As Chicago PD kicks off its 13th season on NBC, veteran actor Jason Beghe remains the unyielding center as Sergeant Hank Voight, guiding the Intelligence Unit through another round of gritty Chicago streets. The premiere aired just last week, drawing in familiar faces while subtly reshaping the team's dynamic. Beghe, whose gravelly voice has become synonymous with Voight's no-nonsense edge, spoke recently about the character's ongoing evolution, hinting at deeper personal stakes this year.
Indeed, the cast lineup holds steady with core members like Patrick John Flueger as Ruzek and Marina Squerciati as Burgess, both returning for their roles in the 21st District's high-stakes operations. However, changes are afoot. Toya Turner's Kiana Cook met a dramatic exit in the opener, wrapping up her arc after two seasons and leaving room for fresh tensions within the unit. Moreover, the show introduces new blood, including a partner for Voight that could challenge his lone-wolf style—details that Beghe teased as "intriguing" in interviews, without spoiling much.
Beghe's tenure on the series, now spanning over a decade since its 2014 debut, underscores his reliability amid the franchise's churn. At 65, he brings a weathered authenticity to Voight, a role that's weathered its own controversies over the years. The actor's real-life brush with a 1999 car accident, which left him intubated and altered his voice permanently, adds an unintended layer to the character's raspy intensity. This season, with 22 episodes slated, promises to explore Voight's limits as the team tackles escalating threats, from internal betrayals to citywide crises.
Yet, as the episodes unfold weekly on Wednesdays at 10 p.m., one wonders if Beghe's Voight can sustain the moral tightrope without tipping into outright vigilante territory once more.