According to Deadline, Chicago Fire is set to lose two of its key cast members, as Daniel Kyri (The T, Night’s End) and Jake Lockett (Chicago Med, Revenge Ride) will reportedly leave the series after its current 13th season. While the show has not yet been officially renewed for season 14, sources close to production say both actors will not be returning if it does move forward.
Kyri, who first appeared as firefighter Darren Ritter in season seven and was later promoted to a series regular, has spent seven seasons on the NBC drama. Lockett joined more recently in season 11 as firefighter Sam Carver and similarly became a main cast member after continuing to make appearances from then on. Both characters have had significant story arcs this season, and with filming still underway, there’s a chance their exits will be addressed on-screen.
Deadline reports that their departures come amidst reported budget cuts across Wolf Entertainment’s slate of NBC shows, which include the Chicago and Law & Order franchises. As negotiations for contract renewals continue behind the scenes, insiders suggest this may be just the beginning of a broader effort to reduce costs, possibly affecting cast size and episode counts.
Kyri’s character, Ritter, has had a strong run on the show, recently navigating the emotional fallout of a breakup with Officer Dwayne Monroe after he hesitated to move in with him. Meanwhile, Lockett’s Carver has been on a personal journey of addiction recovery after relapsing and entering rehab, working to repair his relationships and slowly rebuild trust at the firehouse.
Despite the shake-ups, Chicago Fire continues to be one of NBC’s most popular scripted series, both on traditional broadcast and streaming platforms. Deadline states that representatives for NBC, Universal Television and Wolf Entertainment have declined to comment further on the cast changes or the show’s renewal status.