The world of Chicago P.D. just got a whole lot clearer as NBC officially confirms the return of its central figure — Sergeant Hank Voight, played by Jason Beghe — for Season 13. While fans had been speculating for months whether Beghe would return amid a wave of cast exits and storyline uncertainty, the news offers a sigh of relief and a jolt of anticipation for what’s next. Even more exciting? We now have an official episode count for the new season.
Since the show’s inception in 2014, Jason Beghe’s Hank Voight has been the driving force of Chicago P.D.. Love him or loathe him, Voight is the magnetic center around which the rest of the Intelligence Unit revolves. The character’s morally complex approach to law enforcement — tough, rule-bending, emotionally scarred — has made him one of the most compelling figures in the One Chicago universe.
NBC’s confirmation that Beghe will return for Season 13 may not be a shock to most fans, but it’s far from trivial. With so many key cast members leaving in recent seasons — from Jesse Lee Soffer’s Jay Halstead to the uncertain future of Marina Squerciati’s Kim Burgess — the return of Voight is a stabilizing presence that assures viewers that the heart of Chicago P.D. is still beating.
This compressed format could be a blessing in disguise. With fewer episodes, the writers have more freedom to craft tighter, emotionally resonant narratives without filler. Expect every episode to count — especially when it comes to character development, long-running arcs, and high-stakes confrontations. Voight has never been a one-dimensional character. His methods often clash with the law he’s sworn to uphold, and he carries emotional wounds from every loss, betrayal, and moral compromise he’s endured. His return to the unit — especially after the emotionally grueling events of Season 12 — isn’t just a narrative continuation. It’s a thematic anchor.
Season 12 saw Voight grappling with the fallout of rookie officer Noah Martel’s death, while also watching his unit fracture under stress. His closest allies were either emotionally drained or questioning their futures, and Voight’s own mental state was clearly in a fragile place. The reduced episode order may allow the show to zoom in on Voight’s internal struggles like never before. Traditionally, Chicago P.D. seasons follow a “case-of-the-week” model, sprinkled with ongoing personal arcs. With only 13 episodes, the formula could change. NBC’s press release hinted at a “more serialized approach,” suggesting viewers may be in for a single, overarching storyline that spans the entire season — or at least longer, multi-episode arcs.
This opens the door to deeper, darker stories — not just about crime, but about what it does to the people trying to stop it. A serialized season could also finally give longtime characters like Atwater or Torres the emotional depth and screen time they’ve long deserved. At this point, Jason Beghe is Chicago P.D.. Few actors so completely inhabit their character. In interviews, Beghe has often described Voight as a puzzle of contradictions — a man trying to be good in a world that rewards the opposite. That kind of performance requires nuance, maturity, and vulnerability — all of which Beghe brings to the table.
There’s no word yet on whether Season 13 will be Beghe’s final ride as Voight, but the show’s leaner episode count and emotional tone suggest that it might begin laying the groundwork for an eventual conclusion — or a major transformation of the character. Whether that means Voight finally faces the consequences of his choices, finds redemption, or doubles down on his morally gray tactics remains to be seen. But with only 13 episodes to explore it, the storytelling will need to be laser-focused and uncompromising.
