Chicago Fire is heading into Season 15 with some significant changes at Firehouse 51, both in front of the camera and behind it.
The NBC series returns October 7 with several longtime favorites back in place, new firefighters joining the house and some notable departures. Joe Miñoso, who has played Joe Cruz since the first season, is leaving the series, as is Dermot Mulroney, who joined as Chief Dom Pascal in Season 13.
Behind the scenes, longtime executive producer Andrea Newman has also left Chicago Fire after 14 seasons with the series, including the past three as sole showrunner.
So who will viewers see when the doors at 51 open again?
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WHO’S IN
Taylor Kinney — Kelly Severide
Miranda Rae Mayo — Stella Kidd
David Eigenberg — Christopher Herrmann
Christian Stolte — Randy “Mouch” McHolland
Hanako Greensmith — Violet Mikami
Jocelyn Hudon — Lizzy Novak
Brandon Larracuente — Sal Vasquez
WHO’S OUT
Joe Miñoso — Joe Cruz
Miñoso will return for the opening episodes of Season 15 before departing the series.
Cruz has been part of Chicago Fire since the series premiered in 2012 and is one of the few remaining characters whose history stretches all the way back to the beginning.
Over 14 seasons, Cruz has gone from Truck 81 to Squad 3, become one of Severide’s most trusted firefighters, married Chloe and become a father, while remaining one of the emotional anchors of Firehouse 51.
Exactly how Cruz will leave has not been revealed.
Dermot Mulroney — Chief Dom Pascal
Mulroney will return as Chief Dom Pascal, but his stay at Firehouse 51 will be brief.
Mulroney joined Chicago Fire in Season 13 following Eamonn Walker’s departure as a series regular. Pascal brought a distinctly different leadership style to the firehouse and returned to 51 in the Season 14 finale after being absent for part of the season.
Mulroney is expected to appear in one episode of Season 15 before leaving the series. How Pascal exits has not been revealed.
WHO’S NEW
Da’Vinchi — Marcus Burke
Da’Vinchi joins Chicago Fire as a series regular playing firefighter candidate Marcus Burke.
Burke has been described as roguish and funny, with a dry sense of humor and a slightly defiant streak. Bringing a new candidate into the house also gives viewers the opportunity to watch another firefighter find his place within the close-knit crew at 51.
Matthew Daddario — new firefighter candidate
Matthew Daddario is also joining Season 15 as another firefighter candidate at Firehouse 51.
Details surrounding his character have been kept considerably quieter, including his name and exactly where he will fit within the house.
With Cruz departing and multiple new firefighters arriving, there will clearly be some reshuffling at 51 this season.
Changes behind the scenes
Andrea Newman — departing showrunner
Andrea Newman has left Chicago Fire after 14 seasons with the series.
Newman joined the show shortly after the pilot as a co-executive producer and became an executive producer in Season 6. She was named co-showrunner alongside series co-creator Derek Haas in 2021 and became sole showrunner following Haas’ departure.
She served as sole showrunner for the past three seasons.
Newman has been part of the creative team guiding Chicago Fire through virtually its entire run, making her departure a significant change for a series that has maintained remarkable continuity behind the scenes.
Victor Teran — new showrunner
Victor Teran takes over as showrunner for Season 15.
Teran is not new to Chicago Fire. He previously served as a co-executive producer on the series and now steps into the top creative role as the show enters a season of considerable transition.
Firehouse 51 still has its familiar core
Despite the departures, much of the familiar Firehouse 51 lineup remains intact.
Taylor Kinney returns as Kelly Severide and Miranda Rae Mayo is back as Stella Kidd, with both actors continuing as two of the central figures in the series.
David Eigenberg returns as Christopher Herrmann, Christian Stolte as Randy “Mouch” McHolland and Hanako Greensmith as Violet Mikami.
Jocelyn Hudon is back as Lizzy Novak, while Brandon Larracuente continues as Sal Vasquez after joining the series during Season 14.
The combination gives Chicago Fire plenty of continuity even as the series begins introducing another generation of firefighters to 51.
Now entering its 15th season, Chicago Fire remains the series that launched NBC’s One Chicago franchise and one of the longest-running television productions filmed in Chicago. Season 15 brings plenty of change to Firehouse 51, but many of the characters who have become the heart of the series will be back.
Chicago Fire premieres Wednesday, October 7 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC, following Chicago Med and leading into Chicago P.D. New episodes will stream the following day on Peacock.
