Chicago Fire, the long-running NBC drama created by Dick Wolf, has entered a phase of internal tension that’s unsettling both on screen and off. The April 16 episode, “Post Mortem,” dropped a double bombshell: Daniel Kyri and Jake Lockett are leaving the show after season 13. The news, as Deadline reported, came just as the episode aired, leaving viewers stunned and emotionally unprepared.
Kyri, who portrayed Darren Ritter for seven seasons, and Lockett, the charming Sam Carver, were fan favorites. Their characters played major roles, including one of the show’s most talked-about romantic arcs. However, their exits aren’t about character development. According to Deadline, these decisions stem from NBC and Wolf Entertainment‘s ongoing efforts to slash production costs—an unsettling reality that could signal even more cast shake-ups ahead.
More Exits Might Be Coming
Deadline revealed that NBC is conducting internal reviews across its Wolf Entertainment productions to find further budget-cutting opportunities. Several Chicago Fire cast contracts are up for renewal, and executives are now determining who’s essential and who’s expendable. This development has fans on edge, especially since characters like Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo), Herrmann (David Eigenberg), and Severide (Taylor Kinney) have had increasingly sporadic screen time.
This strategy didn’t happen overnight. Attentive viewers have noticed characters being left out of episodes where they play no major role, a move that clearly points to a tighter budget. While this approach is common in veteran shows, the fact that permanent exits are now happening makes the situation all the more worrying.
Fewer Episodes, Leaner Budgets
Another concern raised by Deadline is that Chicago Fire might shorten its seasons. While season 13 is slated for 22 episodes, upcoming seasons might dip below 20 if the show is renewed. This follows a broader industry trend where studios trim episode counts to manage rising production costs amid increased competition from streaming platforms.
The “Post Mortem” episode itself illustrated this shift, with characters like Violet Mikami (Hanako Greensmith) and Novak (Jocelyn Hudon) notably absent—likely a move to keep production within budget. What used to be occasional character absences is turning into a consistent pattern, reinforcing the theory that the show is moving toward a leaner, more cost-effective model.
As Chicago Fire inches toward its 14th season, fans are left wondering: will these cuts burn away the soul of Firehouse 51? This team isn’t just a cast—it’s a family. And when that family starts to fracture, can the fire still burn as brightly?
