The state of Taylor Kinney’sChicago Firefuture has been fluctuating for a couple of seasons now, butone recent update has reassured me that Kelly Severide is here to stay (at least, for season 13).NBC’s procedural drama is heading into its 13th season in the fall of 2024, and Kinney is set to reprise his role as Severide in the upcoming episodes. The actor’s role inChicago Firewas previously up in the air. However, perhaps we can finally stop worrying about Severide joining the long list ofOne Chicagocharacters not returning in 2024.
Chicago Fireseason 13 will return to its full season format, consisting of 22 episodes, starting on Wednesday, July 11, 2025, at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.
FourChicago Fireactors exited the TV show in season 12 alone. From Kara Killmer’s Sylvie Brett in episode 6 toEamonn Walker’s Chief Boden leavingChicago Firein the finale, it’s been a rough year for fans. Losing another original cast member might be too much for them to handle (I know it would be for me). So, knowing thatSeveride isn’t going anywhere whenChicago Fireseason 13 premieresis a huge relief.
Why There Have Been Concerns Over Taylor Kinney’s Future In Chicago Fire
Kinney Has Been Absent From Several Episodes
Towardsthe end ofChicago Fireseason 11,NBC announced that Taylor Kinney was taking a leave of absence from the series.The report claimed that the actor was dealing with a “personal matter.” As a result, from episode 15 until the season 11 finale, Kinney didn’t appear, making episode 14 the last time viewers saw him during the season. To explain Kinney’s absence, Severide was invited to an OFI training camp in Alabama. However, because he didn’t return for the finale, the writers had to further excuse why Severide had been gone for so long.
KaDee Strickland
Monica Pascal
Without telling Stella, Severide joined an ATF investigation after finishing the OFI training camp. This seemingly indicated that the end was near for the married couple and thatKinney would never return toChicago Fire. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case as the actor appeared in season 12. However,rumors about Kinney’s potential exit ran rampantand Severide’s obsession with arson investigation continued poking holes in his and Stella’s relationship. Consequently,I (along with many others) was afraid that the writers were setting up Kinney’s eventual departurevia a divorce between Severide and Stella.
Taylor Kinney’s Kelly Severide Is In Front Of Chicago Fire Season 13’s Poster
Severide Is Finally Portrayed As The Main Character Again
Perhaps my almost two-year-long worry aboutTaylor Kinney leavingChicago Firecan finally end after NBC released a new poster for season 13 onInstagram. In the photo, the firefighters are climbing a firetruck’s ladder. Severide is at the front, while Kidd, Cruz, and Herrmann are following behind him and Violet and Novak are on the ground looking up at them. WithSeveride at the forefront of the season 13 promotional poster,he’s the main focus. So, it’s safe to assume that Severide is not only staying but will also be the main character ofChicago Fireseason 13.
Heading intotheChicago Fireseason 13 premiere, everyone should be able to rest easy that Severide is here to stay. It wouldn’t make sense to draw attention to Kinney’s character if he was leaving. Plus,theChicago Fireseason 12 finale set up multiple storylines for Severide.
What To Expect From Severide’s Story In Chicago Fire Season 13
Severide Is Skeptical About The New Chief
As seen in NBC’s brief teasertrailer for the upcoming seasons of theOne ChicagoTV shows,Severide will seemingly butt heads with the new chief, Dom Pascal,whenChicago Fireseason 13 premieres. The video shows Pascal telling Firehouse 51 about the many changes he will enact under his rule. Severide later explains, “There’s something about the new chief that is a little off,” to an unseen character. Given that Severide’s reaction to Pascal is the only one highlighted in the trailer, he will likely be one of the characters hesitant about the new chief.
Chicago Fire Season 13’s Newest Couple Is Its Best Casey & Brett Replacement
A new couple continues to form in Chicago Fire season 13, and they are the show’s best chance to take Casey and Brett’s place in the procedural drama.
Meanwhile, Severide will also deal with themajor Benny Severide twist from theChicago Fireseason 12 finalein season 13. Now thatSeveride knows Jack Damon is his half-brother,Kinney’s character has a lot on his plate. Showrunner Andrea Newman toldEntertainment Weekly:
“We kept feeling like this is haunted season 13. It’s kind of like people’s past ghosts coming back. That’s very true for Severide, where he’s worked really hard to put his father in the rearview mirror and become his own firefighter. So to suddenly have Benny’s son, his half-brother, appear in his life, it makes him have to re-explore all of that stuff. So it brings up a lot for Severide and that relationship is complicated and juicy and there’s lots of stuff that will play out between the two of them early on.
Plus, season 12 ended withSeveride telling Kidd he was ready to start a family.The episode never showed Kidd’s response to her husband’s revelation, and it’s possible that she might not be on the same page as Severide. Only time will tell what’s truly in store for Severide’sstory inChicago Fireseason 13, though.
Chicago Fire
Cast
Chicago Fire follows the lives of firefighters, rescue squad members, and paramedics of Firehouse 51 in Chicago as they face professional and personal challenges, showcasing their dedication, teamwork, and resilience.
