Jesse Lee Soffer Confirms Chicago PD Season 11 BTS Return With New Set Image

Summary

• Jesse Lee Soffer is confirmed to return in
  Chicago PD
  season 11, but this time as a prepping director on set.
• Halstead’s exit was rushed and uncharacteristic, leaving fans disappointed in the way his departure was handled.
• Soffer’s return could signal a possible reunion with Upton as Halstead, offering a satisfying conclusion to their storyline in
  Chicago PD
  .

A brand new set image confirms that Jesse Lee Soffer will return in Chicago PD season 11. Playing Jay Halstead for 10 seasons before exiting, Soffer is the latest original character in the procedural who departed the show. It hasn’t been easy to move forward after losing such a beloved member of Hank Voight’s Intelligence team, but what makes it so much more difficult is that Halstead’s Chicago PD exit was so disappointing. Not only was it rushed, but his actions were also uncharacteristic.

Taking it to his official Instagram account, Soffer confirms that he is back on the set of Chicago PD season 11, but as a prepping director. For context, the last time the actor was involved in One Chicago was in Chicago PD season 10, episode 16, “Deadlocked,” which was his first directorial effort. Soffter has yet to reprise his role as Halstead, however, since the character left the Windy City for Bolivia. Check out the image below:

Will Soffer Reprise Jay Halstead In Chicago PD Season 11?

When Soffer returned as a director in Chicago PD season 10, he later admitted that he contemplated making a cameo, but ultimately decided against it. In terms of narrative, it made sense, considering that Halstead was still supposedly in Bolivia, serving his initial eight-month stint with the military. As his directorial debut, he was also focused on his primary job behind the camera. This time, however, Soffer will only be a prepping director, setting up a much better environment for him to reprise his role as Halstead.

A physical appearance from Soffer also fits with what lies ahead for Voight’s Intelligence. As previously confirmed, Tracy Spiridakos’ Hailey Upton is set to exit Chicago PD sometime in the ongoing year. One of the easiest ways to write her out of the project is to reunite her with her on-screen husband. Despite their long-distance set-up, which fizzled out when Halstead started not communicating his plans, the pair, it has always felt like things between them have yet to be fully resolved.

Like the way Sylvie Brett was written out of Chicago Fire by marrying Matt Casey, Upton and Halstead rekindling their romance sounds like a great send-off for both. While it’s technically a happy ending for the couple, the specifics of their reunion will still largely dictate whether it will be a satisfying conclusion to their arc. It’s doubtful that they can do it in just one episode without the risk of another backlash for rushing things for the pair, so hopefully, Soffer can be as Halstead in Chicago PD season 11 for more than one outing.

Chicago PD

season 11 airs every Wednesday, 10PM ET on NBC.

Source Jesse Lee Soffer/Instagram