Jay Halstead’s Return to ‘Chicago P.D.’ Is More Important Than Ever

Heading into the summer, Chicago P.D. was the one series in the One Chicago franchise that had its full roster presumably intact for the upcoming Season 13. Two cast members were confirmed to be leaving Chicago Fire before the end of last season (one, Ritter (Daniel Kyri), will be back for Season 14, but only “for a limited time”), while budget cuts – on and off-screen – are likely to see further exits on Chicago Med. That changed with the unexpected departure of Toya Turner, aka Officer Kiana Cook, who announced back in June that she would not be returning to the series.

Yet the show must go on, they say, and the show has cast Arienne Mandi (The Night Agent) to fill the void as Naomi Kerr. Kerr is described, as it stands currently, as a former soldier and military contractor who thrives in dangerous situations, a “fearless outsider who keeps her cards close to the vest.” But what Chicago P.D. really needs is the return of a former character who also has a military background. That character is Jesse Lee Soffer‘s Jay Halstead, and with the cancellation of FBI: International, Soffer’s dance card is freed up.

Jesse Lee Soffer’s Time on ‘FBI: International’ Was Brief

Image via CBS

FBI: International premiered on September 21, 2021, the second spin-off of CBS’ highly-successful FBI, following FBI: Most Wanted, which premiered in 2020. The series chronicles the exploits of elite Special Agents of the FBI, headquartered in Budapest, who comprise the bureau’s International “Fly Team” (IFT). Their purpose is to locate threats against American interests worldwide (but primarily in Europe) and nullify them before they come to fruition. Ah, but there’s a catch: the team isn’t allowed to carry weapons, and must carry out their mission with nothing more than quick thinking, smarts, and their skills in hand-to-hand combat.

Initially, the team was led by FBI Supervisory Special Agent Scott Forrester (Luke Kleintank). But with Kleintank leaving the series during its third season, Jesse Lee Soffer was pegged to fill the vacated spot, beginning with Season 4 as Supervisory Special Agent Wesley “Wes” Mitchell. The introduction of the former LAPD officer to the team, a man more impulsive and emotionally driven than Forrester, provided fodder for new story angles, with Mitchell learning what it takes to be an effective leader, and the growing pains for himself and the team on the journey to get there. Unfortunately, Soffer never really got the chance to fully explore Mitchell’s potential, with CBS announcing that both FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted would not be renewed in March 2025. FBI: International‘s loss, though, could be Chicago P.D.‘s gain.

It’s the Perfect Opportunity for ‘Chicago P.D.’ to Right the Wrongs Done to Jay Halstead

Jay Halstead was introduced to Chicago P.D. in its premiere episode, “Stepping Stone,” following a backdoor pilot for the series on an episode of Chicago Fire. An Intelligence Unit detective and a former Army Ranger, his abrasive style of policing put him at odds with Voight (Jason Beghe). But as the first season progressed, his skills as a detective and as a sniper, coupled with a fierce tenacity, made him an invaluable member of the team. Halstead is one of the few to stand up to Voight’s various injustices, including talking Voight out of taking the life of drug lord Pulpo (Arturo Del Puerto). That conviction for justice at all costs earned Halstead Voight’s respect, and the assertion that he would succeed Voight as head of the unit one day.

Those qualities — a desire to do what’s right, his strength of character, and his emotional openness — made Halstead a fan favorite over the couse of the series. And it’s what made his closing moments on the show so disheartening, and out of character. Despite a rocky relationship, Halstead and Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos) elope and get married in Season 9, but, in Season 10, Halstead turns in his badge and resigns from the CPD, having grown tired of the gray morality of the Intelligence Unit, and announces that he’s re-enlisted in the Army and will be stationed in Bolivia, without letting the team — or more importantly, Upton — know his plans beforehand.

That was the end, with Upton learning that Halstead had chosen to extend his station in Bolivia off-screen, and divorce papers arriving on Upton’s desk in Season 11, ending their brief debacle of a marriage. The abrupt exit was decidedly at odds with everything viewers thought they knew about him. The closest to a return for the character occurred behind the scenes, with Soffer returning in Season 11 to direct an episode. But, as per the previously cited Collider piece, Soffer is open to returning to the front of the camera on Chicago P.D. as Halstead. Now is the perfect opportunity to do so, especially given how Voight is arguably the closest he’s ever been to being held accountable for his actions.

It would mean, however, doing some damage control for the character. Ditching your wife after going overseas, especially after having left for such a hard-to-buy reason, means there has to be some accountability. Since Upton is no longer in Chicago, the only thing drawing him back would be the Intelligence Unit. It would require a Herculean effort on the part of the creative staff, but far from an impossible one. After all, we need Halstead back to restore balance to Chicago P.D. now more than ever, and now that Soffer has time on his hands, he certainly could. Heck, he could direct his own return if he’s keen.