The One Chicago universe is about to go darker, grittier, and far more personal. NBC is reportedly expanding its powerhouse franchise with Voight, a standalone prequel series set to premiere in 2026 — and fans can barely contain their excitement.
This isn’t just another spinoff. This is a deep dive into the origin story of Hank Voight, the most controversial, feared, and fiercely loyal cop Chicago has ever seen.
A Return to 1990s Chicago — Where the Streets Made the Man
Set in the early 1990s, Voight will transport viewers back to a raw, unfiltered version of Chicago — long before body cams, social media, and political correctness. Crime is personal. Justice is messy. And the line between right and wrong is dangerously thin.
The series follows a young Hank Voight, starting out as a patrol officer with a reputation for intensity, stubbornness, and a barely contained temper. Long before he became the commanding force behind Intelligence, Voight is just another cop trying to survive a city that doesn’t play fair.
But survival comes at a cost.
From Badge to Burden: The Making of a Moral Gray Icon
Fans of Chicago P.D. know Voight as a man who believes results matter more than rules — a philosophy that has made him both a hero and a villain in viewers’ eyes. Voight aims to answer the question fans have debated for years:
👉 What happened to him?
The prequel will explore the cases, betrayals, and personal losses that shaped Voight’s infamous worldview. Expect to see early encounters with corruption, street gangs, political pressure, and a justice system that often protects the wrong people. Each episode promises to peel back another layer of the man who would eventually become Chicago’s most feared unit commander.
Noir Vibes, High Stakes, No Easy Answers
Stylistically, Voight is expected to lean heavily into neo-noir storytelling — moody lighting, rain-soaked streets, morally ambiguous choices, and consequences that linger. This isn’t a glossy procedural. It’s a character study wrapped in crime drama.
The show will reportedly introduce younger versions of familiar names, along with entirely new characters — partners who challenge Voight, mentors who push him too far, and enemies who never forget.
And yes, fans should prepare for heartbreak.
Why This Prequel Changes Everything
Hank Voight has always divided audiences. Some see him as the last real cop in a broken system. Others view him as a dangerous relic who bends justice to his will. Voight doesn’t aim to soften him — it aims to explain him.
By showing who Voight was before power hardened him, the series could completely reframe how fans view his actions in Chicago P.D. Was he always this way? Or did the city make him?
The One Chicago Universe Just Got Deeper
With Voight, NBC isn’t just expanding its franchise — it’s betting on one of its most complex characters to carry an entire series. And judging by fan reaction alone, it’s a risk worth taking.
Love him or hate him, Hank Voight has always commanded attention. Now, his legacy is about to be rewritten — one blood-stained street at a time.
Chicago made him.
The job broke him.
And the story is finally about to be told.
