Chicago Fire star Taylor Kinney is reportedly taking a leave of absence from the hit NBC drama series. Chicago Fire premiered on the network in 2012 as a sister show to Chicago Med and Chicago P.D., which are all connected Dick Wolf productions. Created by Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, the series stars Taylor Kinney as leading firefighter Kelly Serveride alongside Christian Stolte, Eamonn Walker, Joe Minoso, Randy Flagler, David Eigenberg, and Miranda Rae Mayo, among many others stationed at Firehouse 51. Kinney's Severide has appeared in 229 of the 230 total episodes of the firefighter series.
According to a report from Deadline, Chicago Fire star Taylor Kinney, who plays fan-favorite Kelly Severide in the series, is taking a leave of absence from the show to tend to a personal matter as season 11 airs on NBC. The report additionally states that future scripts will have to be rewritten to accommodate the actor's absence. Deadline also states that cast and crew were informed of Kinney’s leave earlier Friday. Severide has gone through many ups and downs in the series, but he recently married another lead firefighter at the end of season 10. No details have been released regarding how the show will handle his absence. Check out Deadline's report below.
How Taylor Kinney's Absence Will Affect Chicago Fire
Kinney has been an integral part of Chicago Fire since the series premiered on NBC as part of its Chicago-set procedural shows in 2012. The fan-favorite character has been a mainstay in the series, having married fellow firefighter Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo). The two characters were thought to be on the verge of starting a family, but up to this point, they haven't done so. It's clear that Kinney's absence will play a huge role in the future of the show, though, with Deadline reporting that previous scripts that were written, presumably for season 12, would have to be altered in order to explain his in-universe absence and write the character's scenes out of the show's upcoming episodes.
The Dick Wolf procedural losing a key character will be a big blow to the show's narrative. Severide and Kidd's ongoing relationship is one of the most important love stories in the series, meaning that creator Michael Brandt will now have to find a way to make the star's absence make sense. Series co-creator Derek Haas recently exited the show to work on other projects as well. Plenty of options could be on the table, but the in-universe explanation should be thoughtfully considered, as it will still need to keep up with the long-running Chicago Fire canon. Kinney has appeared in all but one of the series' episodes, so it will be a difficult task, but that point is secondary to Kinney being given the opportunity to address his personal matter.
When Will Taylor Kinney Return To Chicago Fire?
There's no indication yet as to when Kinney will return to the show, but it seems very unlikely that he will be in Chicago Fire season 12. All Chicago Fire season 11 episodes are in the bank and in the process of airing on NBC, so the beloved character should be in line to appear in the season's remaining episodes. Beyond that, it appears as though it's up to Kinney to make the decision of when he will return, as it should be. With how important Severide and Kidd's relationship is, his absence could spell dramatic shifts in the story being told. If and when he does return to Chicago Fire, it will undoubtedly be celebrated by its massive audience.
Source: Deadline