Chief Hopkins May Not Be a Villain on Chicago Fire — And Rob Morgan Debates the Idea

Since coming into Firehouse 51, Chief Andre Hopkins has made taking Severide down his mission on Chicago Fire.

It’s clear there is some sort of backstory with Benny Severide, and Hopkins seems to think like father, like son.

Sure, there is certainly a need to remove nepotism and favoritism from the workplace, but is Hopkins going about it the right way?

Plus, does removing nepotism really make someone a villain? Is Hopkins only viewed as one because of who he’s going up against?

That’s something TV Fanatic discussed with Rob Morgan, who plays Hopkins on Chicago Fire Season 14, as well as what’s to come in the final two episodes.

TV Fanatic: Hopkins is such a great love-to-hate character. I love a villain or antagonist with layers. What’s it been like for you to play the role?

Rob Morgan: Is he a villain, or is he a man who’s coming in doing things by the book?

It just so happens that America’s Next Top Model favorite, Taylor Kinney, is the focus of my desire to clean up the CFD. Is that a villain?

I always say that we are all a villain in someone else’s story, and I’m a-okay with that!

Well, if that’s what it takes to be a villain, then I’m a villain.

I love the reaction that Andre Hopkins has brought because it makes me feel like I’m doing my job.

When I read the material first and understood it, I saw Hopkins bringing fire to the Firehouse, stirring things up, and I’m grateful for the opportunity. The reaction has been fun.

He does have a great point about nepotism, but to me, he’s going about it the wrong way by not looking at Severide as a person.

I think he is looking at Severide as a person at times. He tells Severide that he’s his top chief officer on the whole Squad, so it’s on Hopkins to make sure he stays sharp.

He doesn’t have anything personal against Severide, but he wants to do things by the book.

Severide and Stella are married and responding to incidents together, which isn’t CFD protocol. That’s not really safe, and it’s a conflict of interest.

If something goes wrong, Hopkins has to make adjustments.

So, I’m taking nepotism and playing favorites out, and some people can respect and admire that. But when you’re going up against America’s Next Top Model, it’s a little challenging.

It could be carrying bricks up a hill, but Hopkins is the man to carry those bricks.

He’s also not the only one to bring up the issue of Severide and Kidd working together. Pascal did when he first came in.

Exactly.

It seems he could start rethinking a few things or looking at them from a different perspective.

When his daughter came in at the end of the last episode, he had to admit that Severide is the right person to investigate the arson.

Oh, yes. We got tidbits of those realizations in that episode about how he is getting a better understanding of how good a cop Severide is, how he’s able to go above and beyond for the job that is needed.

That moment with his daughter was one of those “out of the mouths of babes” situations, and he sees that if his daughter sees it too, it’s there.

I thought that was a special moment, and I’m glad they had her in the episode.

I wish there were a little more time on Chicago Fire to see more of Hopkins and his family. I think it’s a great insight into who he is.

I agree with you one thousand percent. We gotta hit those emails and let the writers know we want to see a softer Hopkins.

We want to see more of Hopkins in his home life with more compassion.

So, a spinoff?

Let’s do it!

Can you tease what’s to come for Hopkins on the last two episodes of Chicago Fire Season 14?

All I can tease is that you need to tune in on Wednesday at 9 pm Eastern Standard Time on NBC.

You won’t want to miss it, because it’ll be a big reveal for Chief Battalion Andre Hopkins. There’s a big reveal if you’re invested in this character.

There is still this huge backstory with Benny to bring out, and I’m not sure that Benny was all that innocent in the matter.

This Wednesday is gonna drop like a big bomb. You’re gonna see exactly what’s motivating Hopkins for the prior three episodes.

You’ll get a totally new understanding of why Hopkins is taking the action that he is.

As I wrap, what’s it like to play this character who isn’t quite over things that happened to him in the past? What message is there in that?

Oh, it was like the kid who got turned down in the Second Grade by the girl who sat in front of him.

You just sit there with that, so my character was the same way. He got done wrong.

As a young man, he didn’t have the power or resources, but now things have changed.

He’s worked hard to get to where he is, and now he has a chance to make an important change.

I think in real life, we all have had those things that we wish had gone a different way, and now that we have a chance to do something about it, we’re stepping into that role.

_{This interview has been edited for clarity and length.}

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