The cast of Chicago P.D. has been expansive and diverse, and there have been a slew of high-profile departures from the show over the years, with only a few original characters still part of the cast. One of the most prominent cast members departed the show after season 10, and Chicago P.D. hasn’t quite felt the same without them.
Now, in a video posted on producer Brian Luce’s Instagram account, Luce revealed the return of Jesse Lee Soffer. Soffer played fan-favorite character Jay Halstead, considered IU’s moral compass, for almost a decade before leaving in Chicago P.D. season 10, episode 3. Luce’s video reveals that Soffer will be back, but not as Jay.
Instead, the clip reveals that he will return to the show in the director’s chair, with Luce captioning it, “My Bestie is back in the big-boy directors chair and I couldn’t be more happy!!!” He referenced how there had been eight days of prepping and eight days of filming. Check out the video below:
What This Means For Soffer’s Chicago P.D. Return
Soffer’s Chicago P.D. departure came from a desire to explore other opportunities, and he appears on good terms with the cast and crew. He and Luce clearly have a strong relationship, while series lead Jason Beghe championed Soffer’s return as a director in season 11. This should all result in a strong episode from Soffer, with plenty of emotional weight.
Our Take On Soffer’s Chicago P.D. Future
The fact that Soffer’s already returned to the Chicago P.D. director’s chair in the past, combined with his seemingly strong relationship with those involved, means there is always a chance of future returns. While it is unlikely Jay Halstead will return to the series, the fact that the character wasn’t killed off means that there is always a chance.
