The Chicago Fire spinoff, Chicago Med, has not been formally picked up to series, yet. Regardless, thanks to an introductory episode of Chicago Fire, we’ll be meeting the team whether or not the potential medical drama moves forward. Casting is already underway for Chicago Med and this week, we learned The Big C and Fargo actor Oliver Platt has been the latest big name to join the series. He's not the only recent name who has signed on.
Platt’s role in the Chicago Medical hospital will be a prominent one. The actor is set to play Dr. Daniel Charles, the Head of Psychiatry at the hospital. The role was one that Dick Wolf and co. had in mind when Chicago Med was first announced, but now that casting is underway, it’s nice to see the character take shape with a name and a face. Luckily, Platt isn’t the first person who has been cast in the spinoff.
A couple of weeks ago, Chicago Med signed on Yaya DeCosta, who recently starred in Lifetime’s Whitney Houston biopic. She’s set to play, Maggie Seaver, a nurse and a love interest for Chicago Fire character Kelly Severide. According to Deadline, Laurie Holden, S. Epatha Merkerson, and Nick Gehlfuss have also joined the spinoff. Merkerson will play the head of the hospital, while Gehlfuss’ addition proves that Chicago Med will also have ties to Chicago P.D.. Shameless’ Gehlfuss will play the brother of Chicago P.D.’s Detective Jay Halstead.
You may be wondering why the Chicago Fire spinoff is already casting key players since it hasn’t been picked up to pilot or series, yet. That’s a reasonable response, but NBC has different plans for the project, which is coming from executive producer Dick Wolf, along with Michael Brandt, Derek Haas and Matt Olmstead. Instead of getting a typical pilot, the Chicago Med characters will appear in the 19th episode of Chicago Fire this season. If the audience and NBC likes what it sees, then the show has an opportunity to move forward as a series next year. So technically, the cast members are Chicago Fire guest stars with series options. It’s kind of funky, but it’s a format that worked for Chicago P.D. and has the potential to work again.
We still have a little while to wait before we get to see what Chicago Medical has to offer. In the meantime, you can catch new episodes of the already-renewed Chicago Fire on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET.
