Warning: This story contains excerpts from the “Chicago Med” season 8 finale “Do One Door Close and the Other One Open?” Contains spoilers.
Nick Gehlfuss hanging up his lab coat. The actor, who played Dr. Will Halstead in all eight seasons of “Chicago Med,” has exited the series, making his final appearance on Wednesday night’s season 8 finale. After Will leaves the hospital after several changes at Gaffney, he is reunited with his ex-fiancée, Natalie (Torry DeVito, who made a surprise appearance in the episode after leaving at the end of Season 6).
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“It was a difficult decision, but in the end, I felt I would take Dr. Halstead as far as he could take me. I think it comes down to the creative part of you, or the energy or soul you have, whether or not you’re either committed to one person for too long,” Gehlfuss explains. Diversity, “I’m attracted to the profession for the diversity in it, and eight years is a long time. That’s two college degrees! I joke now that I basically have a doctorate in television.
Filming the finale was a poignant process for Gahlfuss.
“It’s overwhelming because of all the emotion. It wouldn’t be if it didn’t mean so much. It’s like that with love, if you truly love someone you’ll have great moments and great low moments, because it’s there for you.” Very important,” he says. “It was important to me to give everyone advance notice of my departure so we don’t end up cold turkey.”
The finale was filmed in mid-April, about a month and a half after Gehlfuss told the team it was time to leave. “The first person I called was Dick Wolf of Reason,” he says of the show’s producer. “It was very important to me that he heard it from me first. And then I think it was a tricky influence from that point on.
While Natalie and Will’s reunion “feels fitting,” it was not always the plan for the pair to end up together. Once he told the creative team he was leaving, discussions began about Manstead’s possible ending and he waited for producers to reach out to DeVito.
“I’ve kept in touch with him, so it wasn’t like we hadn’t seen each other since he left the show. But it was great to see him,” Gehlfuss says. “We got back into our work rhythms. Like we didn’t have any time. It was a beautiful moment, and I hope it brings some closure to the fans. Because this relationship has completely turned around for Will and Natalie. I think Will was looking for elements of Natalie in every relationship he had after their breakup. He never really got over her.
Being on “Chicago Med” since its debut in 2015 — appearing in all 163 episodes — Gahlfuss will take some lessons with Will on the go.
“The name William means protector or protection. He protected his patients as if they were his family. The way he was so committed to his work and what he was called to do in this life, I will never forget,” he says. “He would take risks for people. Now, there could be a conversation about whether he was sometimes letting his personal belongings get in the way of his work? Was it a muddy situation? Yes. I’ll never forget to remind myself that lesson I Learned what Will Halstead may not have learned, which is to move your personal belongings out of your work! I will never forget how he is also a fighter. He just fought for what he felt was necessary for himself or his patients.
Now, Gehlfuss hopes he’ll get a chance to explore a new character.
“I’d love to be a cowboy,” he quips. “I would love to go out. I love being out. Ultimately, I want to develop new, different characters. To be able to explore a character for eight years was a real gift. TV allows that possibility, and So I look forward to doing this again.
Of course, in the One Chicago universe the door never closes, should Halstead find the opportunity to get back in. “We all agreed on that, thankfully, as I talked with Dick and the writers,” he says. “Whenever it makes sense again for important moments, I’d love to wear the white lab coat once again.”
Before we end our interview, Gahlfuss asks if he can speak directly to fans, since he’s not active on social media.
“It’s no secret, without you, we wouldn’t have jobs. One of the most important things we can give each other is our time. So thank you all for your time and your support. One Chicago And I’m overjoyed by the number of people who have come up to me to say something positive about my work. It’s the best confirmation of the contract between audience and storyteller. While Will Halstead is leaving, One Chicago is not. Enjoy the coming season!”
The One Chicago World has had several cast changes over the past year, with “Chicago Made” seeing the most turnover. Guy Lockard, Sarah Rafferty And asaza cooper all gone In the first season, as did brian tAnother original series star.
‘Chicago Med’ will return to NBC in the fall.
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