Fans of the NBC procedural drama Chicago Fire may be mourning series star Jesse Spencer, who relocated to Portland, Oregon, in 2021. Spencer’s character, Captain Matt Casey, left his native city of Chicago for a variety of personal reasons to join the Portland fire department after more than ten seasons and 200 episodes of the Dick Wolf-produced series. With this week’s episode bringing Matt Casey back to Chicago for the first time since Kelly Severide and Stella Kidd’s wedding in season 10, Deadline claims that we may see more of Jesse Spencer than a cameo appearance.
Jesse Spencer revealed to Deadline that Casey’s time in Portland appears to be coming to an end in some capacity, though he refused to comment directly on whether Chicago Fire fans will see more of him in the immediate future. In this week’s episode, Casey returns to Chicago to ensure that the firehouse is in safe hands while he is away, but he appears to have an agenda involving his former lover, Kara Killmer’s Sylvie Brett. Before Casey left town for Oregon, he and Brett attempted a long-distance relationship, which ended in disaster, forcing the pair to call it quits.
That is unless Matt Casey makes a triumphant comeback to Chicago on a more permanent basis. Casey is currently working with the FBI and Homeland Security, leading a top-secret task force to thwart and prevent domestic terror attacks across the United States, highlighting the very real connection that first responders have with their communities. Despite his dedication to the cause and his new title, Jesse Spencer has disclosed that Matt Casey considers Chicago to be his forever home, stating that his absence from the firehouse in the city that made him could only be temporary.
Jesse Spencer in ‘Chicago Fire’
Dick Wolf’s successful procedurals include Law & Order, FBI, and Chicago PD, which dominated the television scene for decades. This television genre speaks to how communities feel about first responders like firefighters and homicide investigators, which explains why fans have such strong feelings for characters like Matt Casey. After spending over a decade maturing and developing with television characters, it’s natural for fans to rejoice at the long-awaited reunion of Casey and Sylvie Brett.
Of course, Jesse Spencer has stated in his interview that his future with the NBC series is uncertain, though he has stated to series creator Derek Haas that he is ready to return to Chicago Fire upon request, leaving the door open for a bigger return. With the incredible series continuing to attract a core audience of viewers waiting for Matt Casey’s return, we definitely hope the Portland fire department can do without him soon.
