Reasons Behind Hailey Upton’s Replacement in Chicago P.D. Season 12 Explained

Chicago P.D. Season 12 is set to premiere on NBC on September 25, 2024, at 10 p.m. ET. Anticipation is high for this new season, with expectations for it to be just as thrilling as previous installments. According to the series premiere synopsis on IMDb:

“A month after Voight’s close brush with death, Intelligence is overwhelmed with cases as they catch a high-stakes drug bust.”

In Season 11, Voight faced a kidnapping ordeal at the hands of a dangerous criminal, but thanks to his team led by Hailey Upton, he was rescued. However, Season 12 will not feature Upton, a fan-favorite character.

As reported by Variety, Tracy Spiridakos, the actress behind Upton, has opted to leave the series to pursue other career opportunities. Consequently, Upton’s character will be replaced in Chicago P.D. Season 12. Read on for the latest updates regarding this change.

Why is Upton being replaced in Chicago P.D. Season 12?

Tracy Spiridakos voluntarily departed from the show following its eleventh season. Variety reported on May 21, 2024, that Spiridakos, who joined the show in its fourth season, expressed her desire to explore various career paths beyond the NBC series. She communicated her intention to exit the show to the showrunner, Gwen Sigan, at the end of Season 10.

In a statement to Variety, Spiridakos shared before the Season 11 finale:

“I decided at the end of my sixth season, which is when I had reached out to Gwen and to everyone at Wolf to let them know that I just wanted to do one more year. I wanted us to send out the character with one last season.”

She further remarked:

“It was a hard decision — very, very hard. I love everybody on the show — cast, crew, producers, writers, everybody. It’s such an incredible team. I was just curious what was out there for me and wanted to switch it up, and that was it.”

Spiridakos’ exit was incorporated into the storyline, as seen in the Season 11 finale where Upton departs in a taxi for an undisclosed new job. After 140 episodes, Upton will not return in Chicago P.D. Season 12.

Who is replacing Hailey Upton in Season 12?

According to TVLine, the character of Kiana Cook, portrayed by Toya Turner, will succeed Detective Upton in Chicago P.D. Season 12. Kiana Cook is described as a patrol officer who thrives on the excitement and challenges of police work, handling chaos without hesitation.

Toya Turner has recently appeared in NBC’s New Amsterdam. She trained at the prestigious British American Drama Academy at Oxford University and has featured in several series, including Grey’s Anatomy, The Mick, Easy, and Empire. Notably, she has also guest-starred in the One Chicago universe, appearing in Chicago Med and Chicago Fire.

What to expect from Chicago P.D. Season 12?

The departure of Upton will undoubtedly influence the dynamics of Chicago P.D. Season 12, especially considering her engaging rapport with Voight has been a central aspect of the series. Nevertheless, the introduction of Kiana Cook may bring fresh elements to the intelligence unit’s narrative.

Additionally, fans can anticipate the possibility of a wedding in the upcoming season. Last season, Burgess and Ruzek became engaged for a third time. If all goes smoothly, Season 12 may finally depict their marriage. Furthermore, Shawn Hatosy is set to join the cast as Deputy Chief Charlie Reid, potentially escalating tensions with Voight and enhancing the storyline for the new season.

While Upton’s absence will be felt in Chicago P.D. Season 12, there’s plenty to look forward to with the premiere on September 25, 2024, on NBC.

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