Angela Bassett Keeps Hopes Up That Bobby Is Alive In 9-1-1: "He Could Be Up To... Things"

9-1-1 star Angela Bassett has teased that her on-screen husband Bobby might still be alive, despite the character's tragic on-screen death. 9-1-1 season 8 shocked long-time viewers by controversially killing off its first main character since the show debuted with the death of Bobby. The 118 captain died following exposure to a virus, where he chose to save colleague Chimney with the only antidote. Bassett's Athena arrived on the scene and had an emotional reunion with her husband before he died in front of her.

In an interview with Good Morning America, Bassett discussed upcoming projects, such as Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, when she talked about the heartbreaking 9-1-1 death, and teased fans by joking that Bobby might not be dead, and stating that he had a closed-casket funeral. She laughingly added "So, yeah. He could be up to… things." Check out the interview below:

What This Means For The Chances Of Bobby's 9-1-1 Survival

Fans Shouldn't Get Their Hopes Up Over Bassett's Tongue-In-Cheek Comments

ABC and the show are sticking with Peter Krause's exit from the series, but Bassett's comments, although made in a non-serious way, do support circulating theories that Bobby might not be dead in 9-1-1. This adds an interesting dynamic to the already robust conversation about the tragedy. Since set photos of Bobby's funeral leaked, the devoted 9-1-1 fan base has been dissecting every single aspect of Bobby's untimely death.

Bassett has already revealed that she was heartbroken by the move to kill off Bobby, and discussed how she believes it will shape Athena's journey as a character. Admittedly, while she jokes about Bobby being alive and well, it would feel like a betrayal of the character's story, and the audience's emotional investment, if the character was to miraculously have survived. However, it's worth noting that 9-1-1 is known for pulling ridiculous twists.

Our Take On A Potential Future Appearance For Bobby

The Character Could Return Even Though He's Dead

With 9-1-1 season 9 having a renewal, there are still stories to tell about these characters, and there is a good chance Athena's story is going to be central to season 9's development. And this could mean a return for Bobby, in the form of flashbacks or hallucinations that Athena experiences. This would be an exciting way to have new footage with Bobby, bring actor Peter Krause back, and help enrich Athena's story. However, it feels unlikely this will happen, and the most probable outcome will be that 9-1-1 moves on without Bobby.