Chicago Med showrunner Allen MacDonald has revealed more original characters from the medical drama are set to return following Dr. Will Halstead’s comeback. Chicago Med season 11, episode 2 brings former lead Dr. Halstead back, set to feature an update on his life with Dr. Natalie Manning in Seattle, though she isn’t set to appear. Their son, however, will return.
His return also opens the door for more potential familiar faces in Chicago Med’s future. Speaking with TV Insider, MacDonald explained that he has plans to bring back as many original cast members from the show as possible. While they won’t return all at once, he does hope for a multitude of familiar faces to appear as seasons progress:
It is my plan to bring back all the original cast members at some time or another, so I think that’s a watch and see sort of thing. But what’s important to me is as I bring them back, that I bring them back one at a time for the most part. I brought Dr. Sarah Reese [Rachel DiPillo] back last season because I felt that I wanted to update what the dynamic was with Charles [Oliver Platt]. I was very interested in a more mature, more experienced Sarah Reese going head-to-head with Charles. I loved that character from watching the earlier seasons. But I worry about packing a whole bunch of OG characters into one episode because then you don’t get to give them their due.
What Chicago Med’s Future Return Plans Mean For The Show
As MacDonald explained, Chicago Med’s cast is no stranger to being expanded with returning characters. Sarah Reese returned in a recurring capacity for season 10, with Rachel DiPillo reprising her role, coming back to the show after last appearing in a guest capacity in season 4. The episodes saw her reconnect with Oliver Platt’s Dr. Daniel Charles after many years.
While MacDonald isn’t specific about who could come back to Chicago Med, there are plenty of candidates given the number of characters who have left over the years. This could include anyone from original cast member Yaya DaCosta, who portrayed April Sexton, to Kristen Hager as Dr. Stevie Hammer, who only appeared in season 7 of the show.
However, the speed at which these returns are going to happen doesn’t seem like it’s going to be quick. The showrunner seems keen on drip-feeding these appearances throughout the show, doing so in a way that makes it so everyone’s reemergence can give them the space they need to get a proper update. Who will be next, though, remains unclear.
Our Take On Chicago Med’s Future Cameos After Dr. Halstead
Although it’s uncertain who will be next after Dr. Halstead’s appearance, there are plenty of people to choose from who would make for strong candidates. It will also help tap into nostalgia surrounding the series, especially now that a lot of time has passed between when the various characters who could reappear were on the show.
For now, it seems like Halstead is going to be the biggest cameo draw for Chicago Med season 11, with the possibility for others later down the line. Whether any do show up in this season remains uncertain, but the possibility is open now that the showrunner has teased more. The types of storylines that could transpire, however, remain a mystery.
