Chicago Med Adding Major New Character in Wake of Cast Exodus (Exclusive)
Chicago Med is staffing back up, adding a new doc for the upcoming ninth season — and he’s already got a history with one of the hospital’s finest.
Casting is underway for an early thirtysomething male Emergency Department doctor who has a past connection to Dr. Charles (played by Oliver Platt), TVLine has learned exclusively. The new character — who is set to recur on the NBC drama, with the potential for a series-regular upgrade in Season 10 — comes from a troubled background, which led him to cross paths with Dr. Charles when he was growing up.
NBC had no comment on the casting news.
The new addition comes in the wake of several series-regular cast member exits during Season 8, beginning with the departure of Guy Lockard, who played ED pediatrician Dr. Dylan Scott, in the season opener. Original stars Brian Tee (aka Dr. Ethan Choi) and Nick Gehlfuss (Dr. Will Halstead) also said goodbye to the show after eight years, with both of their characters reuniting with their departed love interests, April Sexton and Natalie Manning, respectively. Additionally, Asjha Cooper, who recurred as resident Vanessa Taylor, was written out when her character decided to take a job in the Philippines.
The returning ensemble for Season 9 includes Oliver Platt (Dr. Daniel Charles), S. Epatha Merkerson (hospital head Sharon Goodwin), Marlyne Barrett (charge nurse Maggie Lockwood), Dominic Rains (Dr. Crockett Marcel), Steven Weber (Dr. Dean Archer) and Jessy Schram (Dr. Hannah Asher).
Chicago Med Season 9 does not yet have a premiere date, but the medical drama is expected to return some time in early 2024 for a shortened 13-episode season following the conclusion of the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes.
In other #OneChicgo news, as previously reported, Chicago Fire leading man Taylor Kinney will return as Lieutenant Kelly Severide for at least the start of Season 12, while Tracy Spiridakos, who plays detective Hailey Upton on Chicago P.D., will depart the cop drama after the upcoming 11th season.
#OneChicago fans, got any casting ideas for Med’s new doc? Hit the comments!
Chicago Med got Stupid. At least the doctors were. (writers problem) Maybe that is why they are losing cast members. Some of the acting left a lot to be desired also. My opinion. Quit watching a couple of seasons ago and never missed it.
In my opinion, the show started going downhill once Colin Donnell (Connor Rhodes) was written out. I haven’t watched since he left the show.
Same here, Jill. I watched his last episode & that was it.
Was that when they introduced Crockett? Cause the show has become intolerable since he arrived. Then they doubled down and added Dr Archer – who is literally the worst. I am definitely considering not watching. The final straw will be if they try to pair Archer with Hannah. If they do that I’m done.
I’ve had that problem with Med since the start but just add it to the list of things on TV for which I have to suspend my disbelief. Criminal case that gets tried a few weeks or says after an arrest? They take months or longer to start. Civil case where court is a couple of days after the client comes in the door? They can take years in real life. So I have to accept there are more episodes of Med where a doctor or nurse would be suspended or fired or lose their license for what they did than episodes without such an offense. It’s on the writers. But, while I am not into the soapy aspects of Med, I still enjoy the medical mysteries.
I thought I saw somewhere that they were bringing back Kristen Hager as Dr. Stevie Hammer.
I only started watching when Steven Weber joined the show.
It’s no ER, but it’ll do.
Glad Goodwin’s still around she’s to Med what Boden and Voight are to Fire and PD. Sad as I am to see Will and Ethan go I’m glad they got the Disney endings with Natalie and April respectively. Asher’s been a nice change I figured she’d be Will’s rebound after Natalie left but in the end she and Will were mor like Shay and Severide. I’ve also enjoyed the banter between her and Archer its weird mentor mentee relatioship like Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch in the MCU before Clint and Wanda went renegade. Can’t wait to see whothe new cast will be.
I loved the former medical drama, ‘The Resident’, why not bring some of the actors from that show? The main character, the Indian guy, or some of the other characters that were on it.
I agree! Or from New Amsterdam? Both shows were excellent and should have never been canceled. So, yes, grab some of those wonderful actors for Med!
Most shows go through ups and downs. My hope is they cast an actor that will bring a new energy to the show. Dr. Charles is my favorite character so I hope the new cast member, like they said, will bring a great story to the new season.
They need to bring back Colin Donnell.
I’ve always wondered how much of the cast turnover on the Chicago shows is due to the actually filming in Chicago. If you’ve been living in Hollywood, it’s got to be quite a jolt.
I lost interest once April and Ethan left.
Here’s a scoop: Taylor Kenney is returning to Chicago Fire, but Kara Killmer is leaving half way through the season. Per stand-in casting.