As the city of Chicago braces for the January 7, 2026 return of the One Chicago franchise, a leaked script from the 21st District has sent shockwaves through the production. While fans are worried about Burgess’s promotion, the real terror lies in a secret file titled “The 10-Year Audit.”
Forget the “Old School” justice. Sgt. Hank Voight is reportedly entering a “Blood-Money” pact with the new Mayor that will systematically dismantle the Intelligence Unit from the inside out.
1. THE ‘OFF-THE-BOOKS’ EXECUTION: Who Really Killed the Fall Finale Villain?
The fall finale left us with a body count, but a forensic “glitch” in the 2026 premiere, titled “The Cost of Survival,” suggests the fatal shot didn’t come from a police-issued weapon.
The “Ghost” Shooter: Rumors from the set suggest that Jesse Lee Soffer (Jay Halstead) was digitally inserted into a background shot of the crime scene.
The Theory: Halstead isn’t in Bolivia; he’s back in Chicago as a black-ops assassin working for a shadow government agency. His mission? To “clean up” Voight’s messes before the 2026 federal audits begin.
2. THE $15,000,000 ‘SETTLEMENT’ TRAP: Why Dante Torres is ‘Going Under’
Benjamin Levy Aguilar (Dante Torres) has become the show’s new breakout star, but his 2026 arc is looking more like a “exit interview.”
The Undercover Sabotage: Leaked plot points indicate that Torres will be sent deep undercover into a cartel linked to the Mayor’s own family.
The Setup: Insiders claim Voight is knowingly sending Torres into a “suicide mission” to satisfy a $15 million blackmail demand from City Hall. If Torres survives, the Mayor falls. If he dies, the Intelligence Unit’s secrets stay buried forever.
3. THE ‘BURZEK’ PRE-NUP SCANDAL: Marina Squerciati’s Legal Stand-Off
The long-awaited wedding of Kim Burgess and Adam Ruzek is finally scheduled for the Spring 2026 arc, but the “dots” don’t lead to an altar.
The Asset Protection: Rumors suggest that Marina Squerciati has negotiated a “character-specific” clause in her contract that allows Burgess to leave the show with a full pension buyout if Ruzek is killed off.
The Divorce Before the I-Do: Fans noticed that in the latest 2026 teaser, Burgess isn’t wearing her engagement ring. The theory? Ruzek’s “leave of absence” was actually a legal separation triggered by a secret investigation into his involvement with Voight’s “off-the-books” fund.
4. THE ‘AI-VOIGHT’ PROTOCOL: Is Jason Beghe Actually on Set?
This is the most “giật tít” (shocking) tech-leak of the year: Production logs for the January episodes show that Jason Beghe spent less than 10 hours on the physical set for the first three episodes of 2026.
The Deepfake Commander: To manage Beghe’s health and schedule, the studio is reportedly using advanced voice-cloning and body doubles for Voight’s iconic “Cage” scenes.
The Legacy Project: This is a trial run for a 2027 spin-off where a “Digital Voight” acts as an unseen narrator/mentor, allowing the real Beghe to retire while the character continues to haunt the streets of Chicago.
THE VERDICT: THE UNIT IS COMPROMISED
The Intelligence Unit used to be a family. In 2026, it’s a bargaining chip. Between Halstead’s shadow return, Torres’s suicide mission, and Voight’s digital ghost, the 21st District is no longer about justice—it’s about who can sell their secrets for the highest price.
When the badge hits the table on January 7, pay attention to the silence. It’s the sound of a legacy being liquidated.
