"Chicago Fire" fans can breathe easy. Taylor Kinney is set to return to Firehouse 51 in the upcoming season, as confirmed by Us Weekly.
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Kinney, 42, will make his comeback at the start of Season 12 of the NBC series. However, the extent of his involvement in the season, whether he will be a regular cast member, and how frequently he will appear is still uncertain, according to TVLine.
Kinney portrayed Lieutenant Kelly Severide when "Chicago Fire" made its debut in 2012. After 11 seasons, he temporarily stepped away from the role in January, citing personal reasons for his departure. This news sent shockwaves through the show, as the cast and crew reportedly found out about Kinney's leave on the same day it became public knowledge.
Kinney's final appearance in Season 11 took place in February. The show explained his absence by revealing Severide's participation in an arson investigation training program in Alabama. In the season finale in May, Stella Kidd, Severide's wife, announced her intention to retrieve her husband from Alabama, further heightening anticipation for his return.
In addition to Kinney's return, fans were treated to the comeback of former "Chicago Fire" star Jesse Spencer, who played Captain Matt Casey. He reprised his role in two episodes following his departure in 2021, most notably as Severide's best man in a wedding ceremony with Kidd. Spencer's return stirred up excitement, especially with the unexpected proposal to paramedic Sylvie Brett, which left the storyline hanging.
While fans eagerly awaited the return of "Chicago Fire" for Season 12 in the fall of 2023, the production was delayed due to the ongoing strikes in Hollywood.
The WGA strike concluded in September after five months of protests, as the union reached a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). However, the SAG-AFTRA strike is still ongoing, and the resumption of filming for "Chicago Fire" and other shows in Dick Wolf's crime series awaits their agreement with the AMPTP.
