The state of Taylor Kinney’s Chicago Fire future has been fluctuating

for a couple of seasons now, but one recent update has reassured

me that Kelly Severide is here to stay (at least, for season 13).

 NBC’s procedural drama is heading into its 13th season in the fall of 2024, and Kinney is set to reprise his role as Severide in the upcoming episodes. The actor’s role in Chicago Fire was previously up in the air. However, perhaps we can finally stop worrying about Severide joining the long list of One Chicago characters not returning in 2024.

Four Chicago Fire actors exited the TV show in season 12 alone. From Kara Killmer’s Sylvie Brett in episode 6 to Eamonn Walker’s Chief Boden leaving Chicago Fire in the finale, it’s been a rough year for fans. Losing another original cast member might be too much for them to handle (I know it would be for me). So, knowing that Severide isn’t going anywhere when Chicago Fire season 13 premieres is a huge relief.

Why There Have Been Concerns Over Taylor Kinney’s Future In Chicago Fire

Kinney Has Been Absent From Several Episodes

Towards the end of Chicago Fire season 11, NBC announced that Taylor Kinney was taking a leave of absence from the series. The report claimed that the actor was dealing with a “personal matter.” As a result, from episode 15 until the season 11 finale, Kinney didn’t appear, making episode 14 the last time viewers saw him during the season. To explain Kinney’s absence, Severide was invited to an OFI training camp in Alabama. However, because he didn’t return for the finale, the writers had to further excuse why Severide had been gone for so long.

Without telling Stella, Severide joined an ATF investigation after finishing the OFI training camp. This seemingly indicated that the end was near for the married couple and that Kinney would never return to Chicago Fire. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case as the actor appeared in season 12. However, rumors about Kinney’s potential exit ran rampant and Severide’s obsession with arson investigation continued poking holes in his and Stella’s relationship. Consequently, I (along with many others) was afraid that the writers were setting up Kinney’s eventual departure via a divorce between Severide and Stella.

Taylor Kinney’s Kelly Severide Is In Front Of Chicago Fire Season 13’s Poster

Severide Is Finally Portrayed As The Main Character Again

Perhaps my almost two-year-long worry about Taylor Kinney leaving Chicago Fire can finally end after NBC released a new poster for season 13 on Instagram. In the photo, the firefighters are climbing a firetruck’s ladder. Severide is at the front, while Kidd, Cruz, and Herrmann are following behind him and Violet and Novak are on the ground looking up at them. With Severide at the forefront of the season 13 promotional poster, he’s the main focus. So, it’s safe to assume that Severide is not only staying but will also be the main character of Chicago Fire season 13.

Heading into the Chicago Fire season 13 premiere, everyone should be able to rest easy that Severide is here to stay. It wouldn’t make sense to draw attention to Kinney’s character if he was leaving. Plus, the Chicago Fire season 12 finale set up multiple storylines for Severide.

As seen in NBC’s brief teaser trailer for the upcoming seasons of the One Chicago TV shows, Severide will seemingly butt heads with the new chief, Dom Pascal, when Chicago Fire season 13 premieres. The video shows Pascal telling Firehouse 51 about the many changes he will enact under his rule. Severide later explains, “There’s something about the new chief that is a little off,” to an unseen character. Given that Severide’s reaction to Pascal is the only one highlighted in the trailer, he will likely be one of the characters hesitant about the new chief.

Meanwhile, Severide will also deal with the major Benny Severide twist from the Chicago Fire season 12 finale in season 13. Now that Severide knows Jack Damon is his half-brother, Kinney’s character has a lot on his plate. Showrunner Andrea Newman told Entertainment Weekly:

“We kept feeling like this is haunted season 13. It’s kind of like people’s past ghosts coming back. That’s very true for Severide, where he’s worked really hard to put his father in the rearview mirror and become his own firefighter. So to suddenly have Benny’s son, his half-brother, appear in his life, it makes him have to re-explore all of that stuff. So it brings up a lot for Severide and that relationship is complicated and juicy and there’s lots of stuff that will play out between the two of them early on.

Plus, season 12 ended with Severide telling Kidd he was ready to start a family. The episode never showed Kidd’s response to her husband’s revelation, and it’s possible that she might not be on the same page as Severide. Only time will tell what’s truly in store for Severide’s story in Chicago Fire season 13, though.