When Can Fans Expect Chicago Fire Season 12 & Other One Chicago Shows? Latest Report Reveals Promising Updates!

Summary

Chicago Fire season 12 and the One Chicago franchise may return in March 2024, following the resolution of the Writers Guild of America strike.

The WGA strike has ended, but the continuing SAG-AFTRA strike might still have an impact on production and cause a delay in the return of the shows. A shorter season is expected due to the limited timeframe, but all shows are anticipated to come back in the fall of 2024.

According to a new trade report, there are indications as to when Chicago Fire season 12 and the rest of the One Chicago franchise will return to televison. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike lasted five months before finally coming to an end, allowing writers to resume their work. This news has generated excitement among fans who have been eagerly awaiting new episodes, especially considering the delayed fall 2023 TV season.

Following the WGA's agreement with AMPTP, a recent report from Deadline provides insights from industry insiders on the potential return of the Chicago-based Dick Wolf franchise. Depending on how quickly the writers can return to work, Chicago Fire season 12, Chicago PD season 11, and Chicago Med season 9 could premiere as early as March 2024. The following is an excerpt from the report:

If writers can return to their desks by early October, as suggested by the possibility of the WGA voting to lift the strike restraining order by the end of this week, executives concur that dramas like the One Chicago franchise, The Rookie, NCIS, and The Cleaning Lady can resume airing in early to mid-March. This primarily applies to procedurals that do not heavily rely on special effects.

When Chicago Fire & One Chicago May Really Return

The One Chicago franchise, in line with other scripted series on network TV, would typically have already returned for its summer break. However, due to the simultaneous strikes by WGA and SAG-AFTRA demanding fair compensation and protection against AI technology, among other concerns, broadcasters have devised a temporary primetime schedule to fill in the gaps left by the work stoppage. Nonetheless, even though the WGA has reached an agreement, it does not guarantee immediate availability of episodes for broadcasting.

The SAG-AFTRA strike remains ongoing, preventing actors from returning to filming until a resolution is reached, even if scripts are completed. If negotiations are successful, production can begin whenever the networks and involved parties agree. Despite the upcoming winter break, many shows are anticipated to maintain their regular production calendar towards the end of the year. Prior to the return of One Chicago, multiple episodes must already be filmed and edited to ensure they are ahead of the weekly releases.

If Chicago Fire and One Chicago are able to resume in March 2024, viewers can expect shortened seasons. Due to the limited time leading up to their usual finale schedule, all shows will have fewer episodes. However, this should not be a concern as long as all shows are confirmed to return in the fall of 2024.

Source: Deadline