Chicago Fire: Is Annie Ilonzeh returning for season 12?

There was a time when Emily Foster was a major player on Chicago Fire. The character appeared in most of seasons seven and eight, and was seemingly being positioned to be a part of the main cast indefinitely. It didn’t work out that way, though. Foster left Chicago Fire at the tail end of the eighth season, and was never heard from again.

Annie Ilonzeh, the actress who plays Foster, has recently come back into the show’s orbit. She posed for a photo on Daniel Kyri’s Instagram with the caption: “Reunion countdown begins!”, which has led some fans to question whether her character is planning on returning in season 12. Let’s recap what happened to Foster and whether a return is even possible.

Is Emily Foster returning to Chicago Fire?

The last we saw of the character, she was working as a paramedic at Firehouse 51. She left the 51 because she decided that she wanted to further her education and attend medical school to help those afflicted with COVID. Screen Rant pointed out that season eight took place during the 2020 pandemic, which meant there were less episodes than initially planned, and perhaps less time to dedicate to a supporting character like Foster.

It’s possible that she was involved in more episodes, but the circumstances surrounding the production meant that she was written off the show in such a way that she was never again mentioned in the 51. That being said, she remains alive and well in the world of the show.

Ilonzeh posing for a “reunion countdown” photo with Kyri, who plays Ritter, could just be a reference to the fact that the former co-stars were hanging out in real life, but the comment section was filled with fans excited by the possibility of seeing Foster back in the mix.

Would you like to see Foster return to the 51? Given that she’s spent the last few years in medical school, she could guest star on an episode and help the firehouse with a special case (she could make a cameo on Chicago Med as well). We’d definitely like to see her pop up again in some capacity.

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