Taylor Kinney returns to Chicago Fire (finally) in new set photos

He’s actually back! It was confirmed a while ago that Taylor Kinney would be returning to Chicago Fire following his sudden exit in season 11, but there hadn’t been any glimpses of the actor on the set. The firefighting drama started production in late November, and other cast members like Alberto Rosende have already wrapped their scenes.

Well, the wait is over. Kinney was photographed on the set of Chicago Fire in early December, and local fans have been able to snap several photos with the actor (along with the rest of the cast). It is definitely nice to see Severide back in action, especially given that some of his off screen choices in season 11 left fans confused.

Severide spotted on the Chicago Fire season 12 set!

Severide decided to help out with various arson investigations throughout the country after he completed his training program, and didn’t even bother telling his wife, Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo), any of his superiors about it. A baffling choice, especially considering that his absence from the 51 was much longer than anyone anticipated.

Likewise, Taylor Kinney has enigmatic since his sudden departure from the show in 2023. He cited personal reasons as the impetus behind his leave of absence, and went completely silent on his IG account (he hasn’t posted in a year). Kinney has popped up the Instagram of his girlfriend, Ashley Cruger, but it’s led to fans flooding her comments section with questions about when the actor will return to Chicago Fire.

The actor hasn’t addressed his return, or the specific cause of his absence, but he has been quick to praise the show for the impact that it has had on his career and his legacy as a performer. “It’s never lost on me how special it is to be a part of something with the longevity this has,” he told Us Weekly in 2022. “It’s a testament to [show creator] Dick Wolf and the team of people he puts together.”

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In a separate interview with NBC, Kinney also pointed to the city of Chicago for being supportive of the One Chicago franchise for over a decade:

"This is home. Times have changed, and the city has changed, and people have grown. The city has been good to me. I love the city. I’ve gotten to know it through my work.”"

With a gracious attitude like that, it makes sense why Kinney is stopping to take photo with everyone who comes to visit the Chicago Fire set.

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