Chicago P.D. star Jesse Lee Soffer is returning to the One Chicago franchise, joining FBI: International season 4 — but there's a big twist. In 2023, there were strong reactions to Soffer's departure during Chicago P.D. season 10 due to how the story was handled. The actor explained that even though he will always have love and an appreciation for his time as Halstead, he felt it was time to move on from the role. His next gig brings him back to the universe of dramas produced by Law & Order creator Dick Wolf, albeit in an unexpected way.
TVLine confirms that Soffer is joining FBI: International season 4, filling the void left by the exit of original cast member Luke Kleintank, who played Supervisory Special Agent Scott Forrester. But even though FBI and Chicago P.D. exist in the same universe, Soffer will be playing a new character.
The Chicago P.D. Connection With FBI, Explained
The Two Shows Have Crossed Over Before.
The connection between Chicago P.D. and FBI goes back to an FBI season 2 episode, "Emotional Rescue," in which the two procedurals converge. In a nod to the crossover, which features Chicago P.D. character Detective Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos), the episode is written by veteran Dick Wolf producer Rick Eid. There is no word yet on how and if the new casting will be addressed on-screen, but it may suggest that the shared universe of the two series may be less emphasized moving forward.
The latest casting also does not address Soffer's controversial exit from the One Chicago franchise, with Halstead essentially ghosting his wife Hailey Upton. He leaves for Bolivia, in hopes of finding some cartel targets. In the process, he stops returning her calls. Audiences were generally not receptive to how Halstead was written off, arguing that it diminished the couple known as "Upstead" because he not only leaves for Bolivia but fails to tell Upton that he plans to extend his stay. Spiridakos has since departed Chicago P.D. herself, leaving during season 11.
Although actors appearing as more than one character is common in the Dick Wolf universe, whether on Law & Order or elsewhere, the latest example does come with a significant asterisk since there were hopes to see Soffer at least make a cameo as his long-running Chicago P.D. character. It seems his new FBI: International season 4 gig has made that more difficult.
