‘Chicago Fire’ Season 12: Release Date Prediction, News, Cast, and More

The procedural drama Chicago Fire is coming back for its twelfth season. After 11 successful seasons, it’s no surprise fans still want more. However, the wait will be a bit longer, as the series isn’t expected to return until sometime in 2024.

On that note, here’s what we know so far about Chicago Fire Season 12. Spoilers ahead for Season 11.

Chicago Fire Returns for Season 12

Chicago Fire was renewed for a twelfth season after the success of the 11th. NBC renewed the show in April 2023 along with other One Chicago shows. Coincidentally, when NBC announced the renewal, it also reversed its previous suggestions of splitting up the other One Chicago shows in a programming change.

The One Chicago Universe was created by Dick Wolf, and Chicago Fire follows the men and women of Firehouse 51 as they face emergencies in the city.

Chicago Fire made its debut in 2012 and became a hit. And with its success emerged two other spinoffs – Chicago Med and Chicago PD. Each of the One Chicago shows has a self-contained story, but what makes the show even more compelling is how the premise allows for crossovers.

Chicago Fire Cast

Since Season 11, it’s safe to say there will be some casting changes with some cast members whose characters’ futures are uncertain. For Chicago Fire Season 12, we can expect most of the main cast to return. This includes Miranda Rae Mayo as Stella Kidd, Kara Killmer as Sylvie Brett, Hanako Greensmith as Violet Mikami, and David Eigenberg as Christopher Herrmann. However, they would be appearing in fewer episodes because of budget cuts.

Also expected to return are Eamonn Walker as Wallace Boden, Joe Minoso as Joe Cruz, Alberto Rosende as Blake Gallo, Jake Lockett as Sam Carver, and Daniel Kyri as Darren Ritter.

Unknown Returning Cast Members

Taylor Kinney, who plays Lieutenant Kelly Severide, had to take a leave of absence from the show for personal reasons. Kinney’s character also left Chicago in an episode that aired on March 1, 2023. It’s unclear whether Kinney will return to the show as neither NBC nor the actor has commented on the long-term commitment to the drama.

The same could be said for Jesse Spencer, who plays Matt Casey. While Spencer did not announce anything, he was pressed in April if he would be coming back.

“I cannot…answer that question,” Spencer told Deadline at the time. “The potential to come back would be awesome. I’m always open to that but you know, the ball isn’t really in my court. I always told Derek Haas that if there were episodes that he thought would be appropriate for me to come back, then I’m totally open to that because I want to see the old gang and I love working there. But in terms of me coming back full-time or something, I have no idea.”

It’s also unclear if Christian Stolte, who plays Randall “Mouch” McHolland, will also return given the character’s fate in Season 11.

What Happened in Season 11

In the Season 11 finale of Chicago Fire, Mouch was hit by shrapnel and underwent surgery. However, Mouch ended up bleeding out while Hermann called on Chicago Med staff for help. At the same time, Matt proposed to Sylvie while on assignment in Chicago. While it wasn’t certain how Sylvie would respond, it’s known that she doesn’t want to keep their relationship long-distance. Sylvie adopted a baby too.

Matt left for Portland to take care of the two teenage sons of his late friend Andy Darden. But with one off to college and the other on his way to do the same, there might not be a reason for Matt to stick around in Portland any longer.

Meanwhile, Severide was sent to an OFI training camp in Alabama, leaving his wife Stella behind. But in a later explanation, Severide was revealed to have left the camp after agreeing to look into an arson case. Severide did not tell his wife or his colleagues at Firehouse 51. Stella only discovered the news after one of the academy leaders told Joe Cruz.

Stella ended up taking her own leave from the firehouse to try and get Kelly to come back.

What to Expect for Season 12

For Chicago Fire Season 12, we can expect answers to the questions left by Season 11. The coming season would possibly answer whether Stella could bring Kelly back or if Sylvie says yes to Matt’s proposal. Should Sylvie say yes, there’s the question of whether Matt will move back to Chicago or if Sylvie will leave for Portland. But the biggest question of them all is what would happen to Mouch.

When pressed how Ritter would react to Mouch possibly dying after the events of Season 11, Kyri said, “I think he wouldn’t.”

Mouch’s possible demise would affect everyone, not just Ritter as Mouch is seen as a very beloved character. To kill off Mouch would turn everyone’s lives at Firehouse 51 upside down. Eigenberg, who plays Herrmann, shared that it would hurt him just as much as it would hurt his character if Mouch died. The actor said that he and Stolte have a brotherhood.

“I don’t know what they’re going to do, but I don’t want to lose Christian because it’d be a huge hole in my life. There’s a lot of love on our show. When we come back from the strike, we’ll be in our 12th season. We’ve been together a lot,” said Eigenberg.

A key plot that could change the narrative for Chicago Fire Season 12 is whether Kinney will be back as Severide. Should Kinney not return, then it would open up a plot of getting another character to fill his place.

Chicago Fire Season 12 Release Date News

There’s no official release date yet for Chicago Fire Season 12, but it’s slated for release in 2024. NBC also announced that the show will no longer air on Wednesday nights. 

This marks the first time in Chicago Fire’s run that it will not premiere on Wednesdays. In place of the One Chicago shows, NBC will be premiering the shows that were already filmed. This includes the second half of Magnum P.I. Season 5 and new episodes of Quantum Leap. But more likely than not, NBC’s fall lineup will be primarily reruns.

Production of Chicago Fire Season 12 is expected to begin once the SAG-AFTRA ends, as the WGA strike has officially ended. So it’s still unclear when we’ll actually get Season 12. For now, fans can rewatch the first 11 seasons of Chicago Fire on Peacock.