Chicago Med has tapped Blindspot vet Luke Mitchell to join its hospital staff, our sister site Deadline reports.
As TVLine exclusively reported, Mitchell’s character, currently named Dr. Mitch Ripley, is an early thirtysomething male Emergency Department doctor who has a past connection to Dr. Charles (played by Oliver Platt). The new character — who is set to recur on the NBC drama, with the potential for a series-regular upgrade in Season 10 — comes from a troubled background, which led him to cross paths with Dr. Charles when he was growing up.
Mitchell — whose many other TV credits include Big Sky, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., The Tomorrow People and The Republic of Sarah — will first appear in the Season 9 premiere, airing Jan. 17.
The new addition comes in the wake of several series-regular cast member exits during Season 8, beginning with the departure of Guy Lockard, who played ED pediatrician Dr. Dylan Scott, in the season opener. Original stars Brian Tee (aka Dr. Ethan Choi) and Nick Gehlfuss (Dr. Will Halstead) also said goodbye to the show after eight years, with both of their characters reuniting with their departed love interests, April Sexton and Natalie Manning, respectively. Additionally, Asjha Cooper, who recurred as resident Vanessa Taylor, was written out when her character decided to take a job in the Philippines.
The returning ensemble for Season 9 includes Oliver Platt (Dr. Daniel Charles), S. Epatha Merkerson (hospital head Sharon Goodwin), Marlyne Barrett (charge nurse Maggie Lockwood), Dominic Rains (Dr. Crockett Marcel), Steven Weber (Dr. Dean Archer) and Jessy Schram (Dr. Hannah Asher).
Chicago Med Season 9 premieres Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 8/7c for a shortened 13-episode season following the conclusion of the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes.
In other #OneChicgo news, as previously reported, Chicago Fire leading man Taylor Kinney will return as Lieutenant Kelly Severide for at least the start of Season 12, while Kara Killmer (aka paramedic Sylvie Brett) will exit the series some time during the season. Additionally, Tracy Spiridakos, who plays detective Hailey Upton on Chicago P.D., will depart the cop drama after the upcoming 11th season.
