The One Chicago franchise is officially back in full force, and fans of Chicago Med and Chicago P.D. have every reason to celebrate. NBC has confirmed that several beloved cast members will return for the 2025–26 season, with exciting developments in store for both shows. In a television landscape filled with uncertainty — shortened seasons, budget cuts, and cast changes — this latest announcement comes as a welcome sign of stability and forward momentum. The core teams at Gaffney Medical Center and the Intelligence Unit will be back, and they’re bringing their trademark mix of intensity, heart, and moral complexity along with them.
Starting with Chicago Med, NBC has announced that longtime cast members S. Epatha Merkerson (Sharon Goodwin), Oliver Platt (Dr. Daniel Charles), Marlyne Barrett (Maggie Lockwood), Dominic Rains (Dr. Crockett Marcel), and Luke Mitchell (Dr. Mitch Ripley) will all return for Season 11. For fans of the show, this continuity is critical — especially given the show’s focus on the deeply human side of medicine. Sharon Goodwin, the administrative soul of Gaffney, will reportedly be at the center of major changes in the hospital, including the rumored possibility of retirement. Dr. Charles, the ever-compassionate psychiatrist played by Platt, is also returning for what producers are calling “his most personally challenging storyline yet,” which will revolve around a patient hiding something dangerous. Dominic Rains continues as Crockett Marcel, who is set to face fallout from earlier life decisions that threaten his reputation and role. Meanwhile, Luke Mitchell’s Mitch Ripley, who was introduced more recently, is back with more screen time and an expanded arc that includes secrets from his past beginning to surface.
The cast members have been vocal about their excitement. LaRoyce Hawkins posted a short message to fans on social media: “Season 13. Still family. Still Chicago. Still us.” Marlyne Barrett, who has returned to work after undergoing cancer treatment, shared a heartfelt message: “Grateful to be back with my Med family. This show has always been about healing — on screen and off.” Jason Beghe has remained relatively quiet about the new season, but sources say he is heavily involved in discussions about Voight’s future direction, which may include revisiting his troubled past and dealing with the long-term consequences of his leadership style.
NBC’s fall 2025 schedule has been confirmed, and all three shows in the One Chicago universe — Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Chicago P.D. — will return on Wednesday nights, maintaining their usual time slots. Chicago Med airs at 8 PM, followed by Chicago Fire at 9 PM, and Chicago P.D. at 10 PM. Fans can expect season premieres in late September, with filming already underway and table reads taking place throughout July.
What makes this news particularly exciting is how rare it has become for long-running shows to retain core cast members year after year. In recent television history, many franchises have been gutted by cost-cutting, scheduling conflicts, or creative overhauls. But the One Chicago universe seems to understand that its strength lies in the bond between characters — and the emotional investment fans have built with them over a decade. The return of familiar faces like Voight, Goodwin, Charles, Burgess, and Atwater proves that NBC is still committed to that emotional continuity.
Looking ahead, both Chicago Med and Chicago P.D. are expected to dive deeper into personal storylines. For Med, it’s about legacy, aging, and how doctors heal others while struggling with their own pain. For P.D., it’s about justice, sacrifice, and what it means to operate in the gray areas of law enforcement. The writers have promised that the shorter seasons will result in “stronger arcs, deeper character growth, and more cohesive storytelling.” And with familiar faces leading the charge, fans are right to be thrilled.
As fall approaches, there’s a palpable sense of anticipation among One Chicago fans. After months of speculation, production delays, and industry shifts, there’s finally some solid ground. The teams at Chicago Med and Chicago P.D. are coming back — and they’re bringing the heart and grit that made them so beloved in the first place.
