9-1-1 Season 9 Gets Exciting Filming Update From Jennifer Love Hewitt

   

Jennifer Love Hewitt has confirmed the start of 9-1-1 season 9’s production. After Maddie suffered one of 9-1-1’s most gruesome injuries, Love Hewitt’s character earned a hopeful ending by giving birth to her second child and naming it after the dearly departed captain, Bobby Nash (Peter Krause). Nevertheless, 9-1-1 season 8 left many major questions unanswered.

Jennifer Love Hewitt as Maddie Han at LA Dispatch in 9-1-1 season 8, episode 18.

Aside from the controversy surrounding Bobby's tragic death, there is uncertainty surrounding many characters and their season 9 arcs. Anirudh Pisharody's Ravi deserves to stay with the 118 in 9-1-1, but Eddie (Ryan Guzman) has officially moved back from Texas. Even Maddie has partially unresolved trauma from her horror movie-adjacent 9-1-1 season 8 storylines.

When speaking with Screen Rant's Ash Crossan, Jennifer Love Hewitt revealed that 9-1-1 season 9 would soon be underway, starting in mid-to-late July. Similar to the iconic role the actress is reprising in 2025’s I Know What You Did Last Summer reboot, Maddie will deal with 9-1-1’s intense disasters via phone as the voice of LA Dispatch.

Screen Rant: Do you know when 9-1-1 season 9 goes into production?

Jennifer Love Hewitt: Oh my gosh—in a couple weeks. Yeah, we're back in a couple weeks, so I'll be back answering phones and in a totally different trauma than this one [I Know What You Did Last Summer], which is great.

What Love Hewitt's Update Means For 9-1-1 Season 9

New Content Is Imminent

Jennifer Love Hewitt and Kenneth Choi as Maddie Buckley and Chimney Han taking pictures in 9-1-1 season 8, episode 5, "Masks."

Once filming for 9-1-1 season 9 is underway, any content released will be meaningful. With the cast on set, behind-the-scenes content will likely be posted with hints or context clues that give away major plotlines for the first half of season 9. Something as simple as a prop, costume, or background could have huge implications down the line.

Additionally, 9-1-1 has to figure out where to go from season 8’s big twists. The fallout from Bobby’s death and Chimney’s (Kenneth Choi) possible promotion must be explored, which will inevitably result in divisive storylines. Depending on the shooting order, 9-1-1’s next best episode could be in production within weeks. Conversely, the series could be preparing another bombshell.

 

Our Take On 9-1-1 Season 9

It Will Be A Make-Or-Break Season

Hen (Aisha Hinds), Chimney (Kenneth Choi), Buck (Oliver Stark), and Eddie (Ryan Guzman) saluting at Bobby's funeral in 9-1-1 season 8, episode 16.

9-1-1 seemed poised for a lengthy run on ABC, but killing off its first main character has proved to be a show-defining decision. The immediate reaction was overwhelmingly negative, and many viewers have vowed to hold a grudge, which will hinder the procedural’s long-term success. Some even say 9-1-1 will only win its audience back by reviving Peter Krause’s character.

Unfortunately, 9-1-1 season 9 will move on from Bobby’s death, for better or worse. If the drama leans into it and explores the main cast’s grieving process, 9-1-1 may be able to recuperate its scorned fans. However, if 9-1-1 opts to bulldoze past the season 8 controversies, it may be the beginning of the end for Ryan Murphy’s first-responder franchise.