Chicago Fire Showrunner Reveals the Season 12 Twist You Didn’t See Coming
Season 12 of Chicago Fire is almost here and it’s going to look a little different than past seasons. The series’ showrunner provided some spoilers ahead of its Jan. 17 premiere date, including what the various cast shakeups will mean for the Firehouse 51 crew. Keep reading for a preview of Chicago Fire Season 12.
Chicago Fire is NBC’s drama series following the personal and professional lives of firefighters, paramedics and other rescue personnel at the Chicago Fire Department’s fictional Firehouse 51. The series — which premiered in 2012 and is created by Dick Wolf, the same mind behind the Law & Order and FBI franchises — is the first show in NBC’s One Chicago franchise, which also includes Chicago P.D., Chicago Med and the now-canceled Chicago Justice.
The procedural wrapped up its 11th season in May 2023 and has since announced several cast shakeups. In November 2023, it was announced that both Kara Killmer (who plays fan-favorite paramedic Sylvia Brett) and Alberto Rosende (who stars as the risk-adverse, rookie firefighter Blake Gallo) will be exiting the series during Season 12.
The following month, Deadline reported that The Bold and the Beautiful alum Rome Flynn is joining the cast for the upcoming season in a recurring guest role that “could expand into something bigger.” He is set to portray Jake Gibson, a quietly confident former amateur boxer with a dark past. According to the outlet, the “physically fit and fearless Jake earns a spot on Truck 51’s radar thanks to a heroic act.”
During a December 2023 interview with our sister site TV Line, showrunner Andrea Newman provided more insight into Flynn’s character and teased that he will be “trouble” for the rest of the Firehouse 51 crew.
“There will be a new firefighter joining Truck 81, but not for the reasons anyone thinks,” she said. “Of course, the newbie will be trouble with a capital T — but is it the good kind or the bad kind? We’ll find out….” Although she didn’t specifically say who the newbie in question is, Flynn’s Jake Gibson fits the bill given his mysterious past. Additionally, since Gallo will be written off in the season premiere, the show could use another troublesome firefighter.
Newman also spoiled that Season 12 will feature a time jump. “Yes, there will be some time jump going into the premiere, and viewers and 51 are in it together,” she told the outlet.
“There have been big changes, and the 51 gang is on a rollercoaster ride throughout the episode trying to navigate all of it.” The showrunner did not specify how significant the time jump is, but the Season 11 finale ended on several major cliffhangers, so it should be interesting to see what changes those dramatic events sparked.
Last time viewers saw the Firehouse 51 crew, beloved firefighter Mouch (Christian Stolte) had been shot and his fate was left hanging in the balance as he was seen flatlining in the hospital before the episode ended. Fans also saw Captain Matthew Casey (Jesse Spencer) return to Chicago and propose to Brett, however, we still don’t know if she said yes.
