Now Filming in Chicago: September 2026
Updated September 2026.
Chicago is one of the busiest production cities in the country right now. The One Chicago franchise is back in full swing with three series shooting simultaneously, Netflix has a feature film in town, an indie horror picture with a stacked cast is in production, and a fresh wave of indie features is casting through September. If you’re an actor or background performer in the Midwest, this is the month to be ready.
Here’s what’s actually filming in Chicago in September 2026 — verified productions with studios, locations, and cast.
Chicago Fire — Season 15
Studio/network: NBC; Universal Television / Wolf Entertainment
Location: Chicago — Cinespace Film Studios plus location work across the city
Filming: In production; background casting was active September 9–11, 2026
Cast: Taylor Kinney, David Eigenberg, Christian Stolte, Miranda Rae Mayo, Hanako Greensmith, Jocelyn Hudon, Brandon Larracuente, Da’Vinchi, Matthew Daddario
The flagship of the One Chicago franchise returns for its fifteenth season, premiering October 7, 2026. Season 15 brings notable cast movement: Joe Miñoso and Dermot Mulroney depart early in the season, while Da’Vinchi and Matthew Daddario join as new faces. For talent, Chicago Fire is the steadiest background gig in town — the show films at Cinespace Film Studios and on location, and its casting team regularly calls for Chicago-area background performers. If you want recurring extra work, this is the show to watch on [chicago casting calls].
Chicago P.D. — Season 14
Studio/network: NBC; Universal Television / Wolf Entertainment
Location: Chicago
Filming: In production; background casting listed availability September 17–28, 2026
Cast: Jason Beghe, Marina Squerciati, Patrick John Flueger, LaRoyce Hawkins, Benjamin Levy Aguilar, Arienne Mandi, Amy Morton
The Intelligence Unit is back for season fourteen, also premiering October 7, 2026. Chicago P.D. shoots across the city and has listed background availability for late September, which means the show is actively booking local extras right now. P.D. background calls often look for specific types — recent notices have sought Asian and Pacific Islander extras — so check breakdowns carefully and submit quickly when a type you match goes up.
Chicago Med — Season 12
Studio/network: NBC; Universal Television / Wolf Entertainment
Location: Chicago — Cinespace Film Studios (standing Gaffney Medical Center sets) plus neighborhood locations
Filming: In production
Cast: Steven Weber, Jessy Schram, Luke Mitchell, Sarah Ramos, Darren Barnet, S. Epatha Merkerson, Oliver Platt
The third leg of the One Chicago trifecta films primarily on its standing hospital sets at Cinespace, with neighborhood location work around the city. Season 12 premieres October 7, 2026, alongside Fire and P.D. for the full “Windy City Wednesdays” lineup. Med’s hospital setting means constant background needs: patients, visitors, staff, and passersby. Keep your profile current on the [actor sign-up page] so casting teams can find you when the next call goes out.
Better Than the Movies (Netflix feature)
Studio/network: Netflix
Location: Chicago
Filming: September 3 – October 21, 2026
Cast: Beatrice Kitsos, David Iacono, Deacon Phillippe, Luke Kirby, Judy Greer, Claire Coffee
Netflix is shooting a feature film in Chicago for nearly seven weeks this fall. Better Than the Movies films September 3 through October 21, 2026, and its cast mixes young leads (Beatrice Kitsos, David Iacono, Deacon Phillippe) with veteran comedy talent (Judy Greer, Claire Coffee, Luke Kirby). A Netflix feature on a schedule this long means sustained background and day-player hiring across the shoot — exactly the kind of production worth tracking on [chicago casting calls].
