Jocelyn Hudon promoted to series regular for Chicago Fire season 13

Chicago Fire continues to make exciting moves during the off-season. The show may be several weeks away from starting production on season 13, but the showrunners have already made some big decisions.

Per Deadline, Jocelyn Hudon, who debut as Lyla Novak in season 12, has been promoted to series regular. She was initially brought on to replace Sylvie Brett (Kara Killmer) as a medic, though it was initially stated that Novak's character was unsure of her future.

Jocelyn Hudon debuted in Chicago Fire season 12

The character was offered a chance to join Firehouse 51 as a full-time medic, but she was hesitant to accept. It took coercing on the part of PIC Violet Mikami (Hanako Greensmith) to get her to stay. The character will consequently be part of the main cast during the show's upcoming season.

The dynamic between Novak and Violet was a standout part of season 12. Not only did the former provide an exciting new energy, but the latter was forced to go from mentee to mentor, a role that was previously occupied by Brett. It's a nice full circle transformation, and part of the fun of seeing Novak and Violet in the field is noticing how their different personalities compliment each other.

The actress has an impressive TV resume

Jocelyn Hudon is no stranger to small screen success. The actress earned critical praise for her turn in the science fiction series The Strain. She's also proven to be a scene stealer in shows as varied as FX's Dave and procedurals like Criminal Minds and The Rookie: Feds. She does it all, which makes her a perfect fit for the sometimes comedic, sometimes dramatic 51.

Hudon also has a burgeoning film career. She's already been in three films in 2024 alone, her next release, the thriller Degenerate, is slated for the release in the next few months. Hudon will co-star alongside David Keith and Emile Hirsch.