Chicago PD Showrunner Considers Potential FBI Crossovers With Jesse Lee Soffer In His New Role

Chicago P.D.showrunner Gwen Sigan addresses an FBI: Internationalcrossover with Jesse Lee Soffer's new character. The possibility of Soffer reprising the role of Jay Halstead resurfaced recently when the actor expressed an openness to returning to Chicago P.D. despite his on-screen involvement with FBI: International, which is technically part of the One Chicago universe. The actor has not appeared on One Chicago since Halstead's controversial exit in October 2022.

In an interview with Screen Rant's Rachel Foertsch, Sigan was asked about Soffer showing up to Chicago P.D. as his new FBI: International character Wes Mitchell. The executive producer and showrunner sounds unconvinced about the idea that Soffer would play two characters, though she adds that Halstead could also return to One Chicago as a one-off. Read the response below:

Yeah! I don't know how we'd do it! He'd have to play two characters, but I think he could always come back to our show as Halstead for a one-off. There are so many opportunities. It's funny to have him now in a whole different universe as a different character.

Soffer's FBI: International Character Explained & What It Means For One Chicago

Wes Mitchell Is A Very Different Character

Jesse Lee Soffer as Supervisory Special Agent Wesley "Wes" Mitchell in FBI: International season 4, episode 4.

Soffer joined FBI: International season 4 earlier this year, as Wesley "Wes" Mitchell, filling the void left by departing cast member Luke Kleintank, who played Supervisory Special Agent Scott Forrester. The character has a generally more relaxed vibe, compared to Halsted, knowing when to get serious and when to lean back. It's worth noting that the FBI shows and One Chicago all fall under Dick Wolf's Wolf Entertainment production company, which routinely reuses actors for different characters.

The situation with Soffer is a little different for two reasons. The first reason is that there's a loose connection between the main FBI series and Chicago P.D., which crossed over once in the past, though that doesn't include FBI: International. The second reason is that Halstead's departure from Chicago P.D. proved extremely unpopular. He essentially abandons his wife, Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos), in pursuit of a case, and the two end up divorcing. Spiridakos later left Chicago P.D. herself. Soffer has been open to coming back as Halstead, though nothing is in the works on that front.

Our Take On Halstead's Potential Chicago P.D. Exit

It Will Take Time

Halstead could eventually show up back in Chicago P.D., with both the showrunner and the actor signaling that a brief return would benefit the story. But at least for the moment, it sounds like the surefire way to see Soffer is through his new role asFBI: International's Wes Mitchell. Still, considering both worlds are under the same umbrella, some bit of closure may not be out of the question.