Deify (indie feature)
Studio: Independent psychological horror; directors Carmelo & Nicholas Chimera; producers Jordan Gianeschi, Jacob Rice, Mike Manning
Location: Chicago
Filming: Currently in production (reported ~August 20, 2026)
Cast: Neal McDonough, Skeet Ulrich, Dennis Haysbert, Ashley Greene, Kirk Acevedo, Casey Hartnett, Anji White
Deify is a psychological horror film about an enigmatic cult leader, with Skeet Ulrich in the cult-leader role opposite Neal McDonough. Dennis Haysbert, Ashley Greene, Kirk Acevedo, and Casey Hartnett round out the principal cast. The production was reported as currently shooting in Chicago in late August 2026. Indie features like this one often cast local supporting roles and background late in the process — indie horror in particular uses real locations and local talent heavily, so Chicago-based actors should stay alert for day-player notices. The cast is a notable mix of genre veterans (Ulrich, McDonough, Haysbert) and rising talent, and horror productions with this profile typically need atmospheric background — cult members, townspeople, event crowds — that reads best with committed local performers.
American Pickers
Studio/network: History Channel; produced by Cineflix
Location: Illinois (statewide, including Chicagoland stops)
Filming: September 2026
Hosts: Mike Wolfe, Rob Wolfe
History’s long-running series is filming its Illinois and Iowa leg throughout September 2026, with the team actively seeking private collections to feature. While this is an unscripted series rather than a scripted production, it matters for Chicago-area talent adjacent to production: reality shoots hire local crew, fixers, and production assistants, and the show’s presence signals continued non-scripted activity in the region. Mike Wolfe and Rob Wolfe are leading the tour through the state this month.
Five indie productions starting in September
Beyond the headline names, the Chicago breakdowns are stacked with indie features and series beginning production this month. Several are SAG-AFTRA signatory productions with established casting directors — a good sign for working actors. No cast has been published for these, so the leads may still be open:
- Moon Bandits — feature, SAG-AFTRA, casting director Kate Geller. Starts September 13, 2026.
- Love and Squalor — feature, SAG-AFTRA, casting directors Kerry Barden and Paul Schnee. Starts September 13, 2026. Barden and Schnee are major New York/Chicago casting names, so this is one to watch closely.
- Restoring Harmony — feature, non-union, casting director Donna McKenna. Starts September 21, 2026. A non-union feature is a strong entry point for actors building credits without union clearance.
- A Reason to Stay — feature, SAG-AFTRA, casting director Sig De Miguel. Starts September 21, 2026.
- Paranormal Nobodies (Season 1) — episodic series, non-union, casting director Scotty Mullen. Starts September 28, 2026. New series often need large recurring background pools, so expect ongoing calls.
Why Chicago’s September slate matters
Chicago’s production economy runs on the One Chicago franchise. Three network series shooting simultaneously at Cinespace Film Studios and on location is an industrial-scale operation: hundreds of crew, recurring background pools, and casting offices that hire locally month after month. When all three shows premiere October 7, 2026, they’re heading into production on the next cycle almost immediately — the machine doesn’t stop.
But September 2026 shows the market diversifying beyond the franchise. A Netflix feature on a seven-week shoot, an indie horror film with genuine star power, and five indie features and series starting production in a single month — several of them SAG-AFTRA signatory with established casting directors — mean this isn’t just a background-extra town right now. There are principal and day-player opportunities opening across budget levels, from Kerry Barden and Paul Schnee’s Love and Squalor to non-union entry points like Restoring Harmony and Paranormal Nobodies. For Chicago actors, the breadth of this month’s slate is the story.
How to get booked on what’s filming in Chicago
Chicago productions cast through a mix of established channels: background casting offices for the One Chicago shows, breakdown services for indie features, and marketplace postings. A few things that actually help:
- Keep your profile complete and current. Casting directors filter by look, location, skills, and credits before they ever open a submission. An incomplete profile doesn’t get seen.
- Submit fast on short-notice calls. Chicago shows frequently post background notices with 24–72 hour turnarounds. Same-day submission is the norm, not the exception.
- Don’t sleep on indie features. The five September starters above are exactly where Chicago actors land speaking roles and build relationships with casting directors who hire repeatedly.
Find Chicago casting calls now
Eleven productions are shooting in Chicago this September — three network series, a Netflix feature, an indie horror film with real star power, a History Channel series, and five indie projects casting right now. The work is there if you’re ready for it.
Browse Chicago casting calls on Project Casting and submit to the productions filming this month.
