in Season 11 when potential love interest Evan Hawkins died. She and Gallo shared a kiss in episode 14.
Eamonn Walker as Deputy District Chief Wallace Boden
Adrian S Burrows
The Deputy District Chief of District 4 will likely continue to play a significant role in Season 12.
Christian Stolte as Randall "Mouch" McHolland
Adrian S Burrows Sr/NBC
It's unclear whether Stolte's Mouche will return for Season 12 after a harrowing Season 11 finale. During a rescue call to stop a sniper, Mouch was wounded by stray shrapnel. He initially seemed okay at the hospital, but then he started coding. Stolte has been with the show since it premiered in 2012.
Will Taylor Kinney be in Chicago Fire Season 12?
Taylor Kinney, who portrays Severide on Chicago Fire, left for personal reasons in Season 11. There's been no official word on his status for Season 12 or beyond.
Will Jesse Spencer be in Chicago Fire Season 12?
Spencer, who portrays Casey on the show, exited the series in Season 10 and returned for the Season 11 finale to propose to his character's girlfriend, Brett. But it's unclear whether he's back for good (Brett's answer was not revealed during the episode). Spencer told NBC Insider that he is "open" to returning.
How to watch Chicago Fire
When Season 12 premieres, you can watch episodes of Chicago Fire on NBC and stream episodes the following day on Peacock. Can't wait? You can watch old episodes of Chicago Fire on Peacock with a cable subscription. Alternatively, you can watch with a standalone Peacock subscription, which is available for $5.99/month with ads or $11.99/month without.
Is there a trailer for Chicago Fire Season 12?
NBC has not released a trailer for the 12th season of Chicago Fire.
