NBC’s hit procedural drama Chicago Fire has cast a new firefighter for season 12. First premiering on October 10, 2012, Chicago Fire follows the personal and professional lives of a group of firefighters from the Chicago Fire Department’s fictional Firehouse 51. Produced by Dick Wolf, who created the Law & Order franchise, the show has proven popular for NBC, and in 2023 the network renewed the show for the currently airing Chicago Fire season 12, with a season 13 renewal coming earlier this month.
It seems the show is looking to freshen things up in front of the camera, with Deadline reporting the addition of a new firefighter. Copperhead actor Michael Bradway will make his Chicago Fire debut in season 12, playing charming firefighter Jack Damon, and could become a series regular in season 13. The addition of Bradway is not the only casting change One Chicago’s flagship show has made, with reports revealing that Jocelyn Hudon was also hired after there was a Chicago Fire season 12 departure for Rome Flynn and series regulars Alberto Rosende and Kara Killmer.
Following the explosive Chicago Fire season 11 finale, there seems to have been a concerted effort from the show to mix things up a little and provide fresh perspectives and new story opportunities. The casting addition of Bradway, who has very few acting credits to his name, and is making his TV debut, suggests the show wants to inject some younger talent, and that this is a decision that will feed into the current show’s storylines, as well as set up a strong future for One Chicago in the long run.
Chicago Fire season 12 has a lot of plotlines to explore and tie up, with Severide and Kidd’s marriage deteriorating, Sylvie’s adoption, and Mouch getting shot, and some of these could spill over into future seasons. The show will likely try to explore these plot threads while also making a few casting changes that won’t upset the equilibrium of the series. Indeed, Flynn has already been outspoken about his departure from the show, suggesting it was not his decision, and this would indicate that NBC feels key changes are needed.
This could simply be the beginning of a shake-up for One Chicago, and there is a chance audiences could be seeing more casting additions and departures as Chicago Fire heads into season 13. It will be interesting to see the direction this takes the show in, and whether it will be able to continue such a strong run with new cast members involved. With consistent ratings and a move toward reinventing itself, there is no reason Chicago Fire cannot be a success, even with continual casting changes.
