Over the years, several original cast members have left “Chicago P.D.,” leaving the once robust team struggling to cover all bases. The latest departure of Tracy Spiridakos in Season 11 has created another void. As Season 12 approaches, the Intelligence unit needs new members to maintain its effectiveness. Showrunner Gwen Sigan has hinted at possibly introducing Bojana Novakovic’s character, Petrovic, as a replacement for Upton, though this isn’t confirmed. Even if it were, the team would still be stretched thin. Sigan discussed with TV Insider the idea of bringing new members to the Intelligence unit to refresh the team.
“It’s exciting to think about new ideas and a new character,” Sigan said. “A new character could shift the dynamics of the unit and bring new stories to tell. I think it will invigorate the show a lot to have somebody new come on.” Sigan’s thoughts align with NBCUniversal’s President of Programming and Strategy, Jeff Bader, who mentioned that cast changes help keep the “One Chicago” shows fresh.
Promotions Could Be On The Horizon for Intelligence Team Members
With Upton’s exit, there’s now a rank gap in Intelligence. She was the only detective, with the rest of the team being officers. When TV Insider asked LaRoyce Hawkins, who plays Kevin Atwater, about the potential impact of new team members, he offered an interesting perspective.
However, what do the decision-makers think? “It’s always a possibility,” Sigan said regarding promoting a current team member to detective. “Story-wise, it’s not as exciting as you might think because they do the same job, just with a different title.” She noted that while a promotion would bring a new title, it wouldn’t change the nature of the stories since the cases remain the same. “So yes, it’s definitely a possibility. I think they’re all ready for it; they’ve earned it,” Sigan concluded.
“Chicago P.D.” and the rest of “One Chicago” return on Wednesday, September 25. You can catch up on past seasons on Peacock.
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