Josh Segarra opens up about his Chicago Fire audition and how it unexpectedly led him to Chicago P.D., reshaping fans’ views of Voight’s legacy.
A Casting Story Fans Didn’t See Coming
In the One Chicago universe, casting stories often feel just as dramatic as the episodes themselves. But every once in a while, an actor’s real-life journey hits fans right in the emotions. That’s exactly what happened when Josh Segarra revealed that his path into Chicago P.D. didn’t start where anyone expected. Before becoming Voight’s son, Segarra actually auditioned for Chicago Fire—a detail that instantly reignited fan curiosity across the franchise.
For longtime viewers of Chicago P.D., this revelation adds new texture to a storyline already loaded with tension, legacy, and unresolved emotional weight. It also opens the door to bigger questions: Was this casting destiny? And what does it mean for the future of the series?
A Quick Recap: From Chicago Fire Audition to Chicago P.D.
Before stepping into the intense world of Chicago P.D., Josh Segarra tested the waters elsewhere in the franchise. According to his own recollection, he originally auditioned for Chicago Fire, hoping to land a role among the firefighters who form the emotional backbone of that show.
While the audition didn’t lead to a spot on Fire, it clearly left an impression. Not long after, Segarra found himself being considered for a very different role—one that would carry far more psychological and narrative weight. Instead of joining Firehouse 51, he entered the morally complex orbit of Intelligence, becoming the on-screen son of Hank Voight.
For fans, this behind-the-scenes pivot feels almost poetic. A missed opportunity transformed into something arguably more powerful.
Why This Character Matters So Much to Chicago P.D. Fans
In Chicago P.D., family isn’t just background detail—it’s often the emotional trigger for everything that follows. Voight’s past, his losses, and his moral gray areas have always shaped the show’s tone. Introducing his son wasn’t simply a casting decision; it was a narrative risk.
Josh Segarra’s character added a human dimension to Voight that fans rarely see. For years, viewers have watched Voight enforce the law with brutal intensity, often at the expense of his personal life. Suddenly, the show asked fans to see him not just as a commander, but as a father.
That shift mattered.
For many fans, Segarra’s presence forced uncomfortable questions:
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Can Voight separate his role as a cop from his role as a parent?
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Does his past make him incapable of protecting the people he loves?
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Or does it explain why he fights so hard?
These are the kinds of questions that elevate Chicago P.D. beyond a standard procedural.
Key Themes That Made the Storyline Stand Out
Legacy and Consequences
One of the most powerful themes in Chicago P.D. is legacy—what we pass down, intentionally or not. Segarra’s character became a living reminder that Voight’s choices don’t exist in a vacuum. Every arrest, every line crossed, every compromise has ripple effects.
Fans noticed how the show subtly framed this storyline as a reckoning rather than a redemption arc. There were no easy answers, only consequences.
Vulnerability Beneath the Badge
Voight is famously guarded. Yet scenes involving his son cracked that armor just enough for viewers to glimpse the man underneath. These moments stood out precisely because they were rare and restrained, never overly sentimental.
That restraint is what made them hit harder.
A Different Kind of Tension
Unlike many high-stakes Chicago P.D. arcs driven by crime, this storyline leaned heavily on emotional tension. The danger wasn’t always external—it lived in conversations, silences, and unresolved history. For fans, that change of pace felt refreshing and unsettling in equal measure.
Fan Reactions and Online Buzz: What Viewers Are Saying
Since Segarra shared the story of his Chicago Fire audition, fan discussions have picked up again. Online chatter suggests that many viewers now see his casting as more than coincidence.
Some fans speculate that producers recognized something in Segarra that fit Chicago P.D.’s darker, more introspective tone better than Fire’s ensemble-driven warmth. Others wonder whether the audition process itself planted early seeds for the eventual storyline.
Of course, none of this is confirmed. But that hasn’t stopped fans from revisiting old episodes, reanalyzing scenes, and debating whether Segarra’s character arc was always planned—or evolved organically over time.
One thing is clear: the emotional impact hasn’t faded.
What This Could Mean for Future Seasons and Episodes
Looking ahead, Segarra’s revelation naturally leads fans to speculate about what Chicago P.D. might explore next. Even if his character doesn’t return in a major way, the narrative door he opened remains wide.
Could future seasons dig deeper into Voight’s family history?
Might unresolved threads resurface during a pivotal episode?
Or will the show use this past storyline as emotional fuel for new conflicts?
Given Chicago P.D.’s history, it wouldn’t be surprising if the writers revisit these themes when the stakes are highest. The show has always excelled at letting old wounds resurface at the worst possible moments.
For fans, that possibility is both thrilling and nerve-wracking.
Why Josh Segarra’s Casting Story Resonates Beyond One Episode
Casting anecdotes usually fade quickly. But this one sticks because it mirrors the show’s own themes: missed chances, second paths, and unexpected consequences.
Josh Segarra didn’t just “almost” join Chicago Fire. He ended up in a role that challenged the core of Chicago P.D.’s most iconic character. That kind of behind-the-scenes symmetry is rare—and fans can feel it.
It also highlights how fluid television storytelling can be. One audition, one decision, can reshape an entire storyline and how viewers understand a character they’ve followed for years.
Final Thoughts: A Small Reveal With Big Emotional Weight
Josh Segarra’s reflection on his Chicago Fire audition might seem like a minor piece of trivia at first glance. But for Chicago P.D. fans, it adds emotional depth to a storyline that already carries enormous weight.
It reminds us that in the One Chicago universe, both on screen and behind the scenes, paths rarely unfold in straight lines. Sometimes, the role you don’t get leads you exactly where you’re meant to be.
Do you think Segarra’s character changed how you see Voight—and should Chicago P.D. revisit that relationship in a future season?
