Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive show news, updates, and more!
Jesse Spencer Reveals Why He Made the 'Difficult' Decision to Leave Chicago Fire
“It was a difficult decision because I’ve loved the show from the start," Spencer admitted.
Chicago Fire Season 11 is heating up, people! Why? Jesse Spencer is set to return as the fan favorite Matthew Casey.
Yes, the actor will be back for Season 11, Episode 18 of the series after previously leaving in the middle of Season 10. (He returned for the Season 10 finale, but we haven't seen the character since.) Details of how and why Casey returns to Chicago are unknown, but fans can't wait. What will this mean for Brett (Kara Killmer) and her new fling with Dylan (Christopher Allen)? What brings Casey outside of Oregon? So many questions, but fans will need to wait for answers!
Shortly following Spencer's heart-wrenching departure, he spoke with Us Weekly about the difficult decision to leave Chicago Fire. Spencer accredits his long-running television tenure as the main reason for stepping down.
Why did Jesse Spencer leave Chicago Fire?
“I realized I’ve been doing TV for a long time. I added it up, and I think this year [2022] is my 18th year of network television... I called [showrunner] Derek [Haas] and broke him the news, said I thought it was time to leave the show, and he agreed that we should at least get Casey to 200 episodes," Spencer said. “It was a difficult decision because I’ve loved the show from the start, but there are other things that I would like to do in the future, and there’s some family that I need to take care of, and 18 years is a long time.”
Filming 200 episodes of Chicago Fire is no simple feat, but Spencer made each episode feel like an action-packed adventure. "I was marking off these milestones and looking to the future… But we both agreed that if it was time for me, then it was time," Spencer revealed. "So it was a difficult decision... but you know, when the time comes, the time comes."
One of the main questions hanging over everyone's heads following Spencer's exit was whether or not Casey would ever come back to Chicago Fire. Thankfully, it looks like the One Chicago gods have blessed fans with a highly-anticipated Firehouse 51 reunion, if only for one episode. We can't wait to see what Spencer brings to the set this time.
Watch Chicago Fire on NBC Wednesdays at 9/8c and the next day on Peacock.
