Chicago Fire Showrunner Reveals Why Severide Isn’t Getting Promoted
Chicago Fire will air its 13th season when the series returns to NBC in a few weeks. While the characters have been through various ups and downs in their careers, fans have been wondering if Lieutenant Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) will ever get promoted to Captain.
Showrunner Andrea Newman recently addressed fan concerns, telling TV Line that the character is focused on other things for now. “He’s got his focus on the thing he is obsessed with, which is arson and OFI, in addition to squad, which he loves,” she explained. “There’s a lot of politics the higher you go up in rank, and Severide has no interest in that. He’s a get-your-hands-dirty kind of guy. So arson is still very much on the forefront of his mind, the possibilities of moving to OFI are at the forefront of his mind, and all of that comes up. He’s dealing with all of that this season.”
While Severide’s work life story arc will remain constant, Season 13 will see a new Chief in charge of Firehouse 51 after Eamonn Walker (who played Wallace Boden) left the series at the end of Season 12. His successor is said to be an original character named Dom Pascal, who is starting his career with the CFD after previously serving as a fire chief in Miami, Florida. The character, who is yet to be cast, is described as “a cheerful person who works well under pressure, and whose leadership style differs from Boden’s. He and his wife are estranged.”
Chicago Fire Lost Various Cast Members
Other cast members who have recently left Chicago Fire include Kara Killmer, whose character Sylvie Brett married her true love, Matt Casey (played by Jesse Spencer, who also exited the series), and moved with their daughter to Portland. Alberto Rosende, who played Firefighter Candidate Blake Gallo from Seasons 8, also left during Season 12. Fortunately, the new season will see several new faces joining the cast, including Rome Jocelyn Hudon and Michael Bradway.
Created by Derek Haas and Michael Brandt, Chicago Fire debuted on NBC in 2012. The show celebrated its 250th episode with Season 12, Episode 11, “Inside Man.” Speaking to CBR in May, Newman offered some insight into what fans can expect going forward. “There’s the challenge of what’s the next cool call? But there’s also the challenge of like, what’s the next turn in the Severide-Kidd relationship?” she said.
“What’s the next little obstacle to throw in their path? And what’s the next step that can bring out the darker side to a character – something that triggers something for them, and they have a different kind of evolution. It’s been a constant challenge, but in the best way,” Newman continued. “[It’s] a real gift to have these characters that you want to see grow and take unexpected turns.
