Although Taylor Kinney has been confirmed to return in Chicago Fire season 12 as Severide, another character will be exiting the show afterward.
Chicago Fire will be losing a major cast member after season 12. The show, which is part of Dick Wolf’s One Chicago franchise and follows the ins and outs of a Chicago-based fire station, has run for 11 seasons, with season 12 expected to premiere in 2024. Although star Taylor Kinney – who plays Squad 3 leader Lieutenant Kelly Severide – stepped away from the show this January, it has been confirmed that he will be returning for the upcoming season.
Per TVLine, Kinney’s return will coincide with the final season for one of his co-stars. Kara Killmer, who joined the cast in season 3 as Paramedic Sylvie Brett, will be exiting the show. While she will return for Chicago Fire season 12 in some capacity, it is not yet known exactly how or when she will depart.
What’s Next For Kara Killmer After Chicago Fire?
Kara Killmer has devoted much of the last decade to her character on Chicago Fire. She was brought on in 2014 to fill the void left by Lauren German, whose paramedic character Leslie Shay died at the end of season 2. After 193 episodes in the role of Sylvie Brett and counting, it remains to be seen where Killmer’s career goes next.
At the time of writing, there are no officially announced projects in which Killmer is taking part. It’s possible that the actor is seeking to stretch her wings after such a long stint in the One Chicago franchise, as she hasn’t appeared in any role outside those shows (which also include Chicago Med and Chicago P.D.) since 2019. However, it seems entirely likely that she could have a new project lined up that simply has not been announced yet in the wake of the end of the 2023 actors strike.
At any rate, Killmer’s season 12 return will allow her to give her character the proper closure. Rather than the Chicago Fire season 11 finale being her final appearance, the writers can prepare an arc that gives the character a fitting sendoff. While it remains to be seen if the door is left open for Brett to possibly return, for the time being, the cast is experiencing a major shakeup.
