Chicago Med Photos: Luke Mitchell Joins Hospital Staff in Season 9 Premiere

Luke Mitchell is officially on duty at Chicago Med in fresh photos from the upcoming ninth season.

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The Blindspot vet joins the NBC medical drama in the recurring role of Dr. Mitch Ripley, an early thirtysomething Emergency Department doctor who has a past connection to Dr. Daniel Charles (played by Oliver Platt). Mitchell’s character — who has the potential for a series-regular upgrade in Season 10 — comes from a troubled background, which led him to cross paths with Dr. Charles when he was growing up.

In the below photos from the season opener, titled “Row Row Row Your Boat on a Rocky Sea,” Dr. Ripley is seen making the rounds at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center, treating patients and interacting with regulars like Dr. Daniel Charles, Dr. Dean Archer and Charge Nurse Maggie Lockwood. But the big question is: Will he get along with his new colleagues, or might there be some tension with his new boss, Archer? And is Charles happy to see Mitch? (Body language experts, get to work, dissecting the images!)

Additionally, the first-look photos also offer glimpses of Hannah and Dean (who are hopefully just friends), a shocked Hannah and Maggie (hmmm…), and Daniel and his girlfriend, Liliana.

Mitchell’s casting comes in the wake of several series-regular exits during Season 8, beginning with the departure of Guy Lockard, who played ED pediatrician Dr. Dylan Scott, in the season opener. Original stars Brian Tee (aka Dr. Ethan Choi) and Nick Gehlfuss (Dr. Will Halstead) also said goodbye to the show after eight years, with both of their characters reuniting with their departed love interests, April Sexton and Natalie Manning, respectively. Additionally, Asjha Cooper, who recurred as resident Vanessa Taylor, was written out when her character decided to take a job in the Philippines.

Chicago Med Season 9 premieres Wednesday, Jan. 17 at 8/7c.

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