We knew the day was coming, but we didn’t expect it would come so soon! After seven seasons playing Darren Ritter on Chicago Fire, Daniel Kyri has officially filmed his final episode of the show.
“Yesterday, I filmed my last scenes as Ritter,” Kyri revealed in a goodbye letter to the show and his character. “I’m still so amazed that my first-ever TV gig—a role that was originally meant for just three episodes—turned into seven incredible years (SEVEN?!?!! Whatttt???!) and spanned eight seasons of this iconic show! While I know I may never find another cast and crew as amazing as this one, I intend to carry what I’ve learned from you to every set in the future.”
Kyri went on to thank the team behind the show who helped create Ritter, including the writers who crafted his character’s journey over the course of the last seven seasons.
“To [Wolf Entertainment] & everyone involved in the creation of Darren Ritter, to every writer who recognized me & aligned with my intention & vision for the potential of this character, & to the fans who embraced & celebrated Ritter for every aspect of his humanity.”
He ended his farewell on an upbeat note, thanking those who have supported him and noting that he “can’t wait for you all to see what we cooked up this season!”
You can read his full statement below:
Why is Daniel Kyri leaving Chicago Fire?
When it was first announced that Kyri was returning for season 14, he made it clear that it was for a limited engagement. Still, fans did not expect it to be quite as limited as it’s ended up being, with Kyri filming for just a few short weeks. So why is he leaving the show?
Unfortunately, Daniel Kyri’s exit from Chicago Fire is the result of budget cuts to the long-running firefighter drama.
While we’ve seen many Chicago Fire actors leave the show over the years to pursue new roles or as a result of creative storytelling decisions made by the show’s writers, Kyri’s departure is connected to financial reasons. According to Deadline, which first reported that Kyri and Jake Lockett would both be exiting the show following season 13, the exits are “part of an effort to trim the budget.”
Kyri and Lockett’s contracts expired at the end of season 13 and were not extended, with NBC opting to part ways with the two actors. Lockett was written out in the season 13 finale, while Kyri will be written out early in season 14.
Following Deadline's report, Kyri made it clear that the decision to exit the show was not his, but that there was no bad blood at all over the decision.
"I’ll miss this character, and it’s time to move on," Kyri wrote on his Instagram Stories. "Thank you to the cast, crew, & the awesome fans," he added.
Ritter likely won’t appear in many Chicago Fire season 14 episodes
NBC has yet to confirm exactly how many episodes Daniel Kyri filmed, but given he filmed his final scenes on Aug. 12, it seems likely Ritter will only appear in the first few episodes of the season. Production on season 14 began in late July, meaning Kyri was only present on set for about three weeks.
Given that it takes approximately eight days to film an episode of the show, it seems likely that Ritter’s exit will come in the third episode of Chicago Fire season 14 – or at the latest, episode 4. Disappointing as it is to know that Ritter won’t be sticking around for an extended goodbye, we’re relieved to be getting a proper exit for the long-time character.
The One Chicago franchise has been known to handle many cast departures off-screen, explaining where a character went via a one-off line in a conversation within the episode. When Ritter did not get a send-off in the season 13 finale, many fans feared the show would write him off between seasons without an on-screen goodbye. Fortunately, that is not the case, as we will get to see Ritter in at least a few episodes of season 14 as the writers craft his farewell.
Our hope is that Ritter will be impacted by the layoffs that were alluded to in the season 13 finale, as this would at least leave the door open for Ritter to appear in the future. However, this being Chicago Fire, there is always a chance the show could kill the character off as it has been a bit since we lost a main member of the cast on a call.
We’ll have to tune into Chicago Fire season 14 this fall to find out what the future holds for Ritter, and we’ll keep hoping for the best in the meantime!
More from NBC: