For over a decade, the One Chicago franchise has dominated NBC’s primetime schedule with its emotional storytelling, gritty realism, and captivating ensemble casts. Shows like Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med have not only stood strong individually, but also created a shared universe that feels as alive and interconnected as the streets of the real Windy City. Now, fans are asking: what’s next? According to recent comments from series co-creator Derek Haas, the answer is clear—big things are coming, and the One Chicago universe is preparing for expansion.
It all began with Chicago Fire in 2012, a show that brought the inner workings of Firehouse 51 to life. Viewers quickly became invested in the lives of firefighters, paramedics, and rescue teams. But the real magic happened when that series opened the door for Chicago P.D., and later Chicago Med, forming a compelling TV ecosystem that mirrored the natural connections between emergency services in any major city. Now, as all three shows continue to hold strong with loyal audiences, Haas is teasing the idea that more may be on the way—possibly even new series and groundbreaking crossovers that push the limits of the franchise.
In a recent interview, Haas explained that the world of One Chicago still has plenty of room to grow. “We’ve built a city,” he said, “and in that city, we’ve only touched a few key departments. There are so many stories left to tell.” It’s a bold but exciting proposition. While viewers are used to seeing the drama unfold in the ER, at the precinct, or on firetrucks rushing into burning buildings, Chicago is a massive metropolis with countless layers. What about legal aid attorneys? Crisis negotiators? Street medics? Social workers? Journalists? All are vital cogs in the machinery of a city—and all could serve as the foundation for compelling new shows within the same universe.
The potential for new spin-offs is already being discussed among fans online. A revived version of Chicago Justice, which ran for just one season in 2017, is frequently brought up. That show focused on the prosecutors and legal system in Chicago, offering a courtroom-style drama that complemented the action of its sister shows. Haas didn’t confirm anything concrete, but acknowledged that there’s “a lot of energy behind the idea of revisiting that world.” Additionally, there are whispers of a show that would spotlight street-level EMS operations—something separate from what we’ve seen in Chicago Fire, possibly even grittier and more intimate.
But expanding the One Chicago universe doesn’t just mean launching new series. Haas also hinted at more ambitious crossovers—ones that go beyond what fans have seen so far. Past crossover events have seen cases and characters move across all three shows in a single night, but the co-creator teased something even more massive on the horizon. “We’re looking into a storytelling event that could redefine how network crossovers are done,” he said. Could it be a week-long saga that spans all three shows and centers on a city-wide emergency? A shared flashback episode that traces the past of multiple characters across time? Or perhaps a real-time event that plays out simultaneously on all three shows in a single night? Whatever the format, it’s clear the creative team is thinking big.
The conversation around character-driven spin-offs is also gaining traction. Several One Chicago characters have evolved so richly over the years that they could anchor their own shows. Fans have floated names like Kim Burgess from Chicago P.D. or Dr. Crockett Marcel from Chicago Med as candidates for leading new series. There’s also the possibility of following beloved characters as they step into new roles—like a promotion that leads them to a different precinct, or an undercover assignment that takes them to another part of the city. Haas confirmed, “Sometimes you build a character so strong, their story starts to demand a bigger canvas.”
In today’s evolving television landscape, streaming platforms have also changed how studios think about storytelling. With One Chicago shows performing well on Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, the idea of exclusive digital spin-offs or specials is a real possibility. A six-episode limited series focusing on a former character’s backstory, a documentary-style behind-the-scenes feature, or even a darker, serialized show for mature audiences—all could thrive on streaming. This would give the creators more flexibility with tone and structure, allowing them to explore parts of Chicago that don’t fit the network model.
Fan enthusiasm for more One Chicago content is palpable. Social media lights up whenever a new season is announced, and speculation about spin-offs runs wild. Some fans dream of a show focused on K-9 units. Others want a romantic dramedy that weaves together relationships across the existing shows. Still others imagine a prequel set in the early 2000s, showing how figures like Voight, Boden, and Goodwin began their careers. The beauty of this universe is that its foundation—Chicago itself—is endlessly rich, and its stories can grow in almost any direction.
