Steven Weber (Dr. Dean Archer, Interim Chief of The ED) – EXPECTED TO RETURN
Steven, who started as a recurring star in Season 6 before joining as a main cast member in Season 7, is expected back for Season 12 as Dr. Dean Archer.
“There’s such a connection between the actors and the crew people and the technicians and the producers and the creatives and the writers,” he told NBC Insider in a November 2024 interview. “And everybody’s so grateful to be there that it’s becoming one collection of great memories to come. We’ve had loads of laughs; there have been tears. There’s been a real bonding that happens.”
Jessy Schram (Dr. Hannah Asher) – EXPECTED TO RETURN
Jessy, who was a recurring star in Seasons 5 and 6 as Dr. Hannah Asher before becoming a main cast member in Season 7, is expected back for Season 12.
“I think that there’ll be many elements that could be played. Her sister was kind of her mother figure in her life, so I think that she has a lot of desires, and probably a lot of pressure she’s put on herself to be a perfect mom, whatever that looks like, and, obviously, will still be working full time. So, I think that there’s a lot of pressures and a lot of things that she knows in her heart how she wants to be, and probably a lot of expectations that she has on herself,” the actress told Parade of her character’s future.
Luke Mitchell (Dr. Mitchell Ripley) – EXPECTED TO RETURN
The Blindspot actor first booked a recurring guest starring role in Season 9. He plays Dr. Mitch Ripley, an Emergency Department doctor with a troubled past who shares a history with Dr. Charles (Platt). He made his debut in the premiere episode of Season 9, and is expected back for Season 12.
As for whether Mitch Ripley/Caitlin Lenox enter the prion trial? “I do think that’s possible, yes. I think that this disclosure between them at the end of the season, she will have a more positive attitude moving into next season and will be wanting to embrace life in a healthier way. She thought she was embracing life this season, but she was really being self-destructive,” said the showrunner to Parade.
Sarah Ramos (E.D. Dr. Caitlin Lenox) – EXPECTED TO RETURN
Parenthood star Sarah Ramos joined as Dr. Caitlin Lenox in Season 10, and is expected back for Season 12.
Darren Barnet (Dr. Frost) – EXPECTED TO RETURN
Darren Barnet joined as a series regular as Dr. Frost, a new physician at Gaffney, in Season 10. He is expected back for Season 12.
“There’s a weight lifted off his shoulders. I think the past has always been something he’s run away from, that he thought he didn’t need to deal with it but it was actually weighing him down more because he wasn’t. We’ve spent the last two seasons with him slowly confronting the past and growing from the processing of it, and now I believe next season he’s going to move on. There will be other challenges next season for Dr. John Frost, but as far as the past and Nick of Time and Ainsley, those are things we’ll always make reference to, but I feel like we’re closing the book on that, on the past, and now he’s going to move forward,” the showrunner said of the character’s fate in Season 12, via Parade.
Marlyne Barrett (Maggie Lockwood, RN, ED Charge Nurse) – STATUS UNKNOWN
Marlyne, who has played Maggie Lockwood since Season 1, stepped away from the series for “personal reasons” last year. (The leave was described as “temporary.”)
The showrunner is still hopeful she may appear in later episodes, but there is no confirmation about her return just yet.
There have been no exits for Chicago Med Season 12 announced just yet, but there might be even more returns.
“I think that in the One Chicago world, it’s completely legitimate to check in on people, characters that we love and we miss, and what fun to see them interact with the new doctors that the audience knows, but they don’t,” showrunner Allen MacDonald previously said to TV Insider about Season 11.
