Taylor Kinney (left) and Jesse Spencer.Photo: Art Streiber/NBC (2)
Chicago Firefans will have to wait a bit longer for the return ofTaylor Kinney.
PEOPLE has learned that Kinney, who plays Lt. Kelly Severide, will not return for the season 11 finale of the NBC drama after taking aleave of absenceearlier this year.
However,Jesse Spencerwill make a guest appearance in the season finale, reprising his role as Matt Casey.
In January, a source close to the production ofChicago Fireconfirmed to PEOPLE that Kinney, 41, would be taking a hiatus from the series “to deal with a personal matter.”
NBC
His leave of absence was explained in this season’s episode titled “Damage Control,” in which Kinney’s character was said to be attending “the best arson investigation training program in the world.” However, it was hinted that joining the program doesn’t necessarily mean that Severide is leaving the firehouse for good.
Last month, the actor made his first red carpet appearance since his hiatus fromChicago Fire. He visited the 2023 MotoGP VIP Experience & Charity Giving event at the Circuit of The Americas racing track outside of Austin, Texas. The event was forMotoUp, a non-profit supporting military communities through motorsports.
As for Spencer, he appeared on theApril 5 episodeofChicago Fireafter leaving the series in October 2021 following 200 episodes on theOne Chicagoseries.
“I was marking off these milestones and looking to the future … and it was time,” he said in a roundtable interview at the time. “It felt so organic for me and a perfect full circle and a really reasonable way for Casey to organically leave.”
Spencer, 44, alsoreturnedfor the season 10 finale following his exit when Casey came back for his best friend Severide (Kinney)’s wedding to Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo).
Lori Allen/NBC
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Chicago Fireairs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. The season 11 finale will premiere on May 24.
source: people.com
