After leaving viewers on a cliffhanger at the end of its fall season, Chicago P.D. is returning in 2026 to continue the story. According to showrunner Gwen Sigan, the winter premiere will begin in a way the show “rarely” does, and it could be a significant moment for the character Voight as the new year begins.
The winter premiere of Chicago P.D., titled “Born Screaming,” will focus on Voight and his team finishing the case involving Raymond Bell. The fall finale left viewers wondering about the fate of a young girl, Julie, after more victims were found and Imani broke into Bell’s home to try and save her, only to find her missing. The episode ended with a strong suggestion that the dangerous Raymond Bell had returned.
Before the winter premiere on January 7th (available to stream on Peacock the next day), I spoke with showrunner Gwen Sigan about how “Born Screaming” will wrap up the story left hanging at the end of the last episode.
The action starts up again almost instantly, which doesn’t happen often, so it’s really exciting. It’s like those classic cliffhangers where the story jumps right back in, and from there, it’s a fast-paced, suspenseful ride. We’re all racing against the clock, working together to understand what’s happening with the Bells and prevent more people from getting hurt.
As a big fan of the One Chicago universe, I’ve noticed Chicago P.D. sometimes focuses more on the case-of-the-week than the characters’ personal lives. That’s why I was surprised by Ruzek’s unexplained absence this season – usually, they weave those things into the story. It’s also unusual to have a cliffhanger mid-season! But honestly, I’m much more excited to see Imagine take charge, like the preview hinted at. I was worried the show would just skip over the fallout from the break-in and Julie’s situation, so I’m glad they’re addressing it.
The showrunner told me why Imani, one of the Intelligence Unit, got so involved in the Bell case. It ended up leaving her completely alone and in a really dangerous situation by the end of 2025, and I finally understood what happened.
This case felt incredibly personal for her, bringing up a lot of unresolved issues from her past. We’ll learn more about the reasons why after the break, and what caused her to react so strongly in this episode. The team really wanted a case that would affect both Voight and her deeply, pushing them both emotionally.
Gwen Sigan revealed that Imani was created to be a close confidante for Voight, leading to a particularly complex relationship for him – perhaps the most complicated since he began working with Upon more often. Given Voight’s own tendency to act on impulse, how will he respond when Imani starts following hers?
The showrunner explained that the characters won’t be going their separate ways completely, but rather pursuing similar, though not identical, journeys. Gwen Sigan added more detail:
It’s interesting to watch how both characters share similar instincts, but also how differently they react. Voight has years of experience, while she’s only been with the police for two years and is new to the unit. Because he’s able to control his impulses and she isn’t, it’s clear things are going to get complicated.
It’s always interesting to watch Hank Voight, who often bends the rules, try to do the right thing when his team goes too far. This seems to be happening with the new officer, Imani, in Season 13. Sigan explained the disagreement between the sergeant and this newcomer to the Intelligence Unit.
The tension between these two characters is central to the story, and the Bell case highlights that perfectly. There’s an innocent child caught in the middle, and Imani feels she can’t stand by and wait for official procedures like a warrant or evidence to come in – she believes this girl needs immediate help.
The premiere should be exciting, especially seeing what happens after Imani acts without permission. If things are moving quickly, she might face serious consequences. If the search for Julie slows down, it could create the conflict the showrunner hinted at. You can get a sneak peek in the winter premiere preview.
Don’t miss the winter premiere of Chicago P.D. on NBC, Wednesday, January 7th at 10 p.m. Eastern! It follows the premiere of Chicago Fire at 9 p.m. Eastern, which promises some emotional moments, and the return of Chicago Med with a surprising jump forward in time. You can catch up on past episodes anytime on Peacock.
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2026-01-08 00:39