NBC’s plans for a second Chicago Fire spin-off are starting to take shape.
This new spin-off is designed to “round out the Chicago universe” and will be a medical themed series, serving as a companion series to Chicago Fire, which follows Firefighters and Paramedics, and Chicago PD, which follows the Chicago Police Department and fan favourite character Hank Voight.
Tentatively titled Chicago Med, the proposed spin-off will follow the staff of the Chicago Medical hospital, which has featured in both Chicago Fire and Chicago PD. Like Chicago PD, the project has not received a traditional pilot order and will instead by piloted as a planted episode (or backdoor pilot) of Chicago Fire.
That backdoor pilot is being penned by Michael Brandt, Derek Haas, Matt Olmstead and Dick Wolf and will air as the nineteenth episode of Chicago Fire‘s third season. The OK from NBC to proceed with the backdoor pilot comes after close to year of consideration, with word first leaking out last May that the network was eyeing a medical themed spin-off.
Casting is currently underway for a number of character who would be series regulars on Chicago Med, including a Head of Paediatrics and an Admissions Nurse. Word is that Dylan Baker, who played the hospital’s Head of Trauma Dr David Arata on Chicago Fire and Chicago PD (pictured), is also being eyed for a “key” series regular role.
NBC is expected to make a formal decision on whether or not to take Chicago Med to series in early May, just ahead of their Upfront Presentation in New York City.
