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Are the FBI shows and One Chicago set in the same universe?

The FBI shows and the One Chicago franchise are both Dick Wolf creations. Are they set within the same universe, though?
ByAlexandria Ingham|
"Emotional Rescue" - The FBI team investigates a drug deal gone bad after the body of a college student is found. Also, Detective Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos) temporarily joins the team, and finds her usual investigative methods clash with the Bureau's more buttoned up environment, on FBI, Tuesday, March 31 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Pictured (l-r) Tracy Spiradakkos as Hailey Upton and Zeeko Zak as Special Agent Omar Adom 'OA' Zidan Photo: Michael Parmelee/ CBS
"Emotional Rescue" - The FBI team investigates a drug deal gone bad after the body of a college student is found. Also, Detective Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos) temporarily joins the team, and finds her usual investigative methods clash with the Bureau's more buttoned up environment, on FBI, Tuesday, March 31 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Pictured (l-r) Tracy Spiradakkos as Hailey Upton and Zeeko Zak as Special Agent Omar Adom 'OA' Zidan Photo: Michael Parmelee/ CBS

When it comes to franchises, more than you would initially think are set in the same universe. This is the case for the FBI shows and the One Chicago franchise, although, recently it wouldn’t seem like that is the case.

The two franchises are Dick Wolf shows, despite being on two different networks. The One Chicago franchise continues to air on NBC, while CBS licenses the content produced by Universal TV. This is why now that FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted have been canceled that there are eyes on NBC saving the two shows.

FBI and Chicago PD made it clear the two universes are one

Back in March 2020, the world started to shut down. However, there were still a few TV show episodes to air, and one of them was an episode of FBI. It features Tracy Spiridakos from Chicago PD coming in to team up with OA in FBI on a case.

This was the first point it was clear that the two shows were set in the exact same universe. We already knew before this that Law & Order: SVU and Chicago PD were set within the same world. It means that the FBI franchise is also set in the same world as the Law & Order universe.

The Kill Floor
“The Kill Floor” – A member of the Fly Team goes missing as the hunt for Greg Csonka continues in Paris. Meanwhile, Vo’s life hangs in the balance after being shot, on FBI: INTERNATIONAL, Tuesday, Jan. 28 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*. Pictured (L-R): Eva-Jane Willis as Europol Agent Megan “Smitty”

FBI franchise casting seems to have forgotten this

However, it does feel like recent casting in FBI: International has forgotten about the fact that the two universes are one. Colin Donnell came into FBI: International season 3 as NSA Agent Brian Lange, despite being in Chicago Med has Dr. Connor Rhodes for multiple seasons.

Then FBI: International season 4 introduced us to Agent Wes Mitchell, played by Jesse Lee Soffer. Chicago PD fans know him well as Jay Halstead for 10 seasons of the series. There were many who would have loved to see Soffer reprise his role as Halstead, offering an explanation as to why he had started ghosting his own wife after re-enlisting in the military.

It does seem odd that FBI: International would cast two former One Chicago actors considering the pool of talent to bring into the series. It’s almost like the shows are trying to make you forget that they are all within the same universe.

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