Jake Lockett is opening up about his Chicago Fire exit for the first time since news broke that the actor will not be returning for a potential 14th season.
It was reported earlier this month by our sister site Deadline that Lockett’s firefighter Sam Carver and Daniel Kyri’s firefighter Darren Ritter are being written out as “part of an effort to trim the budget” of the long-running drama (which has not yet been renewed for Season 14, but is “a sure thing” on TVLine’s Renewal Scorecard).
“While I don’t exactly know what the future looks like, I do know that it won’t be exactly what it was and I am going to miss the hell out of that. So much pride in this journey,” Lockett wrote on Instagram, alongside a behind-the-scenes video montage of his Fire co-stars.
It’s been an honor bringing Sam to life,” Lockett added. He went on to express his gratitude for the show’s fans and, especially, his colleagues on the NBC drama.
“To every one of you, thank you for the love and support over the past three years,” Lockett continued. “And most importantly, the people that I was on the ground with day and night… thank you for the family you are and times you have been and will be there for me. If you’re not in one of these clips, there will be more to follow. So many cherished memories.”
Lockett joined the show in Season 11 and was just elevated to series regular this season, while Kyri debuted in Season 7, becoming a series regular in Season 9.
