Jesse Lee Soffer just can’t quit us. Despite making his final appearance on Chicago P.D. just 18 days ago, will be returning to direct Episode 16 which is set to air in 2023.
Soffer starred in 189 episodes of NBC’s police procedural, portraying Det. Jay Halstead. In August, he confirmed the 10th season would be his last, appearing in the first three episodes. The character was written off the show during the October 3rd episode, when Jay decided to resign from Intelligence, say goodbye to his wife (played by Tracy Spiridakos) and take an army job in Bolivia.
In the final moments of the episode, he told Hailey that he had joined an Army group that tracked down Cartel forces, which was relocating him to Bolivia for eight weeks. He swore to her that she is the love of his life, and that they would get through it.
At the airport, Voight’s (Jason Beghe) came to say goodbye and offered him any job he wanted to stay. In turn, Jay told him that he wanted to be Voight — which was the problem. “It’s like you’ve always told me: I’m not, and I shouldn’t try,” he told his former boss. With that, they shook hands and Jay left Chicago.
“It’s black and white, it’s good and bad, it’s right and wrong, and it’s no more of this,” Halstead told Upton during their emotional scene. “I need that. I need that back. I fly out today. It’s not forever, it’s eight months, maybe a little longer. But I swear to you that we’re gonna get through this because you’re the love of my life, and if I’m yours, then you’ll know that you have to let me go.”
Soffer, shared his gratitude for his years working on the show. “To create this hour drama week after week has been a labor of love by everyone who touches the show,” he said in a statement. “I will always be proud of my time as Det. Jay Halstead.”
Benjamin Levy Aguilar, who guest starred in Season 9, was upped to series regular ahead of the Season 10, joining cast members Spiridakos, Jason Beghe, Marina Squerciati, Patrick Flueger, LaRoyce Hawkins and Amy Morton.
New episodes of Chicago P.D. air on NBC Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET.
