Going into Season 13, another new face will be appearing on Firehouse 51. According to Deadline, Chicago Fire has decided to bring in a new person rather than promoting one of the current senior members of the fire department to the position Boden once held. After Eamonn Walker left his regular role on the series, the character was promoted to a higher position in CFD, which took him away from his longtime residence at the fire department. Chicago Fire will reportedly bring in a new Miami police chief named Dom Pascal, but that could change later. The characters have not been cast yet, as the production team is currently looking for someone to bring them to life.
Like his successor, this character will be a man with extensive experience working in the fire department. Dom started his career at CFD, but has been chief of police in Miami for the past ten years. He has been praised for being fun-loving and working well under pressure. His qualities are not the same as Boden’s, and his leadership style is quite different from Boden’s. In terms of his personal life, Dom has a similar past to Boden, as they are not together with their wives. Boden is divorced from his first wife, while Dom is estranged from his wife.
Why did Boden leave ‘Chicago Fire’?
Walker’s departure from the series is notable, especially since he was a main cast member of the series from the start. Showrunner Andrea Newman teased the departure before the end, saying: “Boden has had to deal with a lot of changes at home (with his stepson James) and at 51, and has learned a lot along the way, including about himself. A shocking incident in the finale will highlight what it means to be a leader to him, and everyone close to him will be greatly affected by the decision he makes.”
Chicago Fire season 12 was a historic season, seeing departures and new arrivals. Several of the show’s main cast members left at various points during the season, and the show brought in new faces to try to fill out the dwindling staff of Firehouse 51. Alberto Rosende was the first to leave in the first season, when he left with his aunt to learn more about his extended family. Soon after, Rome Flynn was brought in to replace Rosende’s character Gallo. Flynn left after six episodes, and the reason was never revealed. It’s unclear whether the character will return in season 13, but since Flynn will appear in a major role in the upcoming Godfather of Harlem, it seems unlikely.
Kara Killmer left the show after a decade; the void her character left behind was filled by her co-stars. That still leaves a gap in Ambulance 61 that Jocelyn Huddon has been cast to fill. Hudon is expected to appear in the upcoming season as Paramedic Novak. Michael Bradway has been cast to fill Flynn’s spot. He’s expected to have a major arc in the upcoming season after it was revealed that his character is related to someone at the fire station. Other supporting characters have joined the cast for the season, including Paramedic Lennox (Wesam Keesh) and Ritter’s secret boyfriend Dwayne Morris (Samuel B. Jackson). It’s unclear whether these characters will appear in the upcoming season.
