Chicago P.D.’s Nicole Ari Parker Just Landed A New TV Project

Nicole Ari Parker as Samantha Miller in Chicago P.D.

Chicago P.D.’s Deputy Superintendent Samantha Miller, played by Nicole Ari Parker, is heading to a new TV project! The actress, who can currently be seen on the NBC procedural in a recurring role, has landed a co-lead role in a new ensemble drama pilot.

Nicole Ari Parker is joining Adrian Holmes, Brad James, Jade Eshete, Sinqua Walls, Emayatzy Corinealdi and Christian Keyes in NBC’s At That Age, from Carla Banks-Waddles, Malcolm D. Lee, Debra Martin Chase and Universal Television. The series follows the Cooper family, whose golden child suffers a catastrophic event. Seven family members then face a foundational shift, make life-altering decisions and “deal with deep secrets coming to light,” according to Deadline.

Nicole Ari Parker will play Avery’s wife, Samantha Cooper, who is smart but has become “content to stay at home and reap the benefits of the Cooper wealth and name.” Besides her work on Chicago P.D., Parker can be seen in Fox’s Empire and Star, TVLand’s Younger and Showtime’s I’m Dying Up Here. She’s best known for her breakout role in the Oscar-nominated Boogie Nights. Despite Parker’s new role, it’s possible she’ll still show up on Chicago P.D. Since her role on the police procedural is only recurring and both series are NBC, it should be easy for her to pop in every once in a while.

The Empire alum joined Chicago P.D. during Season 8, and her Deputy Superintendent Samantha Miller was brought in to help Hank Voight and his Intelligence team adjust to new rules. Her character was described as being a big proponent of police reform and very progressive. In the eight episodes in which she's appeared, Nicole Ari Parker has proven to be a force to be reckoned with as Miller. Hopefully, her new role doesn’t take her away from this one completely, as the One Chicago series has been one of many procedurals tackling police brutality and equality following last year’s protests.

At That Age will join new NBC comedies American Auto and Grand Crew, as well as dramas La Brea, Ordinary Joe and limited series drama The Thing About Pam. It’s interesting to note that veteran NBC series, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, Manifest, Good Girls and freshman series Debris have yet to be renewed by the network. Although it’s possible one or two shows could move to NBCUniversal’s streaming platform Peacock, the slate of new originals will make it harder for veterans to get picked up.

It’s hard to tell whether Nicole Ari Parker’s new role will interfere with her role on Chicago P.D., especially since the series has already lost one character this season. However, it will be great to see her in a lead role on the same network, hopefully soon.

In the meantime, watch Parker as Samantha Miller in Season 8 of Chicago P.D. on Peacock, and catch the season finale when it airs Wednesday, May 26 at 10 p.m. EST on NBC.

Megan Behnke
Freelance TV News Writer

Passionate writer. Obsessed with anything and everything entertainment, specifically movies and television. Can get easily attached to fictional characters.