“We Did Think About It a Lot”: ‘Chicago P.D.’ Showrunner Reveals Why She Killed Off a Major Character in the Season 12 Finale

In her interview with ScreenRant, Sigan teased a scenario where Reid would have only been temporarily defeated, possibly remaining at large, with the chance of launching a comeback sometime in the future. She explained that the option was being considered due to Hatosy's incredible acting skills and the desire to have his talent continue to be a part of the show. However, this option wouldn't have involved making his character less dark, as she noted, "I don't think we ever thought we could redeem him as a character and make him less dark than he is." For lack of a perfect idea to keep him on, the creative team settled for killing him off. "But we certainly got to a point where we were like, "Are we actually going to kill him? We don't want to kill him. How can we get him back?" She continued:

"He's such a good antagonist for Voight, and he is just a great actor, such a professional, and was always reliable. We did think about it a lot. We couldn't find the perfect way. It just felt like this is what it was all leading to. But we did think about it, because we like the actor so much as well."

Will Reid's Murder Haunt Voight?

However, when the dust settles, Sigan notes that Reid's dying words will occasionally course through Voight's mind, adding, "But it's one of those things that is going to haunt him a little bit. And we've seen that he's become a bit more self-reflective, whether he wants to admit that or not." She adds:

"I think last season, dealing with having almost died the previous season, he was on this quest of almost, 'What more can I have in my life?' and he has almost taken a step backwards. And so I think that those words are going to keep coming up in his head, even if it's just in his subconscious."

As for what comes next, fans can rest assured that Voight and the Intelligence Unit will reassemble as Chicago P.D. has officially been renewed for Season 13. Stay tuned for updates on what’s to come.