Chicago Fire showrunner Andrea Newman has revealed details on the show’s newest character. One Chicago’s flagship show premiered back in 2012, and is the sister show of Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med. After concluding with Chicago Fire season 13, the show was renewed through season 14, and new casting details have dropped.
Brandon Larracuente was cast as a series regular for Chicago Fire season 14 back in June, but no details were revealed about the character he would play. But, all that has now changed, as Newman is providing a teaser perspective on the character and what viewers can expect from his role in the hit NBC procedural.
Per TV Insider, Newman shares details on Larracuente’s new character, Sal Vasquez. Teasing a shakeup and plenty of dramatics from the very first episode, Newman talks about how Sal is charming and has familial links to the world of first responders, much like Severide, and that he could have friction with both Stella and Jocelyn. Check out Newman’s comments below:
The charming Sal Vasquez is the new addition to 51, and, like Severide, this character is rich with family history in the first responder world, much of it buried. But not for long. Vasquez will prove a real challenge to Kidd, his new lieutenant, as well as to Novak [Jocelyn Hudon] as she tries to get to know this seemingly unknowable guy.
What This Means For Sal’s Place On Chicago Fire
There is no question that Chicago Fire still has a strong audience, but having run for 13 seasons, it is important for the show to mix things up. This is why there appears to be a casting shakeup for season 14, with Larracuente joining the cast, and former regulars Daniel Kyri and Jake Lockett seemingly departing.
It seems that Vasquez is going to be a character who is likely to add some drama and tension, and could butt heads with Severide if the two men have similar personalities. There is also the possibility he could have some romantic tension with Stella or Jocelyn, which will no doubt complicate things even further.
Our Take On Sal’s Addition To Chicago Fire
The show needs to do things differently sometimes, and making a cast change for the upcoming season is a great way of doing that. Sal is set to be a regular, but whether he will last beyond season 14 is unclear at this point. However, Larracuente’s body of work in similar roles, like as Alex Diaz in On Call, makes him a good choice to join the Chicago Fire cast.
Chicago Fire’s characters have always been a core part of what has made the show a success, and Vasquez promises to be another strong addition. While there is little doubt that Vasquez is going to bring plenty of drama with him, he could also develop some strong connections with other Chicago Fire characters, and become a core part of Firehouse 51.
