Chicago Fire season 11: Will Brett Dalton return as Jason Pelham?

Who saw Jason Pelham (Brett Dalton) coming? The character was meant to be a polarizing replacement for Casey (Jesse Spencer) when he departed midway through season 10, and he proved to be a secret weapon for Chicago Fire.

Not only did he prove his stripes as a leader and firefighter, but he bonded with characters like Gallo (Alberto Rosende) and Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo). The bond proved so powerful with the latter that Pelham agreed to step down and let her take over as the 51’s new lieutenant.

Here’s what you need to know about the character’s future.

Is Jason Pelham still on Chicago Fire?

The show made it clear that Pelham was transferring to another firehouse, which puts him in much closer proximity than other characters who leave the show. This seemed intentionally done to keep him in the mix should the writers ever decide to bring him back for a story arc.

We caught a glimpse of the limited role Pelham could play in the season 10 episode “Halfway to the Moon”. Gallo struggles to decide whether he wants to be with truck or squad, and given the bias that his usual mentors, Severide (Taylor Kinney) and Kidd, have, he decides to seek out help elsewhere.

He visits Pelham at his firehouse and asks what he should do, and the latter manages to give some much-needed perspective. It’s a brief exchange, but it says a lot about the respect that Pelham was able to accumulate during his time at the 51.

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It’s unlikely that the character will play a big role in season 11. Brett Dalton is as busy as a TV actor can be, and he’s already landed a recurring role on the police drama The Equalizer, opposite Queen Latifah. This means that he can’t take on too much as Pelham, as pulling double-duty with a movie or secondary show can wreak havoc on an actor’s availability.

On the bright side, Dalton is clearly on good terms with the showrunners, and his willingness to make the occasional guest appearance means that he could pop up when we least expect him. The trick, it seems, is to not expect him. Pelham may not appear at all in season 11, given Dalton’s busy schedule, but we seriously doubt that we’ve seen the last of him.

What do you hope to see in the Chicago Fire season 11 premiere? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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