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Feb
2022
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The Biggest Stunt in ‘Chicago P.D.’ History

New episodes of the One Chicago franchise return to NBC this Wednesday, and Chicago P.D. will launch its midseason premiere with a terrifying and exhilarating challenge for its production team. The new episode will feature the biggest stunt in the history of the show, and SCREEN has a behind-the-scenes video for you to enjoy before tuning in on Wednesday night.

Take an inside look behind the stunts and the special effects, as this video from Wolf Entertainment breaks down one of the most intense sequences ever on Chicago P.D. You’ll also hear from the people who helped bring it to life, including actor Tracy Spiridakos (who plays Hailey Upton), stuntwoman Kelli Scarangello, and more. Let’s get to it!

“When I first read the script, I was excited,” Co-Executive Producer and Director of the episode Chad Saxton shared. “And then I asked, ‘Are we really doing this?'”

Let’s take a look at this special behind-the-scenes look at the chilling and historic stunt for Chicago P.D…

Jumping in the Chicago River in the middle of winter may sound terrifying, not to mention freezing — but for Chicago P.D. stuntwoman Kelli Scarangello, it was a dream come true, if not a rite of passage of sorts.

“It’s kind of a running joke here in Chicago that you’re not on official Midwest stunt person until you go in the Chicago river — so I was excited,” Scarangello shared in the behind-the-scenes video above.

In the midseason premiere this Wednesday, titled “Still Water,” Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos) witnesses a car accident and jumps into the river to make a rescue. Throughout the episode, Upton’s investigative unit must track down the man responsible, which leads to a second underwater scene — leading to some of the most impressive stunt work the show has attempted to date.

“I love the water and I’m a diver myself — I have an Open Water Diver certificate, but it was so long ago,” Spiridakos says. “It was great to just get reacquainted, and that was kind of the biggest thing,  just to familiarize myself with all of that.” She adds that she was trained specifically on how to open your eyes and breathe underwater: “When I first opened my eyes underwater, it stung and I kept inhaling water. Eventually, you get more comfortable underwater having your eyes open and coming up. I remember walking outside when we were in L.A. everything was just cloudy! That part was was a bit of a challenge.”

To see how this ambitious stunt turned out, be sure to tune in to Chicago P.D. this Wednesday at 9 p.m. Central. Click here to catch up on all episodes of the new season.

Be sure to check back here at SCREEN Magazine for the latest on Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, and Chicago Med. You can also click right here to subscribe to our weekly email newsletter.

Photo Credit: Lori Allen/NBC

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