“Chicago Fire” is bringing a new face to Firehouse 51 this fall, with “Shadowhunters” star Matthew Daddario joining the NBC drama’s 15th season as a firefighter candidate, the network confirmed Friday.
Daddario’s arrival comes as the long-running series undergoes one of its biggest cast shakeups in years. The actor will play a probationary firefighter fresh out of the academy, joining fellow newcomer Da’Vinchi, who was cast in July as candidate Marcus Burke, a character described as roguish and quick with a wry sense of humor. News of Daddario’s casting surfaced Thursday when Da’Vinchi posted a set photo showing the two actors alongside returning cast member Brandon Larracuente, who plays firefighter Sal Vasquez, all seated on the front of Truck 81.
Details about Daddario’s character remain scarce, and it is not yet clear whether the role will run as a series regular, a recurring part, or something more limited. The 34-year-old actor spent three seasons as Alec Lightwood on Freeform’s “Shadowhunters” before taking on guest and limited roles, including a stint on Paramount+’s “Why Women Kill” and a lead turn in Hallmark’s “Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story.”
His casting arrives alongside significant departures at Firehouse 51. Dermot Mulroney, who has played Battalion Chief Dom Pascal since joining the series in its 13th season, will exit after appearing in the season’s opening episodes. Original cast member Joe Miñoso, who has portrayed Joe Cruz in all but two of the show’s nearly 300 episodes since its 2012 debut, is also departing after a handful of episodes. Paramedic Jocelyn Hudon, who plays Lyla Novak, previewed the incoming wave of new recruits, telling reporters the additions would resonate with longtime viewers.
Season 15 also marks a transition behind the camera, with Victor Teran stepping in as showrunner after Andrea Newman’s exit following 14 seasons at the helm. The season picks up from a cliffhanger that left much of the Firehouse 51 crew trapped during a runaway structure fire at a storage facility. “Chicago Fire” returns Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 9 p.m. on NBC, airing between “Chicago Med” and “Chicago P.D.”
