Chicago Med underwent a reboot for its tenth season with a changing of the guard. Allen MacDonald took over as showrunner of the Dick Wolf/NBC hit hospital drama, spicing up the personal drama for the characters and adding some very intriguing medical cases.
When it comes to Season 11, his plan is “to take everything a step further but still be on the same path,” he told Parade. “I told the writers that in every episode [of Season 10], I want everyone to cry in every episode, and I want everybody to laugh in every episode. I want to continue that emotional torture for the audience as much as I possibly can, but take the characters in different directions.”
One big reveal that MacDonald scripted for Dr. Caitlin Lenox (Sarah Ramos) last season was the reveal that she was carrying the gene for GSS prion that she inherited from her mother. Suffice it to say, she will be a good example of a character who will be evolving.
“She has this big change in her life,” MacDonald shared. “She’s going to go down a different path in this next season. She’s still going to be the Caitlin Lennox you know and love or don’t love, depending on who you are, but she has new information now. We’re trying to have the characters experience things that will set them on a new trajectory.”
With that tease, and more below, here’s what we know about Season 11 of Chicago Med:
What is the release date for Chicago Med Season 11?
Chicago Med will premiere on Wednesday, Oct. 1, on NBC.
What time will Chicago Med Season 11 be on?
When Chicago Med returns for its 11th season on Oct. 1, it will be back in its Wednesday night at 8 p.m. ET/PT timeslot.
Related: Chicago Med Boss Teases Layoffs and Baby Drama in Season 10 Finale (Exclusive)
Who is in the cast of Chicago Med Season 11?
S. Epatha Merkerson
Merkerson plays Sharon Goodwin, the chief administrator of Gaffney Chicago Medical Center.
Oliver Platt
Platt plays Dr. Daniel Charles, chief of the psychiatry department.
Steven Weber
Weber plays Dr. Dean Archer, the former head of the ED (Emergency Department).
Jessy Schram
Schram plays Dr. Hannah Asher, a Board-Certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist and recovering addict.
Luke Mitchell
Mitchell plays Dr. Mitch Ripley, an attending physician in the Emergency Department.
Sarah Ramos
Ramos plays Dr. Caitlin Lenox, the head of the ED.
Darren Barnet
Barnet plays Dr. John Frost, a pediatric resident.
Who is leaving Chicago Med in Season 11?
Marlyne Barrett as Maggie Lockwood
Marlyne Barrett is exiting her role as charge nurse of the emergency department. The reason cited is “personal,” and word is that the door is being left open for her to return.
John Earl Jelks as Dr. Dennis Washington
Washington was written out as part of the budget-cut storyline. Sharon Goodwin tried to renegotiate his deal, but his ego wouldn’t stand for it and he resigned.
Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut as Dr. Naomi Howard
Naomi was caught up in the Dr. Hayes (Brendan Hines) scandal, when he was fired for inappropriate behavior. Naomi could have stayed, but she felt betrayed by Lenox, because Naomi had revealed what happened between her and Hayes in confidence when she realized that Lenox was going to go out of town with him. But Lenox felt she had to report the matter to Goodwin, which legally, she did. So, Naomi resigned to get a fresh start somewhere else.
What happened at the end of Chicago Med Season 10?
The Season 10 finale was jammed packed. Sharon Goodwin (S. Epatha Merkerson) was once again tasked with making cuts to hospital personnel, and interestingly, one of the cuts was her boyfriend Dennis Washington.
Hannah discovered she’s pregnant – an unplanned pregnancy, obviously, because she had planned to be her sister Lizzy’s (Erin Anderson) surrogate and when she finally broke the news to her sister, she was furious. That said, the identity of the baby’s father was left up in the air.
Dr. Daniel Charles’ mother died unexpectedly while visiting the hospital, and her funeral did see the return of Dr. Charles’ two daughters, Anna (Hannah Riley) and Robin (Mekia Cox). Anna is having some major issues, and Dr. Charles learned in the finale that he wasn’t as successful at parenting that he thought he was.
And finally, to convince her brother to take the test for the GSS Prion gene, Caitlin Lenox had to agree to take it as well. Her brother’s results were negative, but hers were positive, and she lied about them.
Are there any spoilers for Chicago Med Season 11?
Nick Gehlfuss will return as a guest star, reprising his role as Dr. Will Halstead. The reason for his return has not yet been revealed, nor has the number of episodes in which he will appear.
Also, here’s more from our chat with MacDonald, who says he will be launching things forward with specific characters.
“With Lenox, she’s lived her whole life with this deadly disease hanging over her head that she had the security of not knowing for sure, now she knows for sure she has it. She’s going to die young. Whether that’s in 10, 12 or 15 years, we don’t know. I think Lenox is going to start viewing her life differently and making decisions differently ,and her brother, too, by the way because now he knows he’s OK.”
