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.
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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).
#OneChicago Cast Exits, Ranked
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!
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