The new Chief at Firehouse 51 has been a problem for Kelly Severide. Chief Hopkins, played by Rob Morgan, came into Firehouse 51 with a vendetta against Severide and something to prove. We talked to Morgan about stepping into this new character, what Hopkins actually wants, and how he feels about being a disruptive force in the Chicago Fire world.
“Well, when I first read the material, I felt that they wanted to bring fire to the firehouse, stir it up a bit. I also felt the task of going against America’s Next Top Model, who is Taylor Kinney [Kelly Severide] who is like the choice of the show through the fans,” Morgan told us.
“So, to have me go up against him and shake it up a bit, I was honored to be chosen to be that character, because I figured we would do some memorable stuff and some stuff that would really shake the house up, shake the show up. And who doesn’t want to be a part of some fun stuff like that?”
But it could be argued that Hopkins is taking his vendetta against Severide way too far, to the point that he’s actively compromising a very successful firehouse. Morgan, however, doesn’t think so. “I’m playing him as he’s very well versed in the formalities and rules of a Chicago firehouse. And he’s just basically playing it by the book. He’s not coming in there playing into the nepotism or the favorites.”
You gotta understand the character to become the character and all that.
“Severide is the golden boy of the show. But at the same time, if the golden boy stepped in something that shouldn’t be stepped in, you gotta pay, you know what I mean? So, he’s just basically going in there and keeping it above board, going by the book. There are some things that could compromise the safety of the firehouse that Severide participates in, like having your wife there on shift with you. That’s not something that normally happens.”
Point Morgan. Or Hopkins. But the new chief hasn’t seemed too focused on that. Instead, he’s going after Severide for his work with OFI. However, Morgan made us worry a little bit about the possibility that Hopkins has other plans to take Severide down if that fails.
“If things are ever compromised for the safety of the city and the people, I’m going to address that, you know what I mean? And I know that Stellaride [we didn’t have to give him the ship name, he knew it] is something that’s already established and firm and loved in the show. And now here I come, very first episode, you know, t-balling it up. So yeah, I thought that was going to be a fun dynamic to play, but at the same time, I’m just going by the book, you know? You can’t fault a man for wanting to go by the protocol of what Chicago Fire Department has already laid down, that’s all.
Despite this, Morgan agreed that Hopkins actually has a lot of respect for Stella. His problem is Kelly. “I think he’s impressed with the knowledge that Lieutenant Stella Kidd brings, how she exhibits it, her relationships amongst the crew, and the people that we’re serving.”
Not that his respect for Stella means he’ll drop his revenge quest against her husband. And Hopkins doesn’t even care that Severide didn’t actually have a good relationship with his father.
“It’s just nepotism anyway. Regardless, you know, we’re going by the book. The goal [for Hopkins] is to keep the people of Chicago safe and make sure that all my lieutenants and all my squad come back home safely so that they can go home. That’s really, really what it’s about.”
Morgan even joked that he’s gotten a lot of comments and DMs from people who are not really happy with him. But in the end, it would be worse if people felt nothing. And his response? “I just like them all. Like, like, like, like, like, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Call me an asshole. Thank you.”
He also had to step into a show that’s on its 14th season and already has established dynamics. That’s always a challenge. “These people know each other, they have short hands, and you’re like: Here, I’m the new guy. How is that? And then not only that, but then to be the new guy and come in and try to break up this family unit. Can you imagine the weight on my shoulders? And I loved it.”
“Because the reaction once you put it out there, you know, as artists, we put it out there. And then once the reaction comes back, close to what you were hoping for, what the writers were striving for, that just means I’m doing my job. And I’m thankful to have the opportunity to do a job like this, even though, yes, I am stepping into a honeycomb that’s already been established with the queen, the king bee, and all of its workers. And here I come like a piñata, just slapping at it. So, yeah, I’m having fun.”
It’s a departure from some of Morgan’s most well-known rules, in series like Luke Cage and Stranger Things. And that’s partly what attracted Morgan to the role. “As a character actor, as a performer, artist, it’s fun to be able to go from various personalities from various worlds and then still contribute, still be a part of it in a way that it makes sense.”
“So yeah, I’m extremely blessed to have the options of the characters that I do get to play. And I love to download the different mindsets and things of that nature. I think it keeps it all refreshing and new to play.”
Even if now he’s stepped into the mindset of a character we don’t really like and are very much not rooting for. He’ll take the hate and smile.
Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays on NBC.
