9-1-1 boss teases season 9’s new captain, new series regulars, and chance of Lone Star or Nashville crossover

9-1-1 has a Bobby Nash-size hole to fill.

The 118 fire captain, played by Peter Krause on eight seasons of the first-responder drama, died earlier this year prioritizing his team’s safety during an encounter with a deadly virus. And season 9 will start with the firefighters still picking up the pieces.

“It’s not like we come into season 9 and everything’s back on reset. That’s not the case at all. It hasn’t been that long, and people are still grappling with it in their own ways,” showrunner and co-creator Tim Minear tells Entertainment Weekly. “Really, all of the characters are trying to find their equilibrium.

“But we’re not coming back into a wake,” he continues (though there will be a plaque dedication, as EW revealed exclusively). “It was important for us that this didn’t become ‘9-1-1: The Season of Perpetual Mourning,’ but it is kind of ‘9-1-1: The Season of Perpetual Grappling.’ When one piece as pivotal as Bobby is taken away, everything shifts: partnerships change, roles change, and people have to discover something within themselves that maybe they didn’t know they had. And that really is a major theme of the first part of the season.”

One place things will shift is at the 118, which is in need of a new permanent captain. Capt. Gerrard (Brian Thompson) had stepped up in the interim, and Hen (Aisha Hinds) had always appeared to be the heir apparent, but it was Chimney (Kenneth Choi) who seemed to step into a leadership role in the season 8 finale.

So is that still the direction? Or did plans change while the writers were on hiatus between seasons?

“Oh, I mean that always happens. That can happen within the course of just breaking one episode, but I would say that we’re pretty much on the course that we set up for ourselves at the end of last season,” Minear confirms. “I don’t think it’s going to be a surprise to anybody, given the finale from last season, that Chimney is the acting captain when we come in to this season.

“But,” he continues, “nothing is in stone. It’s not a fait accompli as we start. Heavy is the head that wears the captain’s helmet, and it’s not an easy journey for any of [the 118.]”

Part of not being a “Season of Perpetual Mourning” will mean getting back to those epic rescues as well.

“We’re doing something a little bit different for the first few episodes,” Minear teases. “If you thought Athena [played by Angela Bassett] landing a plane was something, wait until you see what she has to land this time.”

And in the exclusive photo above, Ravi (Anirudh Pisharody), Hen, and Chimney are “looking for a Musk-ish, Bezos-ish billionaire” (played by Mark Consuelos) “who was swallowed by a whale, and a much larger adventure will ensue from that,” says Minear, who adds they were inspired by a recent viral video: “Just google ‘kayaker gets swallowed by whale.’ You’ll find it.”

When Minear is asked how Athena will remain engrained in the show, given that her closest tie to the 118 was being married to Bobby, his response says nothing…yet everything? “I will tell you this: Without spoiling it, by the end of episode 3, you will not need to ask me that question.”

That answer could possibly have something to do with the fact that Corinne Massiah and Elijah M. Cooper — who play Athena’s daughter May and son Harry — were made series regulars for season 9.

“I’m really excited to explore Athena’s relationship to them,” Minear says, before expanding back to the entire cast: “There’s just so much story that has opened up for us in a big moment of change for the 118.”

Fans can also expect another spooky October episode, though this one will center around Día de los Muertos rather than just Halloween.

“It really opened up for me just some great possibilities for Eddie and I’m really excited about that one,” Minear says of Ryan Guzman’s character, who may join Buck (Oliver Stark) in being superstitious this time around. “Buck is quick to believe things, but Eddie might be quick to believe things now too. I know he always sort of poo-pooed those things, and kind of walked away from his faith, but I think there may be a spiritual awakening in Eddie’s future.”

And — given that 9-1-1: Lone Star is done and 9-1-1: Nashville premieres immediately following 9-1-1‘s return — can we also expect a crossover in our future, Mr. Minear?

“I think the network would love that.”