Chicago P.D. Vet Jesse Lee Soffer Joins FBI: International — But There’s a Twist!
Chicago P.D. vet Jesse Lee Soffer is returning to the Dick Wolf TV universe as a series regular for Season 4 of CBS‘ FBI: International, TVLine has learned.
Soffer thus fills the void created late last season by the exit of original FBI: International cast member Luke Kleintank, who since Season 1 had played Supervisory Special Agent Scott Forrester.
The “twist” is that although NBC’s #OneChicago and CBS’ #TheFBIs share a universe — P.D.‘s Tracy Spiridakos crossed Hailey Upton over to the FBI mothership in October 2020 — Soffer will not be reprising his role as former Intelligence Unit member Jay Halstead on FBI: International; instead, TVLine hears he will be playing a new, yet-to-be-named character.
Soffer exited Dick Wolf’s Chicago P.D. in October 2022, a few episodes into Season 10, after playing Halstead since the show’s launch in 2014. (He returned later that season to make his directorial debut.)
On-screen, Halstead left for Bolivia, where he has been leading a military unit tracking the most dangerous cartel targets. Coincidentally, Halstead in abruptly leaving the Intelligence Unit “ghosted” the aforementioned Hailey, his new wife.
Soffer confirmed at the time that he left P.D. of his own volition, saying, “I really wanted to grow and expand, and we’ve only got this one trip. If I signed up again, it would have been for another three years. I would have turned 40 on the show. I thought, ‘You know what? It’s time to take a risk.’”
“It was one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had to make in my life,” he added.
Soffer’s FBI: International predecessor, Kleintank, announced his “difficult decision” to exit the Budapest-based procedural in April, saying, “[It] is driven by my unwavering commitment to my family, whose love and well-being are paramount in my life.”
Kleintank’s character went AWOL in last season’s penultimate episode, after which the finale revealed that Scott had synched up with his spy-crafty fugitive mom, Angela Cassidy, and they are now on the run.
In addition to his Chicago P.D. run, Soffer’s previous TV credits includes crossovers with Med and Fire as well as Law & Order: SVU, Fox’s The Mob Doctor and the CBS sudser As the World Turns, where he played Will Munson.
FBI: International Season 4 will premiere this fall (exact date TBA), airing Tuesdays at 9/8c. The cast also includes Carter Redwood, Vinessa Vidotto, Christina Wolfe and Eva-Jane Willis.
Are you excited/curious to see Soffer resurface in this other corner of Dick Wolf’s TV universe?
Want scoop on FBI: International, or for any other FBI show? Email InsideLine@tvline.com, and your question may be answered via Matt’s Inside Line!
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Why is he returning to TV full time? If that’s the case why not go back to CPD?
Also the fact he is in the same Universe, kind of a big continuity issue for me and I would bet a lot of other fans.
They snuck one in with Law and Order/Chicago Med actress but to pull it off twice so soon?
You must be new to the Dick Wild universe. This kind of thing happens all the time. And he was on Chicago PD for a decade. He can do something else if he likes.
No, not new. Making a one time gust spot then becoming a full time character down the road is a lot different than this. Yea I know Dick Wolf has hired guest stars in bigger roles, Jack Web did it in the ‘60’s and 70’s with his shows.
I really like Soffer but seemed when he left CPD he was looking for something new and that weekly TV was to much. Figured directing, movies, not another TV show 2 years later with the same company and same cinema universe. That’s all. Glad he’s back.
The show being based out of Budapest might have been a plus for him. Living in a foreign country and experiencing a new culture while having a well paid job would be a tempting opportunity for anyone.
An actor taking a role on a television show??? Imagine that. He said when he left Chicago PD that after 9 years, he was looking for something different. While his role may be similar, Chicago cop to FBI agent, he will be working with a new cast and crew in a different location. Plus he had a 2 year break from acting.
Heck, SVU has had multiple different characters played by the same actors. Some even only a couple seasons apart. This is nothing new.
Jeremy Sisto played a defense attorney on the season 17 finale of Law and order and then began playing Detective Cyrus Lupo with the first episode of season 18
Diane Neal played one of three women accused of raping a male stripper in an early episode of SVU, several seasons before she began playing Casey Novak.
and the great Jerry Orbach was a defense attorney before becoming Lenny Briscoe
Why is he returning to TV full time? If that’s the case why not go back to CPD?”
The obvious answers to your questions is that he is returning to tv full time is becuase he wants to/is ready to and that he isn’t back with CPD, because part of the reason that he left in the first place is to peruse new challenges. Playing this new character is a new challenge.
Dylan McDermott, who plays Remy Scott in the FBI franchises did 16 episodes in the law and order franchises in 2021 and 2022. Are you gonna bitch about that?
Are you gonna bitch about Colin Donnell doing two episodes in FBI international at the end of last season?
The only problem is managing your expectations and that’s a YOU problem.
I get that you’re salty that he’s not coming back to PD as Halstead, but seriously having a tantrum is just f*cking embarrassing.
No he belongs on Chicago pd WITHOUT Hailey
He left PD to take risk and then he joins another cop show 🤦🏽♂️
I think some of these actors leave a television series thinking they are going to become A List Movie Stars and it doesn’t happen.
NOW i HAVE A REASON TO WATCH fbi: iNTERNATIONAL! lOVE jESSE AND HAVE MISSED HIM ON PD
Right? I’ll be tuning in now.
So is his character going to be the lead. I thought they brought in someone to replace Kleintanks character. Sofer has stronger presence on screen.
