Chicago Fire Promotes Jake Lockett to Lead Role for Season 13

Well, that should clear up any questions about Sam Carver being put on hiatus.

Chicago Fire has (finally) promoted Jake Lockett, who plays the aforementioned firefighter, to a lead role for Season 13, sources confirm exclusively to TVLine.

Lockett has recurred on the NBC drama for the past two seasons, making his debut in the Season 11 premiere and appearing in 33 episodes. His character came to the fire department as a potential recruit for Truck 81, but he got off to a rocky start with Lt. Stella Kidd, who described Carver as “arrogant” during their days together at the fire academy. Eventually, the two gained mutual respect, with Carver opening up to Stella about how his troubled family history led to his burn scars, and he later became a permanent fixture on Truck.

In Season 12, Carver began a romantic relationship with paramedic Violet, initially on a fling, but in the finale, he confessed that he loved her. However, Violet assumed he had feelings for Stella, and when she realized how badly she had screwed things up with Carver and went to talk to him, she discovered that he had taken a leave of absence.

Lockett wasn’t the only Fire cast member promoted in Season 13: As previously reported, Jocelyn Hudon, who joined last season as paramedic Lyla Novak, was also promoted to series regular.

Meanwhile, Dermot Mulroney will join the series’ regular cast as the new police chief, Dom Pascal, who replaces Chief Wallace Boden at Firehouse 51. KaDee Strickland (Private) will reprise her role as Dom’s estranged wife, Monica.