Following the announcement from NBC regarding Tracy Spiridakos‘ departure from Chicago PD after its 11th season, the show’s creators set out to find a suitable replacement for her character, Hailey Upton. However, the initial successor did not remain with the series for an extended period. Over the course of its 12 seasons, Chicago PD has seen numerous characters, ranging from Sophia Bush’s Erin Lindsay to Jon Seda’s Antonio Dawson, come and go, leading to a constantly evolving Intelligence Unit. The recent season 11 finale marked yet another significant loss for the squad.
New episodes of the One Chicago franchise air on NBC every Wednesday evening. Viewers can catch Chicago Med at 8 PM ET, followed by Chicago Fire at 9 PM ET, and Chicago PD at 10 PM ET.
During the season finale, Hailey Upton decided, alongside Hank Voight, that the best course of action for her was to resign from the Intelligence Unit and leave Chicago. Upton had faced significant challenges since her husband, Jay Halstead, departed, prompting Voight, who regarded Upton as a daughter, to encourage her to seek a fresh start. Consequently, the Intelligence Unit is left down a detective, raising expectations that a new character introduced in season 11 could step in to fill her shoes.
Jo Petrovic Introduced as Upton’s Potential Successor in Season 11
Bojana Novakovic’s Role as Jo Petrovic
In episode 7 of Chicago PD season 11, titled “The Living and the Dead,”viewers were introduced to Josephine “Jo”Petrovic, played by Bojana Novakovic. Voight brought Jo, an SVU detective and skilled profiler, onto the team to assist with a serial killer investigation. Upton sought Jo’s help in a subsequent episode, and the two developed a close working relationship throughout the season, culminating in Upton supporting Jo in overcoming her struggles with alcoholism.
The character’s significant interactions with Upton seemed to pave the way for Novakovic to transition into a permanent role within the Intelligence Unit. However, when Chicago PD returned for season 12, Jo mysteriously vanished.
The Mysterious Disappearance of Petrovic in Season 12
Jo’s Absence Without Clarification
As season 12 kicked off, viewers were informed that Emily Martel had taken Upton’s place in the Intelligence Unit. Unfortunately, Martel’s role was short-lived as she met her demise at the end of the premiere episode, prompting Voight to search for another candidate. Shortly after, Kim Burgess took the detective’s exam and was appointed as Upton’s official successor, leaving Jo Petrovic absent without any explanation.
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Chicago PD Season 12 Cast |
Role |
|---|---|
|
Jason Beghe |
Hank Voight |
|
Patrick John Flueger |
Adam Ruzek |
|
Marina Squerciati |
Kim Burgess |
|
LaRoyce Hawkins |
Kevin Atwater |
|
Amy Morton |
Trudy Platt |
|
Benjamin Levy Aguilar |
Dante Torres |
|
Toya Turner |
Kiana Cook |
|
Sara Bues |
Nina Chapman |
|
Shawn Hatosy |
Charlie Reid |
The fate of Jo Petrovic remains unclear, as showrunner Gwen Sigan expressed her fondness for the character during an interview with TVLine. Despite her enthusiasm for Jo’s depth, the decision was made not to reintroduce Bojana Novakovic in season 12. There is speculation that Petrovic may make a comeback in future installments of Chicago PD, but as of now, her storyline remains unresolved.
Source: TVLine