One Chicago has received a sweeping slate of renewals. The universe consists of interconnected NBC shows which all follow various first responders in Chicago. Fire, which premiered in 2013, was the first show in the universe, followed by P.D. in 2014 and Med in 2015. Each show was first introduced as a backdoor pilot in a previous show, and all have run consistently since then, with the only spinoff that failed to spark being the one-season 2015 show, Justice.
Per Deadline, all three ongoing shows in the Illinois-set Dick Wolf universe have been renewed by NBC. This includes Chicago Fire season 13, P.D. season 12, and Med season 10. While episode counts have not yet been revealed, it seems likely that all three shows will return to their pre-strike release patterns, with somewhere between 22 and 24 episodes apiece.
How Long Can the One Chicago Shows Run?
The short-lived Justice proved that the One Chicago universe isn’t infallible when it comes to the continuation of spinoffs. However, this mass renewal is a good sign for the continued longevity of the current trio of shows on the air. It remains to be seen how long each show can run, but there is a strong precedent set by the Law & Order franchise, which Dick Wolf also created for NBC. Below, see how long each show with more than one season in that universe has run:
| Show | Start | End | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law & Order | 1990 | TBD (off the air between 2010-2022) | 20 seasons (renewed for 21) |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | 1999 | TBD | 23 seasons (renewed for 24) |
| Law & Order: Criminal Intent | 2001 | 2011 | 10 seasons |
| Law & Order: Organized Crime | 2021 | TBD | 4 seasons |
One Chicago has already proven its potential to live up to the Law & Order longevity by overcoming major cast shakeups. For instance, Chicago Fire is still going strong after lead star Taylor Kinney temporarily stepped back from the show in season 11. Although he returned, the show has lost five original stars over the years. P.D. has also lost three season 1 cast members, with Med losing even more. Only three major season 1 characters remain on the show, with four of the six departures occurring in season 8, striking a massive blow to the ensemble in 2023.
It still remains to be seen if the One Chicago shows can run for 20 seasons or more. However, they seem to be on firm ground for that possibility to play out. The three-show renewal shows that NBC is confident in the franchise, and the fact that the three ongoing Law & Order shows only received two official renewals at the same time shows that the newer franchise may be pulling ahead in the overall Dick Wolf universe.
