One Chicago Finally Breaking a Frustrating 5-Year Crossover Streak Is Exactly What the Franchise Needed

After more than five years of cross drought, the three A Chicago show – Chicago Fire, Chicago Police, and Chicago Middle — will team up once again during the 2024–2025 TV season, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for all three series. THE A Chicago universe debuted with Chicago Fire in 2012, and after its instant success, NBC quickly put together a franchise. Since the debut of Chicago Police (and later the premiere of Chicago Middle), the three shows crossed paths on several occasions, whether for a big event or a quick participation.

According to TV Linethe creative minds behind A Chicago franchise is developing a one-night, three-episode crossover event involving Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Chicago Police. The date has not been announced as of this writing, but the plot has been. The story of the first A Chicago crossover in five years will begin with an explosion of an office building that leaves the entire city in chaos. Firefighters, police officers, doctors and other first responders will have to come together to save lives and find out who is responsible.

Why hasn’t there been a three-show crossover in Chicago since 2019?

COVID-19 was a big factor

With more than 680 episodes and 26 seasons, the A Chicago the franchise is undoubtedly one of the most successful on network TV. So it makes sense that NBC would want to make the most of its power and launch crossovers. However, after “Infection” in October 2019, Chicago Fire, Chicago Police, and Chicago Middle I didn’t have a three-part crossover event. There are many reasons for this five-year hiatus, but most of them date back to the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 shut down nearly all film and TV productions in the spring of 2020. When they were able to return, most casts and crews had to follow certain protocols to ensure everyone’s safety. Unfortunately, these restrictions meant that a three-way cross between Chicago Fire, Chicago Police, and Chicago Middle it wasn’t logical. So bringing the three shows together was put aside. THE A Chicago characters from different TV shows couldn’t interact, and each series did its own thing for a while. More, the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023 have further delayed any potential crossover plans.

Why One Chicago Needs Its Three-Show Crossover

Crossovers have become a cornerstone of the NBC franchise

It makes sense because it’s been five years since the last big A Chicago crossing. However, that doesn’t make the frustration at missing them go away. It’s exciting for fans to see their favorite characters from different TV series interact with each other and work together on an important story. Before COVID-19, crossovers were a significant part of the franchise, and it hasn’t felt right since A Chicago entered this drought. Of course, the casts of Chicago Fire, Chicago Police, and Chicago Middle may survive (not exactly thrive) on their own, but shows undoubtedly benefit from crossovers.

Needless to say, the quality of each series has declined in recent years. They were not inaccessible. However, Chicago Fire, Chicago Police, and Chicago Middle everyone experienced heartbreaking casting exits and frustrating/repetitive/tedious stories. Consequently, A Chicago needs a crossover now more than ever, and thankfully, prayers have been answered.

Source: TV Line