Discover the exciting twists and cast shakeups in Chicago Fire Season 13, as the series returns with new challenges and dramatic changes at Firehouse 51. Find out when it airs and who’s returning to the show.
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As the latest season of Chicago Fire nears its final flame, anticipation is building for the newly renewed Season 13. When does the firefighter drama return, and who’s in the cast next season?
Keep reading to learn everything we know about Chicago Fire Season 13, including the two major plot twists one character’s exit introduced.
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The Heartbeat of Firehouse 51
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 was 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. and Chicago Med.
In March, NBC renewed Chicago Fire along with its other two Chicago-set dramas. At the time of the renewal news, One Chicago ranked among the top three shows of the night this season in total viewers. Fire averaged 12.6 million viewers (+86%) and was +236% in the demo, according to Deadline. NBC will start production on Season 13 of Chicago Fire in mid-July, less than two months after the Season 12 finale, Screen Magazine reported on May 15, 2024.
The Ripple Effect of Cast Shakeups
Chi-Hards had to endure a lot of cast shakeups this season. Kelly Severide was missing for part of the season, while Killmer took her final bow as paramedic Sylvie Brett during Episode 6, leaving a spot open on Ambulance 61. Jared Lennox (played by Wesam Keesh) briefly filled her spot for two episodes but was quickly fired for being insubordinate. In Episode 9, Lyla Novak (Jocelyn Hudon) joined Violet Mikami (Hanako Greensmith) on the ambulance, and they recently clashed in Episode 12, “Under Pressure.”
Thankfully, there’s much to look forward to in Chicago Fire Season 13, which promises to move Firehouse 51 in a new direction.
Who’s in the Chicago Fire Season 13 Cast?
The Season 13 cast has not officially been announced, but most of the Season 12 characters are expected to return, except a few. Characters like Sylvie Brett (Kara Killmer), Blake Gallo (Alberto Rosende), and Rome Flynn (Derrick Gibson) all exited the procedural in Season 12. In recent bittersweet news, Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker) also said goodbye to Firehouse 51 as a series regular in the Season 12 finale, though it’s been confirmed that he will remain on the series in Season 13 in a recurring role.
This means that only four original firefighters will remain on the procedural, including Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg), Randall “Mouch” McHolland (Christian Stolte), and Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney). Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo), Violet Mikami (Hanako Greensmith), Sam Carver (Jake Lockett), and Darren Ritter (Daniel Kyri) are also likely to return. Newcomer Jack Damon (Michael Bradway) and Lizzie Novak (Jocelyn Hudon) may also be back for the next installment, but nothing’s been confirmed.
Chicago Fire sparked speculation that Boden was leaving in Season 12, Episode 8, “All the Dark,” in which the chief learned that Deputy Fire Commissioner Gloria Hill was retiring and that her position would soon be available. Boden also discovered that his name, along with Paramedic Field Chief Robinson, was on the shortlist to replace Hill.
In the end, Boden took the Deputy Fire Commissioner job in the Season 12 finale, which made sense as a way for Chicago Fire to write him off as a series regular, while still allowing him to continue on the series in a recurring role. Along with his role as the Chicago Fire Department’s new DC, Boden also offered the role of chief of Firehouse 51 to Herrmann, who hesitantly accepted it. Mouch also revealed in the Season 12 finale that he was studying for the lieutenant test with the help of his wife, Sergeant Trudy Platt from Chicago P.D.
What Will Happen in Chicago Fire Season 13?
According to NBC Insider, viewers should expect to see a “new era” of Firehouse 51. “Chi-Hards can prepare for more high-stakes rescue missions and explosive Firehouse 51 drama,” the site wrote, following multiple big cast exits in Season 12.
When describing Season 12, Chicago Fire executive producer Andrea Newman told TV Insider that “51 has dealt with all kinds of outside conflict over the years… but when it comes to next season I keep thinking of a famous line from that old horror movie, When A Stranger Calls: ‘It’s coming from inside the house.’”
Of the Season 12 finale, Newman also teased that there would be “character dilemmas and shocks abound!” The episode, “Never Say Goodbye,” was dedicated to Chief Boden’s goodbye, with firefighters and paramedics gathering in Boden’s office to express their gratitude. “You made 51 a family, Chief, and this firehouse a home,” Cruz says, while Kidd adds, “You’ve inspired a group of firefighters who know the meaning of bravery.”
“Boden has been managing a lot of change at home (with his stepson James) and at 51, and learned a lot while doing it, including about himself,” Newman told the site. “A shocking incident in the finale will highlight what it means to him to be a leader, and everyone close to him will be impacted in a huge way by the decision he makes.”
Boden is expected on a recurring basis next season, so hopefully, it’s not a permanent goodbye for now. As for cast shakeups, the EP teased that “there are so many decisions to be made, I don’t think I could count them all.” Uh-oh! Stay tuned to learn new updates about Chicago Fire Season 13 as we hear about them.
When Does Chicago Fire Return For Season 13?
NBC has not yet announced a premiere date for Chicago Fire Season 13, but NBC Insider reported that the next chapter will arrive in the fall of 2024 in its usual slot: Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET. This schedule differs from last year when the now-resolved actors’ and writers’ strikes pushed the most recent Season 12 to January 2024. Thankfully, viewers don’t have to wait as long as last year to see the Firehouse 51 crew again! As for the episode count, we expect the series to have a standard full season with around 20 – 24 episodes.
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