Well, either he wasn’t getting any “bites” from other projects or the fact that FBI: International is filmed in BUDAPEST and not CHICAGO, may have factored into the decision. I never watched International except for the crossover episodes, but I may have to start. For those who watch, did they wrap up Colin Donnell’s arc?
Yea and no…. the wrapped up his episodes, but they kinda left the door open for him to join the team. He honestly fit in well with the team and his back story had some “meat” to it, so him joining the team wouldn’t have been a stretch.
His two episodes used his character (supervisory special agent/liaison to the NSA) but he wasn’t the focus of the two stories though he did work with the fly team in a way that it seemed like he could get the team supervisory position permanently if they wanted. This first episode involved cyber security so it connected to his liaison position. The last episode focused on the disappearance of Luke Kleintank’s character and Donnell’s character seemed to be hanging around to supervise the fly team, either temporarily or permanently. They left things open such that he could stay permanently, recur, return as a guest star, or never reappear. Perhaps he didn’t want to work nine months a year in Budapest. Perhaps he has a Broadway commitment. Perhaps it was just a creative decision.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Colin’s character pop in once and while on the show to help the team out! He was a great addition in the final two episodes of the season.
Looking forward to Soffer on FBI International!!!
Liked him a lot on Chicago PD!!!
I am happy to hear that he has crossed over to another series. I have never liked Hailey. I am okay with him not reprising his character from Chicago PD.
I thought Colin Donnell will take the lead.
I thought Colin Donnell would replace Luke too, I’m hoping that he’ll pop in once and while in the new season to help the team out, but I’m happy with the Jesse Lee Soffer casting, I’ll be watching this Fall!
Yes! Hopefully he will be replacing “Scott” on F.B.I. International. Losing a very handsome actor & replacing him with another handsome actor sounds great!
Stop objectifying them Cindy. It’s not ok to objectify women or men.
Only if his character inherits tank, the dog.
Raines takes care of Tank now, as seen at the end of the season finale.
Ugh!!! I was really hoping Colin Donnell would return as the leader. I guess having a family and filming in Budapest could be problematic. I was glad when Soffer left Chicago PD. I don’t miss Halstead at all. Just hate they ruined Hailey’s character by pairing them. Can’t say I will continue watching FBI International with him as the lead.
But he’s not playing Halstead it’s different character
I just don’t understand why Jay Halsyead would be playing another character! He left Chicago apparently to serve his country, why not bring him back as Jay taking a new assignment. Dick Wolf show??
Because he was never an FBI Agent. He was a Chicago police department detective and former military……
As great as it is for any given actor to have a steady gig and be primarily known for a specific role, or even to return to a role after an absence, we can’t realistically expect them to have to or even want to do that.
It’s one thing to be disappointed but it seems like whenever an actor dictates what they want to do with their life, there are a lot of fans who feel like they should be the ones dictating that.
Not a watcher of Chicago PD, myself, so am not familiar with this actor. If he is playing the lead, I hope he does as good a job as Luke Kleintank. I really liked his character, especially once that other female second in command left to go back to the States. Really hope they don’t make Vo team lead, because I found her to be abrasive, demanding, and an overall b**ch on the episodes where she was temporary lead. I used to like her…now, not so much. JMHO. And when they greatly expanded the cast last season after reconstruction following the bombing? Don’t even get me started on that! Again, JMHO!
I so agree about Vo. Her character completely changed once she became lead and I disliked it and her. Didn’t plan to watch the upcoming season because of her now that Forrester is gone but I’m excited now
I still can’t figure out why Elias Koteas had to be killed off!!! We really aren’t that interested in the show since they killed off Elias 👎🏼 I think they screwed up big time when they made that unnecessary move!
I totally agree about Elias. Dumbest move ever from a Chicago show. I’ve been hoping they would bring him back to PD, saying his “death” was a ploy to put him in witness protection over some case. They bring back “dead” characters all the time on soaps, lol. I did enjoy seeing his Al character appear on the PD finale.
I’m really looking forward to this!
I am absolutely STOKED to have Jesse back on air. He was so good way back when as Will on ATWT and he really shone brightly as Jay Halstead on PD. I cannot wait for this fall’s premiere of International. I’m also hoping for Upton’s revival on either FBI or SVU… js
I love that I will see Halstead again and that he will not be put off on us(fans) as someone else.
Can’t wait!! I wasn’t crazy about how he left his wife, Haley, but I forgive that.
? that’s exactly what they’re doing
He is not going to portray Halstead. It was clearly said in the article
he’s NOT coming back as Halstead.
Great news looking forward to seeing Jesse in his new role.
Yes, if Jesse Lee Soffer goes to FBI International I would watch. I loved him on Chicago PD and when he was Will Munson on As The World Turns. I love the roles he play.
Damn it! I only grew to like International over the strike and kind of enjoyed it not the best show but the characters are enough to keep my interest. Jesse Lee Sofer is an actor depending on the role I either like or detest I loved his character in Mob Doctor but detested Halstead on CPD. I hope this case its the latter Vo is already too much of a pill and I don’t need another insufferable.
Don’t watch this one regularly. Kleintank’s character was boring and the whole atmosphere was too dark and unfamiliar to engage me. Maybe this new guy will brighten things. I’ll see for the first couple of episodes.
Great news. Makes the Losing Luke pain diminish
It would be better if he was Jay.
Or Gay
Yay! I am so excited Jesse is coming to FBI International. ❤️
So he went from one bland procedural to another.