For fans of NBC's One Chicago shows, cast shakeups aren't uncommon. We're used to cast members coming and going each season, especially on Chicago Med. Since the show's premiere in 2015, a number of major characters have both joined and left Gaffney, but some of the characters who depart the show are far more shocking than others. This season, fans will have to unexpectedly say goodbye to original series star Marlyne Barrett as charge nurse Maggie Lockwood.
Barrett was one of the three last remaining original cast members that has been on Chicago Med since season 1, along with S. Epatha Merkerson and Oliver Platt. She became a series regular as Maggie halfway into the first season and remained so for 10 years. Barrett's Maggie quickly became one of the most important characters on the show and the beating heart of not only the Gaffney emergency department but the series as a whole.
However, ahead of the Chicago Med season 11 premiere, Barrett's unexpected departure was announced. No one could have seen Maggie's exit coming, which makes the sudden reveal of Barrett leaving the show all the more shocking. Naturally, there are many questions surrounding Barrett's exit, including whether fans could see her back someday.
The reason why Marlyne Barrett isn't returning for Chicago Med season 11
Marlyne Barrett's departure from Chicago Med after 10 years with the show was revealed on Aug. 28 and came as quite the surprise to One Chicago fans. It's particularly shocking to viewers since Maggie leaving the show wasn't set up at all in the season 10 finale, and there was no indication that she wouldn't be returning for season 11. So, why did Barrett leave?
According to Deadline, Barrett pulled out of Chicago Med season 11 due to personal reasons. A specific reason wasn't shared and doesn't need to be since it's been explained as personal. Longtime Chicago Med fans expressed concern about Barrett's health since the actress revealed her uterine and ovarian cancer diagnosis in September 2022. Two years later, she announced that she was in "complete remission" after undergoing aggressive chemotherapy treatments.
That's not to say that Barrett's exit from the show has anything to do with her health. However, Deadline also notes that her departure hasn't been viewed as an official exit. The outlet shares that Barrett leaving the show could be temporary and that we could hopefully see Maggie return at some point in the future. As of this writing, Barrett has not spoken out about her exit.
What happened to Maggie on Chicago Med?
Going into the Chicago Med season 11 premiere, fans are eager to find out how the show will explain where Maggie went and what's keeping her away from Gaffney. One of the biggest questions fans might have is if Barrett appears in the episode to set up her exit, and another is whether she's actually leaving the show for good. The episode has some big goal posts to hit.
Unfortunately, Chicago Med season 11 episode 1 doesn't fully explain Maggie's absence from the series. All Goodwin and Charles talk about is whether they have heard from Maggie, and they haven't heard a "peep" from her. They don't mention where she is, where she went, or why she isn't currently working at Gaffney. Goodwin also mentions to Doris that she's filling Maggie's shoes well, and Doris mentions she's only keeping them warm until she's back.Perhaps we'll get more details on where she is and what she's up to in later episodes.
In an interview with People magazine, Chicago Med showrunner Allen MacDonald gave some insight into how Barrett's exit happened and whether there are any updates about her hopeful return: "It is currently unclear. Marlyne approached us and said that she needed to take some personal time, and we of course love her and support her in doing that. And from a storytelling standpoint, I would love to have her back."
Chicago Med airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC, streaming next day on Peacock.