‘Chicago Med’ Season 7: Showrunners Reveal What Happened to Dr. Natalie Manning After She Left
Chicago Med Season 7 lost a major character who was on the show since the beginning. Torrey DeVitto who played Dr. Natalie Manning ended her time on Chicago Med after six long seasons. Natalie appeared briefly in the opening premiere of season 7 to say goodbye and fans haven’t seen her since. Showrunners Andrew Schneider and Diane Frolov discussed Natalie’s future after leaving Gaffney Chicago Medical Center.
Why did Natalie leave ‘Chicago Med’ Season 7?
Natalie was an attending physician at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center who was introduced in the first episode. Her husband Jeff Manning was killed in action overseas not long before the series began. Natalie also has a young son named Owen. She dates Dr. Will Halstead on and off throughout the series.
Natalie is a skilled doctor who specializes in pediatrics. She normally does things by the books, but out of desperation, she stole medication from a drug trial in an attempt to help her sick mother. Halstead takes the fall for Natalie and gets fired from the hospital. Eventually, Natalie comes clean so that Halstead can get his job back. She says her goodbyes to Chicago Med at the very beginning of season 7.
‘Chicago Med’ showrunners fill in the blanks on Natalie’s future
The last fans saw of Natalie, Halstead was helping her and Owen pack up their belongings to leave Chicago. Natalie’s future was left uncertain. However, in an interview with TV Line, showrunners Andrew Schneider and Diane Frolov gave fans an inside look into Natalie’s future.
“She’s, right now, going back to Seattle, where she’s from, and being with her family. Her mom is from there, and she’s going to be getting a gig at a hospital there,” Frolov told the outlet.
“A good, really prominent hospital,” added Schneider. “Her career is not damaged. Goodwin did not make a big deal; she just let her go. So she goes on. She is going to be fine.” Schneider also clarified that this information wasn’t mentioned on-screen yet, but added “we should reestablish that.”
Will Torrey DeVitto ever return to her role as Dr. Natalie Manning?
It’s hard to say whether fans will ever see Natalie again. DeVitto announced a fond farewell to Chicago Med on her Instagram. “It has been such an honor and pure joy to bring Dr. Natalie Manning to life for all of you on Chicago Med for the past 6 seasons. But it is now time for her and me to bow out and say goodbye,” she wrote.
Still, Schneider left a little hope for the future when TV Line asked whether Halstead and Natalie would have ended up together if DeVitto stayed on the show. “And hey, who knows?! She’s alive! She’s well! Who knows? We’re only in Season 7!” Schneider replied.
Chicago Med airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. EST on NBC.
