Taylor Kinney taking ‘leave of absence’ from Chicago Fire
Taylor Kinney is going to be stepping away from Chicago Fire. The actor, who plays Severide and has helped to fuel the success of the show for over a decade, will be missing several episodes in season 11 and possibly beyond.
The news may come as a shock to fans, who have had to see the departure of several other main characters in recent years (Casey, looking at you). A source close to the production of Chicago Fire told Deadline that the actor will be taking time off to deal with a personal matter.
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The outlet made it clear that Kinney’s departure was somewhat last-minute, and that the cast and crew of the show were informed shortly before the announcement was made. This makes sense, since none of the recent Fire episodes have suggested Severide would be leaving.
If anything, the teasers and storylines for season 11 were focused squarely on the character. He was at the forefront of the recent story involving Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) and her surgery, as well as the investigation into the group who attached Severide and Kidd on their honeymoon.
Recently, Fire co-showrunner Andrea Newman revealed that Severide and Kidd would be dealing with marital problems. The couple had a disagreement in the field, and the episode “How Does It End?” climaxed with Kidd suggesting that they not work together anymore.
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These storylines will have to be put on the back burner for the time being, and the writing team will have to conjure up a reason as to why Severide is gone. It’s not an enviable task, especially since most of the show’s departures have been planned ahead of time.
On the bright side, Kinney will not be leaving the show for good. The announcement made on his behalf was not akin to an official “leaving” statement, but something that was unavoidable. This means we will get to see the character rejoin the main cast at some point down the line.
We all wish Kinney the best in his personal life.
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