One Chicago Center
Fansided

Chicago Med’s Jeff Hephner heads to space in Mars season 2

By Brittany Frederick

In Season 2 of MARS, the mission to colonize Mars becomes a battle between science and self-interest when a privately held corporation makes its home on the Red Planet. (photo credit: National Geographic/Dusan Martincek)
In Season 2 of MARS, the mission to colonize Mars becomes a battle between science and self-interest when a privately held corporation makes its home on the Red Planet. (photo credit: National Geographic/Dusan Martincek) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Chicago Med and Chicago Fire alum Jeff Hephner takes on a new adventure in Mars season 2, which premieres on National Geographic tonight.

While Jeff Hephner didn’t return as the new paramedic on Chicago Fire, One Chicago fans can still catch him on TV this season—and his next role is pretty darn awesome because it’s on Mars.

Starting tonight, Jeff is starring in the NatGeo original series Mars. The show is starting its second season Monday with a brand new storyline that picks up ten years after the first.

A decade after scientists have landed on Mars and developed a colony there, corporations begin to take an interest in the Red Planet. A group of miners arrive intent on making a profit, and promptly causing tensions with the scientists, who don’t want to see money dominate the new frontier.

Jeff plays the new character of Kurt Hurrelle, who’s leading the contingent of miners. As fans know from his work on Chicago Fire and also Chicago Med, he’s always great playing characters who are thrust into new situations—but space is a whole other deal, and this is a different kind of show.

More from One Chicago Center

Mars is unique because it’s not an entirely scripted drama series. One part of it is scripted and tells the fictional story, while another part features non-fiction discussions of the real science involved.

This is also the first time we’ll have seen Jeff Hephner in a science fiction series, and it’ll also be a bit different in that he’s playing a character who is the clear antagonist—at least at first.

Kurt’s directives obviously conflict with the intent of the scientists, and he’s not going to give up easily. He has a job to do and will want to do it. But could he change his mind over time? Or could there be more to his story, since this is Jeff Hephner we’re talking about and his characters have more layers than they usually let on?

One Chicago fans will have to watch to find out. New Mars season 2 episodes will air each Monday at 9 p.m. on NatGeo; find the channel in your area on their website. You can also watch the trailer for the new season below:

And while there are no current plans to bring Jeff Clarke back to Chicago Med or Chicago Fire this season, you can also see him in the upcoming movie An Acceptable Loss, directed by Chicago Fire alum Joe Chappelle. The movie is scheduled to be released in January.

His other recent credits include a recurring role in the most recent season of USA‘s Queen of the South and the Jennifer Garner thriller Peppermint. And now he’s going to space, and One Chicago viewers should definitely go with him. It’s a chance to see Jeff Hephner in a type of project that you’ve never seen him in before—and who doesn’t enjoy a good space adventure?

dark. Next. Chicago Med's Ato Essandoh stars in Marvel podcast

For the latest Chicago Med season 4 spoilers and news, plus more on the entire series, follow the Chicago Med category at One Chicago Center.

Home/Jeff Hephner