Chicago Med showrunner Allen MacDonald has revealed a returning doctor was almost a secret father ahead of their comeback in season 11. Chicago Med season 11 opened with the revelation that the father of Hannah Asher’s child was Dean Archer, who had been friends with her since season 5. This is despite Mitch Ripley having also been a viable candidate.
Speaking with Variety, however, MacDonald revealed Chicago Med season 11 almost saw returning doctor Will Halstead get revealed as the father of Hannah’s child. The showrunner explained how, with season 10 ending on a cliffhanger as to who the real father was, the former series lead was considered. However, many factors eventually led to Archer becoming the true father:
We had three possible fathers in that scenario. Ripley, Archer, and the third one. We didn’t talk about this for long, but briefly, we were talking about the door opening, it being Will Halstead. That would be the first time we would see Will Halstead for a long time.
[Making Archer the father was] the most interesting and fertile ground for storytelling dramatically.
The reason that it was off-camera is because we wanted to preserve the surprise. As a fan, I’m not gonna lie. I would have wanted to see that, but it just seemed that the surprise when she shows up at his door, and the surprise of the confirmation in the premiere was the way to go.
What Halstead’s Near-Father Experience Says About Chicago Med Season 11
Chicago Med season 10 ended with a cliffhanger as to who the father of Hannah’s child was going to be. This involved her knocking on someone’s door, with the implication that whoever she was going to see was the father. It was unclear who would show up on the other side until the season 11 premiere, when Archer was revealed.
Having the former series regular be the true father to Hannah’s child was a doable twist, due to his forthcoming return to the show. Halstead will be coming back in season 11, episode 2, returning with Owen, Natalie’s son. While not everything about his return has been revealed, he’s not back for Hannah, as evident by how the twist concluded.
Based on MacDonald’s statement, though, Halstead being the father would have made for a much different storyline. For one, it would have upended the guest doctor’s relationship with Natalie, while likely leaving Hannah to fend for the child on her own onscreen. Since the returning doctor isn’t becoming a regular again, it would’ve made for a tougher plot to watch.
Our Take On Halstead Almost Being The Father Of Hannah’s Child
If Halstead had been the father of Hannah’s child, it would have upended years of his development, despite being an interesting twist. Given his return, it makes sense why he was considered, since it would have been a shocking turn of events. But having Archer be the father made more sense, given him and Hannah’s closeness throughout the show.
With Chicago Med having made the right call on its twist instead of using Halstead, it also marks a new dynamic for Hannah and Archer moving forward. The pair’s preparation for being parents and the dramatic tension it’ll cause will likely last the rest of the season, making for compelling development as the new couple’s lives change forever.
