“New Cast Member Joins “9-1-1″ Season 8, Says Kenneth Choi”

In an exciting update for fans of the hit first-responder drama 9-1-1, star Kenneth Choi, who plays the ever-resilient Howie Han, shares some exciting news about the upcoming Season 8, and while the show has made a big moved from Fox to ABC for a shortened 9-1-1 Season 7, it didn’t miss a beat. The show has continued pulling in close to 9 million viewers across three days and multiple platforms and scoring a 1.84 in the coveted 18-49 demographic, which is a massive win for the series, hitting its highest numbers in that metric since May 2022, a feat that undoubtedly prompted the renewal for Season 8.

During an interview with Screen Rant at the Tribeca Film Festival, where Choi was promoting his movie All That We Love, the actor confirmed that filming for the already-confirmed Season 8 will begin in July, though he couldn’t spill any plot specifics except to tease that fans can expect “probably a lot of turmoil, a lot of trauma and disasters,” which sounds like par for the course for the high-stakes drama. He said:

“They just started the writers’ room, so we have no idea what’s going to happen. They just started the writers’ room, I think, last Monday. We started in July.”

What Can We Expect from ‘9-1-1’ Season 8?

Season 8 of 9-1-1 has a lot of story threads to pick up, especially after the impact of the Hollywood strikes shortened 9-1-1 Season 7 to just ten episodes. The shortened run left some fans feeling like the plot developments were a bit rushed and that the team dynamics that made the show shine were somewhat lacking, but despite the shorter season, it was packed with major events for the ensemble cast.

Howie and Maddie’s wedding was a highlight, though it wasn’t without drama as Howie faced a life-threatening crisis. Buck’s storyline took a significant turn as he realized his romantic attraction to Tommy and came out to his friends in the 118, adding a new layer to his character. Meanwhile, Bobby and Athena’s relationship was put to the test during a cruise ship disaster in the three-part premiere, and by the end of Season 7, Bobby is no longer the leader of the 118, setting up a very different dynamic for Season 8.

Peter Krause’s Bobby Nash faces an uncertain future at the end of Season 7, sending countless storylines in an unprecedented direction for Season 8, setting the stage for big swings that could redefine the series. As much as some viewers felt Season 7 was rushed, the hope is that a more routine episode count in Season 8 will offer a chance to build on the existing stories and delve deeper into the core characters’ lives.

Why Did ‘9-1-1’ Move to ABC?

When 9-1-1 debuted on Fox in 2018, it was produced by 20th Century Fox Television, which was then part of the same company as Fox Broadcasting. However, in 2019, Disney acquired Fox Studios, including the rights to 9-1-1, while Fox Broadcasting remained with Fox Corporation. As TV series age, production costs often rise due to renegotiated contracts. This was the case with 9-1-1, making it increasingly expensive to produce. Facing these higher costs, Fox Broadcasting decided to cancel 9-1-1 but chose to keep the less expensive spin-off, 9-1-1: Lone Star, which is expected to return for a new season in the fall. Disney, recognizing the value of 9-1-1, decided to move the show to ABC’s Thursday night lineup. This strategic move has paid off, with ratings for the seventh-season premiere up on both linear TV and streaming platforms. Disney’s decision to retain 9-1-1 reflects its confidence in the show’s continued appeal and profitability.

9-1-1 continues to be available for streaming on Hulu, stay tuned for more news on Season 8 as filming begins next month. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.