‘Chicago P.D’s Jesse Lee Soffer Says ‘Never Say Never’ To Halstead Returning As He Directs 1st Episode (Exclusive)

As Jesse Lee Soffer volition archer you, Chicago P.D. is successful his blood. The actor, who starred arsenic Det. Jay Halstead connected the amusement for 10 seasons, returned to nonstop the March 22 occurrence titled “Deadlocked.” The occurrence marks Jesse’s directorial debut. HollywoodLife spoke EXCLUSIVELY with Jesse astir returning to the amusement for the archetypal clip since his exit earlier successful the season.

Jesse Lee Soffer makes his directorial debut successful the March 22 episode. (NBC)

“It’s been great,” Jesse said. “It’s been truly educational. It’s been a large play of learning thing new, which was absorbing due to the fact that I near acceptable and past stepped ft backmost connected acceptable the 2nd I near and was conscionable a quiescent perceiver for a portion shadowing and worldly similar that. But it’s been awesome and truly eye-opening. I loved it.”

The Chicago P.D. alum admitted that the directing accidental “snuck up” connected him. “I ne'er planned connected directing,” helium added. “It conscionable was a feeling that conscionable kept increasing connected maine going, ‘I deliberation I tin bash this thing. I tin bash this. I decidedly privation to effort doing this.’ And past I’m conscionable grateful to Dick [Wolf] and Peter [Jankowski] and everyone astatine Wolf for giving maine the opportunity.”

Jesse besides noted that helium isn’t done directing. “One clip is not capable to scratch that itch, I suppose,” helium said. “It’s different benignant of avenue, different media. It’s different facet of the manufacture to larn and to turn and to archer communicative through, truthful I’m decidedly funny successful it. It’s fascinating.”

After getting done immoderate nerves connected the archetypal day, Jesse felt close astatine location successful the director’s chair. “It was beauteous seamless due to the fact that that shows successful my blood. I’ve been determination truthful long. I virtually astir apt person humor successful the walls, truthful it conscionable made sense,” helium quipped.

Jesse’s departure from the long-running constabulary play astatine the opening of play 10 shocked Chicago P.D. fans. Halstead near abruptly to tally a squad that tracks down the worst cartel targets successful Bolivia. The histrion hasn’t unopen the doorway connected bringing Halstead backmost to Chicago P.D. in the future.

Jesse Lee Soffer and Tracy Spiridakos arsenic Halstead and Upton. (NBC)

“Never accidental never. I don’t know. I don’t judge there’s immoderate plans for it close now,” Jesse said. “I surely haven’t heard anything, but ne'er accidental never. I wouldn’t beryllium opposed to it. But I’m decidedly excited to beryllium opening this caller chapter, truthful to speak, and directing and learning this caller craft, which is awesome.”

As for however Halstead is handling his caller gig, Jesse pointed retired that it’s “probably beauteous pugnacious due to the fact that he’s clandestine, right? He’s incognito and not successful comms with anyone. So immoderate he’s doing, it indispensable beryllium beauteous rugged.”

After 10 years on Chicago P.D., Jesse is excited astir the caller opportunities that prevarication ahead. “I telephone it backmost to the drafting board,” helium told HollywoodLife. “We’ll spot what’s next. But arsenic acold arsenic directing goes, I’m decidedly unfastened to it. I lone scratched that itch for a second, and I decidedly privation to larn much and acquisition much of that. So who knows? We’ll see. Maybe I’ll travel backmost adjacent season.” Chicago P.D. airs Wednesday astatine 10 p.m. connected NBC.

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