Chicago Med is one of the most well-known medical dramas on television, and Nick Gehlfuss’ departure from the show led to curiosity about what sparked the decision. Though the Chicago franchise is quite vast, with four television shows and a myriad of characters, Nick Gelhfuss’s role as Dr. Will Halstead managed to stand out among other Chicago departures. Dr. Halstead was a beloved character and connected to the greater Chicago franchise, as he is the younger brother of Jay Halstead, a former main character on Chicago P.D.
Because of how deeply embedded Dr. Halstead’s character was in the show, his exit during Chicago Med‘s season 8 finale marked a significant change in the ensemble character dynamics. Long-lasting shows, like Chicago Med, can find themselves with a revolving door of characters and actors, but Gelfuss’ exit still felt shocking. This has led to speculation about the circumstances surrounding Gelfuss’ departure, as they provide context as to whether or not Dr. Halstead’s character will be making a return in future seasons.
Nick Gehlfuss Quit As Chicago Med’s Will Halstead For Creative Reasons
Nick Gehlfuss’ character, Dr. Halstead, has been a key part of Chicago Med since the show’s debut in 2015. Like many actors who play the same character for an extended period of time, Gehlfuss’ reason for exiting stemmed from feeling like there was no more room to grow creatively. He shared with Variety that it was a difficult decision for him to make, but he felt that he had taken Dr. Halstead as far as possible.
Gehlfuss explained that he thinks that people are either built to spend a very long time playing one person, or not. Because he was attracted to the acting profession due to the variety it offered, he felt like he had spent long enough playing one character. He even joked that because he spent eight years on the show, it was like having two college degrees or a doctorate in television. Despite his readiness to move forward in his career, he candidly detailed that his departure was overwhelming because his time on the show meant so much.
Nick Gehlfuss’ Career After Chicago Med Explained
