Why did Yuri Sardarov exit Chicago Fire? Reasons, explored

Given the hazardous profession of firefighters, NBC's Chicago Fire has witnessed many characters leave over the seasons. Still, none has been as heartbreaking and tragic as Yuri Sardarov's Brian "Otis" Zvonecek. Otis was a central character on the show, assigned to Truck 81. He was a dedicated firefighter who died in the Season 8 premiere.

The Season 7 finale featured the squad responding to a dangerous fire at a mattress company. While every member faced a life-or-death situation, it was revealed that Otis had succumbed to his injuries and passed away.

In reality, Sardarov wanted to leave the show because he felt it was time to explore new career opportunities. After spending seven years on Chicago Fire, the actor believed it was time to advance his career.

Read on to know why Otis was killed in Chicago Fire.

Yuri Sardarov wanted to explore other opportunities outside of Chicago Fire

Sardarov's Otis has been a main cast member on Chicago Fire since Season 1, and his death in the Season 7 finale was a gut punch for all fans. The fatal mattress company fire in the Season 7 finale led to the tragic death of this beloved character, but according to Sardarov, it was time for him to leave the show.

Being a key member of the cast since the show's inception, Sardarov has portrayed Otis since Season 1. As he discussed in an interview with Movie Web, he felt it was time for him to move on and explore other opportunities:

"I'd known Derek and Michael before this, before Chicago Fire, and they actually offered me the role. So seven seasons in, I was like, 'You know, Derek, I think, I think I'm done. I think I'd like to move on to something new.' And we had a talk about it...''

Since leaving Chicago Fire, Sardarov has appeared in The Rookie, FBI: International, and films like Adam, Getting Divorced, and Daddy.

Otis's death in the Chicago Fire Season 7 finale was a deliberate decision

While Sardarov wanted to leave the show in Season 7, he did not want his character to die, as ultimately happened. However, showrunners Michael Brandt and Derek Haas viewed this as an opportunity to kill off a main and beloved character, showcasing the harsh realities faced by firefighters.

Since the show has consistently portrayed the difficulties in this profession, the creators made a deliberate decision to write off Otis' character. This would surprise the audience, but it would also reflect reality.

As Hass discussed in an interview with TV line, they were first contemplating killing Ritter, but instead chose Otis:

''...there was some talk about, “Do we make it Ritter?” but it felt like that was almost not as serious. It almost wouldn’t be the same situation or effect, because he was such a new character...''

He added:

''And then we just decided it would be Otis because he lives with Cruz and Brett, and he’s on Casey’s truck, and he’s in Boden’s house, and he’s best friends with Mouch, and owns a bar with Herrmann… There are a million feelings that everybody has from a guy who’s been on the show from almost the first scene''

Therefore, to remind the audiences about the high stakes of their jobs in Firehouse 51, Sardarov finally left the show, and his character was killed off.

Also Read: Why did Gallo leave Chicago Fire? Character's exit, explored.

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