Firehouse 51 is heating up once more — with a new face stepping into the chaos. Brandon Larracuente, best known for The Good Doctor and On Call, is joining Chicago Fire as a series regular in Season 14, according to Variety.
While details about his character are still tightly under wraps, speculation is already ablaze that he may be filling the boots left behind by Daniel Kyri (Darren Ritter) and Jake Lockett (Sam Carver), both of whom are exiting the series amid budget adjustments.
Carver’s potential departure was teased in the Season 13 finale when he applied for a job in Denver — only to later share a surprise kiss with Violet, suggesting a romantic spark that fans weren’t ready to extinguish. Meanwhile, Ritter’s exit came without any mention in the finale, leaving viewers stunned and wanting answers.
In a recent interview with TVLine, showrunner Andrea Newman expressed hope that both actors could return to wrap up their arcs. “It’s a great thing that we have people come and go on this show. They’ll leave and then we’ll get to see them again,” she said. “We love Jake, we love the character of Carver… Anything could happen.”
As for Ritter’s fate, Newman hinted that the story may still be evolving: “We’re waiting to see how much time we get with Daniel [Kyri], who we love, and the character, who we love. There’s lots of possibilities there.”
Despite the shake-ups, Chicago Fire’s veteran cast remains strong. Both Taylor Kinney (Lt. Kelly Severide) and Miranda Rae Mayo (Lt. Stella Kidd) have signed on for Season 14, along with Dermot Mulroney, who plays Chief Dom Pascal.
With Larracuente stepping into the fire and several lingering storylines unresolved, Chicago Fire Season 14 promises big changes, emotional twists — and more than a few flames to fan.
🔥 Chicago Fire returns this fall on NBC.
