Chicago P.D. fans were sad when Jesse Lee Soffer, who plays Detective Jay Halstead, left the show after 10 seasons. He had played the role in the police procedural from the start but felt the need to leave after season 10. The actor recently opened up to Variety, giving his reasons for leaving the show, but did say the door is always open to return.
Why did Jesse Lee Soffer leave Chicago P.D.?
Jesse Lee Soffer, who played Detective Jay Halstead on Chicago P.D. through season 10 was asked his reasons for leaving. Speaking to Variety, Soffer admitted that “there’s no good answer,” but did say he “was ready for more.”
He explained that eventually, you know the character so well, there isn’t much that can “shift or transform.”
Jesse said he really wanted to grow and expand, and that we’ve only “got this one trip.” The way he looked at it was, if he signed up again, it would have been for another three years, adding:
I would have turned 40 on the show. I thought, ‘You know what? It’s time to take a risk’.
Soffer did say it was one of the toughest decisions he has ever had to make in his life, saying, “Let’s be honest: I love the fans of our show so much, and I love my fans. I know that they’re still grieving this, and to some degree, I am too.”
How did Jesse Lee Soffer exit the show?
Soffer’s character, Detective Jay Halstead, was written out by a storyline that sent him to Bolivia. He was there to take down a cartel with the army, and his trip was extended.
Despite this, the actor did admit he could return to Chicago P.D. in the future, saying the door is “definitely not closed.”
“Never say never. I feel so bad for the fans that are like, ‘Is he going to come back?’ ‘What’s he going to do?’ ‘What’s going on with him and Hailey?’”
Soffer added. “I like to think – and I hope the fans think this too – that he’s just in another country right now, doing what he does best and making the world a safer place.”
Soffer compared it to a family, where sometimes someone moves away or goes to college somewhere else. He added that he still loves the show and the fans.
Jesse also still loves Halstead, saying he is always going to be in his blood, adding, “That’s never going to change.”
Readers, even though he has only just left Chicago P.D., are you going to miss Jesse Lee Soffer in his role of Detective Halstead? Let us know your feelings by dropping a comment below.
