Everything You Need to Know Before That Huge One Chicago Crossover

It’s been five years since One Chicago experienced a dramatic crossover event, the last of which occurred in October 2019. Fortunately for fans (unfortunately for victims in the show), a fresh crossover event will unite characters from Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med in early 2025. NBC recently divulged story details, an official release date, and remarks from showrunners and network brass.

Regardless of what transpires with the first responders protecting The Windy City, NBC has promised the epic TV event will be “essentially a three-hour action movie.” To prepare fans for the explosive One Chicago crossover, it’s worth exploring when the show will air, how each respective TV series will play into the exhilarating crossover, and which characters will be most impacted.

3. What is One Chicago’s Next Crossover Event About?

In December 2024, NBC confirmed an impending One Chicago TV crossover event, the first of its kind since October 2019. Such events require massive logistical coordination between the cast and crew of each TV series in the One Chicago universe, which includes medical and police procedural TV shows, Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago P.D. As One Chicago producer Anastasia Puglisi stated in an official NBC press release:

“Putting together what is essentially a three-hour action movie is an incredibly ambitious task requiring complete coordination across our writers, casts, crews, and producers, along with help from the city of Chicago. We’re thrilled to have the best talent in every department to meet this challenge.”

In a storyline ripped right out of the classic ’70s movie The Towering Inferno, NBC included plot details for the upcoming One Chicago crossover. According to the press release:

“When a gas explosion rocks a high-rise, Chicago’s first responders come out in force to rescue hundreds of civilians. It’s the calamity beneath the surface, however, that sends our heroes on a race to save 40 people trapped deep underground, including two of their own.”

While it’s unclear which “two of their own” will be trapped underground, looking back at where each show left may provide hints. The press release also indicates:

“The upcoming event — which will track the ripple effects on the Intelligence Unit, Firehouse 51, and Gaffney — is about a disaster in an office building that throws the city into chaos.”

2. A Snapshot of Where One Chicago Left Off

Ahead of the latest crossover, each One Chicago series will return from its mid-season hiatus on January 8th, 2025. When Chicago Fire left off in November 2024, Firehouse 51 was in flux, with the new Fire Department Chief, Dom Pascal (Dermot Mulroney), struggling to balance his work with his failing marriage to Monica (KaDee Strickland). Meanwhile, Mouch (Christian Stolte) and Herrmann (David Eigenberg) take tests to climb the ranks of the fire crew.

Elsewhere, Joe Cruz (Joe Minoso) becomes endangered when he finds a bullet in his work locker, tracing it to a gang called the Insane Kings, which his brother Leon belonged to. The subplot calls back to Season 1 when Cruz let a member of Insane Kings named Flaco die to protect Leon. Flaco’s cousin sends Cruz his ashes, vowing to avenge Flaco’s death by targeting Joe and Leon.

In Chicago Med, The Gaffney Chicago Medical Center witnessed a harrowing showdown. Director Goodwin (S. Epatha Merkerson) finally identifies her stalker as Cassidy, the disgruntled wife of a patient Goodwin knowingly let die in a lose-lose decision she had to make after a deadly shipwreck. When Cassidy lunges at Goodwin and puts a blade to her throat, the show cuts to black as Dr. Archer witnesses the scenario and ponders how to act.

As for Chicago P.D., the midseason finale ended with a shocking tragedy. Police Officer Dante Torres (Benjamin Levy Aguilar) was shaken when his lover and former criminal informant, Gloria Perez (Yara Martinez), was killed in a shootout. After keeping their affair secret, it seemed as though the two had escaped a life of drug dealing. Alas, when Perez got back into the drug trade, Torres inevitably followed.

Past the emotional pain, Torres must deal with colleagues in the Intelligence Department knowing about his illicit affair with Perez. For instance, the new Police Chief Charlie Reid (Shawn Hatosy) tells Voight (Jason Beghe) that he has long been aware of Torres and Perez’s romance.

1. When Does the New One Chicago Crossover Air?

When a Windy City high-rise goes up in flames in the next One Chicago crossover, the three unresolved storylines mentioned above will converge with riveting results. Joe Cruz must reconcile with Flaco’s cousin, who targets him and his brother Leon. Doctor Goodwin will continue to be held hostage at knifepoint by her stalker, Cassidy. Mouch and Herrmann will learn the results of their promotional exams. Torres has to deal with Perez’s death, their affair being exposed, and Chief Reid’s next move.

One Chicago’s latest crossover will air on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. The three-hour TV event begins at 8/7 Central. However, it’s worth noting that a chronological shift has been made to One Chicago’s typical weekly programming. Instead of starting the night with Chicago Med like an ordinary Wednesday, fans will begin the crossover event with Chicago Fire at 8/7 Central.

Once Chicago Fire wraps, Chicago Med will air at 9/8 Central, and Chicago P.D. will air at 10/9 Central. Whether watching the One Chicago crossover live on NBC on January 29, 2025, or waiting the next day to stream the episodes on Peacock, remember that Chicago Fire comes first, followed by Chicago Med and Chicago P.D.